Bodily function sound anonymization

• US 9,830,901 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Robert Millikin
• Original Assignee: Andrew Robert Millikin
• Inventors: Millikin, Andrew Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US15/392,134
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 4353, 4314, 4405, 4479, 4661, 3123511, 3405456, 3405731, 3406861, 381 67, 381 731, 381 97, 434262, 434236, 455 412, 455344, 600528, 600573, 604 20, 7042701, 726 26, 7386118, 200330
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/175 using interference effects; Masking sound
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/09 the extracted parameters being zero crossing rates
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/51 for comparison or discrimination
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2400/00 Loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2410/05 Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/001 for loudspeakers H04R29/007 takes precedence

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, methods, and software for bodily function sound anonymization.

Claims

1. A method of anonymizing bodily function sounds performed by one or more processors, the method comprising:

monitoring a microphone for bodily function sounds;

analyzing sounds detected by the microphone to identify the sounds as bodily function sounds resulting from urination or a bowel movement and to determine a sound profile of one or more of the bodily function sounds, wherein said analyzing includes recording one or more of the bodily function sounds;

selecting an anonymizing sound having a sound profile similar to the sound profile of said one or more of the bodily function sounds, wherein said selecting includes comparing the sound profile of the one or more bodily function sounds to a sound profile of an anonymizing sound; and

reproducing the anonymizing sound using a speaker upon identification of new bodily function sounds received via the microphone.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein analyzing sounds includes analyzing sounds using Fourier analysis or zero-crossing analysis.

3. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising identifying a user as a function of the new bodily function sounds, wherein selecting an anonymizing sound includes selecting an anonymizing sound as a function of the identified user.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said anonymizing sound is selected as a function of preferences associated with the identified user that were configured by the user.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the preferences are received through an Internet connection.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the preferences are received through an interface with a mobile phone.

7. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising identifying a user by interfacing with a mobile phone, wherein selecting said one or more of the anonymizing sounds includes selecting one or more of the anonymizing sounds as a function of the identified user.

8. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising preventing reproduction of an anonymizing sound for a period of time greater than one minute upon receiving an appropriate command from a user.

9. A method of anonymizing bodily function sounds performed by one or more processors, the method comprising:

receiving bodily function sounds from a microphone, said bodily function sounds being sounds resulting from urination or a bowel movement;

recording the bodily function sounds to a memory as saved bodily function sounds;

analyzing one or more of the saved bodily function sounds;

modifying one or more anonymizing sounds based on a result of said analyzing to produce modified anonymizing sounds;

monitoring a microphone to detect further bodily function sounds; and

reproducing one or more of the modified anonymizing sounds using a speaker upon detection of new bodily function sounds via the microphone.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein monitoring a microphone to detect further bodily function sounds includes analyzing sounds using Fourier analysis or zero-crossing analysis to identify bodily function sounds.

11. A method of anonymizing bodily function sounds performed by one or more processors, the method comprising:

receiving bodily function sounds from a microphone, said bodily function sounds being sounds resulting from urination or defecation;

recording the bodily function sounds to a memory as saved bodily function sounds;

monitoring a microphone to detect further bodily function sounds, said bodily function sounds being sounds resulting from urination or defecation; and

broadcasting one or more of the saved bodily function sounds over a speaker upon detection of new bodily function sounds via the microphone.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein monitoring said microphone to detect further bodily function sounds includes analyzing sounds using Fourier analysis or zero-crossing analysis to identify bodily function sounds.

13. A method of anonymizing bodily function sounds performed by one or more processors, the method comprising:

monitoring a microphone for bodily function sounds;

analyzing sounds detected by the microphone to identify the sounds as bodily function sounds resulting from urination or a bowel movement and to determine a sound profile of one or more of the bodily function sounds, wherein analyzing sounds includes analyzing sounds using Fourier analysis or zero-crossing analysis;

selecting an anonymizing sound having a sound profile similar to the sound profile of said one or more of the bodily function sounds; and

reproducing the anonymizing sound using a speaker upon identification of new bodily function sounds received via the microphone.