An object of the present invention is to facilitate recognition of a voice command of a user in a situation where multiple devices including microphones are connected through a sensor network. A relative location of each device is determined and a location and a direction of the user are tracked through a time difference in which the voice command is applied. The command is interpreted based on the location and the direction of the user. Such a method as a method for a sensor network, Machine to Machine (M2M), Machine Type Communication (MTC), and Internet of Things (IoT) may be used for an intelligent service (smart home, smart building, etc.), digital education, security and safety related services, and the like.

An object of the present invention is to facilitate recognition of a voice command of a user in a situation where multiple devices including microphones are connected through a sensor network. A relative location of each device is determined and a location and a direction of the user are tracked through a time difference in which the voice command is applied. The command is interpreted based on the location and the direction of the user. Such a method as a method for a sensor network, Machine to Machine (M2M), Machine Type Communication (MTC), and Internet of Things (IoT) may be used for an intelligent service (smart home, smart building, etc.), digital education, security and safety related services, and the like.

Aspects of a multi-orientation playback device including at least one microphone array are discussed. A method may include determining an orientation of the playback device which includes at least one microphone array and determining at least one microphone training response for the playback device from a plurality of microphone training responses based on the orientation of the playback device. The at least one microphone array can detect a sound input, and the location information of a source of the sound input can be determined based on the at least one microphone training response and the detected sound input. Based on the location information of the source, the directional focus of the at least one microphone array can be adjusted, and the sound input can be captured based on the adjusted directional focus.

Aspects of a multi-orientation playback device including at least one microphone array are discussed. A method may include determining an orientation of the playback device which includes at least one microphone array and determining at least one microphone training response for the playback device from a plurality of microphone training responses based on the orientation of the playback device. The at least one microphone array can detect a sound input, and the location information of a source of the sound input can be determined based on the at least one microphone training response and the detected sound input. Based on the location information of the source, the directional focus of the at least one microphone array can be adjusted, and the sound input can be captured based on the adjusted directional focus.

A method and device for sound source positioning using a microphone array. The method comprises: determining a horizontal axis that a microphone array rotates around as a reference axis; calculating, according to a sound emitted by a sound source that is collected by the microphone array, to obtain a first sound source estimated value indicating a sound source position in a three-dimensional space; acquiring an inclination angle between a plane in which the microphone array is located when it is rotating and a horizontal plane in which the reference axis is located; and according to the first sound source estimated value and the inclination angle, calculating out a second sound source estimated value on a horizontal plane corresponding to the first sound source estimated value, and using the second sound source estimated value as the determined sound source position.

A method and system for locating a sound source are provide. The method may include detecting a sound signal of a sound by each of two audio sensors. The method may also include converting the sound signals detected by the two audio sensors from a time domain to a frequency domain. The method may further include determining a high frequency ratio of each of the sound signals in the frequency domain. The method may further include determining a direction of the sound source based on the high frequency ratios.

A method and system for locating a sound source are provide. The method may include detecting a sound signal of a sound by each of two audio sensors. The method may also include converting the sound signals detected by the two audio sensors from a time domain to a frequency domain. The method may further include determining a high frequency ratio of each of the sound signals in the frequency domain. The method may further include determining a direction of the sound source based on the high frequency ratios.

Threat identification devices, systems, and methods are disclosed which identify and locate various threats and provide a variety of countermeasures to reduce the loss of life in an attack. In one implementation, a device is provided with a housing and a plurality of tubes coupled to and extending from the housing. Sensors are located within the tubes for sensing external conditions. A control unit is in electronic communication with the sensors. Upon detection of an external condition, the sensors transmit a signal to the control unit, which activates countermeasures, including rotating light sources to identify the location of the external condition as well as preferred escape routes. The control unit may also transmit signals to other devices in the environment, including video panels and speakers, to provide instructions.

A three-dimensional (3D) measurement system and method is provided. The system includes a noncontact measurement device, an annotation member and a processor. The noncontact measurement device being operable to measure a distance from the noncontact measurement device to a surface. The annotation member is coupled to the noncontact measurement device. The processor is operably coupled to the noncontact measurement device and the annotation member, the processor operable to execute computer instructions when executed on the processor for determining 3D coordinates of at least one point in a field of view based at least in part on the distance, recording an annotation in response to an input from a user, and associating the annotation with the at least one point.

Computing devices and methods utilizing a joint speaker location/speaker identification neural network are provided. In one example a computing device receives an audio signal of utterances spoken by multiple persons. Magnitude and phase information features are extracted from the signal and inputted into a joint speaker location and speaker identification neural network. The neural network utilizes both the magnitude and phase information features to determine a change in the person speaking. Output comprising the determination of the change is received from the neural network. The output is then used to perform a speaker recognition function, speaker location function, or both.