Synthetically generated sound cues

• US 8,203,460 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Tillotson, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Application Number:
  US12/241,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20090021388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 340/692, 340/691.6, 340/988, 340/989, 340/425.5, 340/426.22, 381/71.2, 381/89
• US Class Current: 340/692
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0095 Aspects of air-traffic control not provided for in the other subgroups of this main group

Abstract

A communications system is disclosed that may incorporate a first platform and a second platform. The second platform may have a relative position with respect to the first platform, with at least one of the platforms being mobile. A communications subsystem is included that is adapted to modify a signal sent from the second platform to a user on the first platform that provides a spatial indication to the user as to a position of the second platform relative to the user.

Claims

1. A communications system, comprising:

a first platform;

a second platform having a relative position with respect to the first platform, with at least one of said platforms being mobile;

a communications subsystem adapted to modify a signal sent from said second platform to a user on said first platform that provides a spatial indication to said user as to a position of said second platform relative to said user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal sent from the second platform is an audio signal that provides an aural, spatial indication to said user of the position of said second platform relative to said user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said communications subsystem is adapted to modify said audio signal in real time in accordance with relative movement between said two platforms.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said communications system is adapted to modify said signal to provide an indication to said first user of a changing distance between said platforms.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal comprises a wireless signal.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third platform in communication with said first user; and

wherein said communications subsystem is adapted to modify a signal from said third platform that is being received by said first user to provide an indication of a spatial relationship of said third platform to said first platform.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said signal from said third platform comprises an audio signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said signal includes video information.

9. A communications system, comprising:

a communications subsystem adapted to facilitate communication between a first user and a second user; and

said communications system adapted to modify an audio signal sent from said second user to said first user that provides a spatial indication to said first user of a position of said second user relative to said first user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said communications system further is adapted to modify an audio signal sent from a third user to said first user that provides a spatial indication of a position of said third user relative to said first user.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said communications system modifies said signal to provide an aural indication of a changing distance between said first and second users as a distance between said first and second users changes.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said signal is modified in real time.

13. A communications system, comprising:

a first platform;

a second platform having a relative position with respect to the first platform, with at least one of said platforms being mobile;

a communications subsystem adapted to modify an audio signal sent from said second platform to a user on said first platform that provides an indication to said user as to a change in distance between said platforms.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said communications system is adapted to further modify said audio signal to provide said user with a spatial indication as to a position of said second platform relative to said first platform.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said signal is modified in real time.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein both of said platforms are mobile platforms.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said communications subsystem operates to modify at least one of:

a pitch of said audio signal;

a vibrato of said audio signal;

a tremolo of said audio signal;

a brilliance of said audio signal; and

a harmonic composition of said audio signal.

18. A communications system, comprising:

a communications subsystem adapted to modify a signal sent to a first mobile user from a remote location that provides said user with an indication of a changing spatial relationship of said user relative to said remote location; and

said communications subsystem further modifying said signal in real time.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said signal comprises an audio signal.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said communications subsystem further modifies said audio signal sent from said remote location to provide an aural indication to said user as to a changing distance between said user and said remote location.