Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for drone-assisted sensor mapping are disclosed. A method includes detecting a sensor in a detection area of a drone; based on detecting the sensor in the detection area of the drone, detecting the drone in sensor data captured by the sensor; determining a detection area of the sensor based on movement of the drone after the drone is detected; and determining a destination for the drone based on the detection area of the sensor. The method may include mapping boundaries of the detection area of the sensor to a map of an area where the sensor is located. The sensor can be a passive infrared sensor, an active infrared sensor, a radar sensor, a sonar sensor, a time of flight sensor, a structured light sensor, or a lidar sensor.

Abstract: An information processing method performed by a computer includes: determining whether a target sound has been recognized; when it is determined that the target sound has been recognized, acquiring positions and sound recording directions of unmanned aerial vehicles; acquiring noise-related information regarding noise generated by at least one of the unmanned aerial vehicles; acquiring an estimated position of a sound recording target estimated from the target sound; determining at least one of target positions and target sound recording directions of the unmanned aerial vehicles based on the estimated position of the sound recording target, the positions and the sound recording directions of the unmanned aerial vehicles, and the noise-related information; and outputting, to each of the unmanned aerial vehicles, at least one of a request for moving to the target position and a request for setting the sound recording direction to the target sound recording direction.

Abstract: An alarm detection device includes: a sound receiver for receiving an external sound to output a first signal; a signal processing circuit coupled to the sound receiver, for receiving the first signal to output a second signal; and an alarm decision circuit coupled to the signal processing circuit, during a time range, when a number of the second signals meeting a trigger criteria is equal to a predetermined value, the alarm decision circuit outputting an alarm signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a location determination system that includes acoustic transmitting devices (104), location tags (112), and a wireless mesh network (106), where the wireless mesh network uses battery-powered devices. A location tag receives acoustic signals (e.g., ultrasound signals) from an acoustic transmitting device. Clocks from members of the wireless mesh network are synchronized by observation of clock pairings, each clock pair formed by respective clocks in a transmitting device that transmits a message and a receiving device that receives the message. By analyzing the observed clock pairings, a best fit between the clock pairings may be determined. After selecting a reference clock, an acoustic transmission schedule may be propagated to the respective acoustic transmitting device.

Abstract: A system is provided for determining the position of a mobile receiver unit in an environment. The system comprises: a transmission apparatus comprising a plurality of ultrasound transmitters configured to transmit a plurality of ultrasonic signals in different respective principal directions, each encoding a different respective direction identifier; a mobile receiver unit comprising an ultrasound receiver configured to receive the plurality of ultrasonic signals along a plurality of signal paths, at least one of which includes a reflection off an environment surface; and a processing system comprising a decoder arranged to decode the respective direction identifiers from the received signals.

Abstract: This disclosure describes an apparatus and method of an embodiment of an invention that is a band-limited beamforming microphone array with acoustic echo cancellation that includes: a plurality of first microphones configured as a beamforming microphone array to resolve first audio input signals within a first frequency range, the beamforming microphone array includes acoustic echo cancellation; one or more additional microphone(s) configured to resolve second audio input signals within a restricted second frequency range such that the additional microphone(s) are coupled to the beamforming microphone array; augmented beamforming that processes audio signals from the beamforming microphone array and the additional microphone(s).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating a target in a venue is described. A backend controller activates transmitters in a venue to send burst signals using a double symmetry configuration formed of a plurality of separate transmitter groups. The backend controller activates the transmitters into a second, different configuration for bursting. The resulting location signal information from each configuration is obtained by the backend controller, which then more accurately determines the location of the target in the venue.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are directed to a specialized Internet of Things (IoT) device deploying both acoustic and radio wave signals. In example implementations described herein, camera data and acoustic sensor data is integrated to generate an acoustic sensor heatmap for the holistic sensing systems in an IoT area.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-robot gradient-based adaptive navigation are provided.

Abstract: In a system and a method for locating a mobile noise source, a sound sensing device catches a sound wave of the mobile noise source, and generates and stores a current sound characteristic information corresponding to the sound wave. An image pickup device catches an image of the mobile noise source, and generates and stores an entry of current image data corresponding to the mobile noise source. A spectrogram and image database stores entries of default spectrogram data and entries of default image data. An information processing unit compares the current sound characteristic information with the entries of default spectrogram data, and stores and associates the current sound characteristic information with the mobile noise source in the spectrogram and image database if no similarity between the current sound characteristic information and the entries of default spectrogram data reaches a preset value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for locating a mobile phone in a vehicle is provided. The system includes one or more processors and a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing a detection module and a safety module. The detection module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to: determine that a mobile phone is located in a vehicle. The safety module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to: in response to the determination, play a sound in the vehicle; record the sound played in the vehicle; based on the recorded sound and a sound model, determine if the mobile phone is in a driver seat of the vehicle; and if it is determined that the mobile phone is in the driver seat of the vehicle, disable at least some functionality of the mobile phone.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the introduction cost of an indoor positioning system using inaudible sound. A positioning system according to one embodiment includes a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and a positioning unit. The first acquisition unit acquires a reception log indicating that a fixed receiver receives signal source-specific inaudible sounds from multiple signal sources. The second acquisition unit acquires, from a storage unit, signal source information on multiple signal sources corresponding to a fixed receiver installed near a mobile terminal. Here, the signal source information contains information for identifying a signal source from inaudible sound, the transmission timing of inaudible sound at the signal source, and the location of the signal source.

Abstract: A diver navigation, information and safety buoy system and method. The system and method incorporate a float device, and an ultra-short baseline acoustic array in communication with a diver transponder. The system and method also include a GPS system having a GPS antenna device mounted on the float device. The system also includes an AIS system having an AIS antenna mounted on the float. A diver processor permits a diver's location information to be calculated, and the diver can be navigated to a desired destination.

Abstract: A technique includes using a filter having filtering parameters based at least in part on a dispersion curve of at least one vibration mode of a streamer to filter a measurement acquired by at least one sensor of the streamer and using results of the filtering to suppress vibration noise present in the measurement.

Abstract: Method for selecting an acquisition geometry for a seismic survey based on ability to resolve an a priori velocity model. Two or more candidate acquisition geometries are selected (301, 302), differing in areal coverage and cost to perform. Then compute a synthetic seismic dataset for each geometry using a detailed geometrical reference model of the subsurface (301). Invert the synthetic seismic datasets preferably using simultaneous source FWI, and preferably with Volume of Investigation constraints, to determine model updates (303, 304). Quantitatively assess the value of the additional traces in a fuller dataset relative to a subset (306), using one or more statistics based on the accuracy of the updated models, such as improved match to the reference model, better fit of seismic data, or rate of change in improvement with iterations. Inversions may be cascaded for further efficiency (314).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a location determination system that includes acoustic transmitting devices, location tags, and a wireless mesh network, where the wireless mesh network uses battery-powered devices. A location tag receives acoustic signals (e.g., ultrasound signals) from an acoustic transmitting device. Clocks from members of the wireless mesh network are synchronized by observation of clock pairings, each clock pair formed by respective clocks in a transmitting device that transmits a message and a receiving device that receives the message. By analyzing the observed clock pairings, a best fit between the clock pairings may be determined. After selecting a reference clock, an acoustic transmission schedule may be propagated to the respective acoustic transmitting device.

Abstract: In a system for locating a mobile noise source, a sound sensing device catches a sound wave of a mobile noise source within a specified area for a specified time period, and outputs a characteristic information corresponding to the sound wave. An audio comparing device in communication with the sound sensing device compares the characteristic information with a set of standard data, and outputs an activating signal in response to a specific compared result. An image pickup device in communication with the audio comparing device performs an image pickup operation to catch an image of the mobile noise source in response to the activating signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus 10 is configured to detect a human present in a first range (detection area A1) from the image forming apparatus 10 using an ultrasonic wave that is output at a first frequency from an ultrasonic sensor 611. If a human is detected in the detection area A1, the image forming apparatus 10 switches the frequency of the ultrasonic wave that is output from the ultrasonic sensor 611 to a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency, and is controlled to detect the human in a second range (detection area A2) that is smaller than the detection area A1. When a human is detected in the detection area A2, data communication is started using the ultrasonic wave output from the ultrasonic sensor 611.

Abstract: A device for the contactless examination of a butt weld of plastic pipes and fittings is provided. The device includes a carrier device, an illumination unit, and at least one sensor for monitoring the pipe ends or fitting ends to be welded and the weld seam, wherein the sensor is an electronic light-sensitive sensor.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a method, apparatus and system to deploy aquatic sensors to obtain oceanographic data. In an exemplary embodiment, a free-floating or untethered sensor receives signals from different transmitters. The signals may be configured to travel through air and/or water. The sensor records each signals' time of arrival and determines its location in relationship to known transmitters based on the signal travel time. The position of each sensor may be determined by triangulation to several devices whose positions are known. The distances from the sensor in question to each device is measured by means of time-of-flight measurements for a wireless signal from the sensor to each known-position device. Other methods such as trilateration or dead-reckoning may also be used. The sensor may additionally collect and record oceanographic or other environmental data.

Abstract: Aspects of the technology described herein relate to ultrasound device circuitry as may form part of a single substrate ultrasound device having integrated ultrasonic transducers. The ultrasound device circuitry may facilitate the generation of ultrasound waveforms in a manner that is power- and data-efficient.

Abstract: In a sound source detection apparatus that detects a sound source of a detection subject on the basis of collected sounds, sounds are collected by at least one sound collector, an autocorrelation between sounds collected in time series by the sound collector is calculated, and a determination as to whether or not the sound source of the detection subject exists is made on the basis of the autocorrelation. More particularly, sounds are preferably collected respectively by two or more sound collectors such that the existence of the sound source of the detection subject is determined by determining whether or not the autocorrelations of the sounds collected by the two or more sound collectors satisfy a predetermined condition. By using the autocorrelation to detect the sound source of the detection subject in this manner, high robustness against an S/N ratio is exhibited, leading to an improved detection performance when detecting the sound source of the detection subject.

Abstract: A system and method for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment using an adaptive transmitter cluster area includes a first step of providing a plurality of fixed ultrasonic transmitters operable to be activated to provide active clusters of transmitters to service mobile devices within a predefined coverage area of the environment. A next step includes transmitting ultrasonic bursts by the transmitters to mobile communication devices to be located within the environment. A next step includes determining a location of mobile devices within the environment using the ultrasonic bursts. A next step includes establishing a density of active clusters within the environment. A next step includes adapting an area of each cluster in response to the active cluster density.

Abstract: Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) collect and transmit information about ice floe thickness; this is combined with SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR images from satellites to identify and track dangerously thick regions of ice. The overlayed data is presented graphically to allow tracking of the thick ice regions over time. This information is used to alert drilling platforms in icy ocean conditions of pending ice floe dangers.

Abstract: Using counter offsets to allow flight time calculation in an ultrasonic locationing system includes ultrasonic transmitters for emitting ultrasonic bursts, each transmitter having a counter and a synchronization server. A backend controller schedules periodic bursts from each transmitter. A mobile device also has a counter and can receive the ultrasonic bursts, wherein the mobile device can determine a relative counter offset between itself and a transmitter. The mobile device can calculate a corrected reception time of ultrasonic bursts from the transmitters based on the counter value when the burst is detected and the relative counter offset between the mobile device and the transmitter, and report the corrected time to the backend controller for locationing of the mobile device.

Abstract: A system and method for detection of multipath and transmit level adaptation thereto in ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment includes providing fixed ultrasonic emitters for transmitting ultrasonic bursts at predetermined times. A communication device measuring at least a direct signal of each ultrasonic burst and detecting multipath of each ultrasonic burst by comparing an amplitude of the direct signal with other signals related to the ultrasonic burst. If multipath is detected a controller increasing a transmit power level of the ultrasonic burst to insure the direct signal reliably remains above the detection threshold. If multipath is not detected reduce a transmit power level to the point detection is just possible. Results from non-multipath conditions are more heavily weighted when determining position as they are typically more accurate.

Abstract: A method for locating a tool in a work space via ultrasound includes associating an ultrasound transmitter to a tool and calculating a position of the tool on the basis of determination of the position of the transmitter. At least three ultrasound receivers for receiving ultrasound signals from the transmitter are set in positions relative to the work space. A calculation of a position of the transmitter includes using a trilateration procedure that includes a change of reference of the positions of the receivers and is carried out to reference them in a second simplified reference system. An unknown point in the second simplified reference system is obtained. A rototranslation of the position of the unknown point obtained from the second simplified reference system is carried out into a first reference system, and a corresponding rototranslation matrix is calculated such that the unknown point is used as position of the transmitter.

Abstract: A control device which controls the power of a plurality of apparatuses in a home network, and a method thereof are provided. The control device includes an input unit which receives a power off command, and a control unit which concurrently turns off apparatuses which are currently turned on among the plurality of apparatuses in response to the power off command received by the input unit. Therefore, it is possible for a user to concurrently turn off currently running apparatuses so user convenience can increase.

Abstract: An ultrasonic locationing method and system for ultrasonic locationing of a mobile device within an environment includes a plurality of fixed ultrasonic emitters to transmit an instruction to listen for an enrollment tone to at least one communication device, and to sequentially emit an enrollment tone from each emitter at specific times to be received by those communication devices that implemented the instruction. A controller receives a response from each of those communication devices, the respective response including an identity of the communication device, a time the enrollment tone was received, and an indication of a hardware platform of the communication device. The controller can then assign a locationing mode to each communication device in accordance with its hardware platform. The communication device provides locationing information using its assigned locationing mode and locationing tones from active emitters.

Abstract: Herein is presented, a low power on-die 60 GHz distribution network for a beamforming system that can be scaled as the number of transmitters increases. The transmission line based power splitters and quadrature hybrids whose size would be proportional to a quarter wavelength (˜600 ?m) if formed using transmission lines are instead constructed by inductors/capacitors and reduce the area by more than 80%. An input in-phase I clock and an input quadrature Q clock are combined into a single composite clock waveform locking the phase relation between the in-phase I clock and quadrature Q clock. The composite clock is transferred over a single transmission line formed using a Co-planar Waveguide (CPW) coupling the source and destination locations over the surface of a die. Once the individuals the in-phase I and quadrature Q clocks are required, they can be generated at the destination from the composite clock waveform.

Abstract: Array of acoustic infrasonic transmitters are deployed around an area of target interest and continuously transmit acoustic time marked signals. An unintentional transduction of these acoustic time mark signals is made by a person of nefarious intent, and the resultant live or recorded signal is delivered to the receiver. In the case of many terrorist recordings the transduction is a handheld VTR recording of some political speech or event and the recording of that event is made available thought videotapes delivered to local media. The transduction is analyzed for acoustic time mark signals, which when processed using reverse TDOA methods provides the location of the signal transduction.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for resolving a pivot point via touchless interaction. It applies to situations where one end of a rigid object is inaccessible but remains stationary at a pivot point, while the other end is free to move and is accessible to an input pointing device. As an example, the rigid object can be a leg bone where the proximal end is at the hip joint and the distal end is at the knee. The system comprises a wand and a receiver that are spatially configurable to touchlessly locate the pivot point without contact. The receiver tracks a relative displacement of the wand and geometrically resolves the location of the pivot point by a spherical mapping. The system can use a combination of ultrasonic sensing and/or accelerometer measurements. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transmitter of an ultrasonic occupancy sensing device has adjustable ultrasonic signal output amplitude to prevent overload of an ultrasonic sensor associated with the ultrasonic occupancy sensing device. A circuit for controlling the operating voltage to a power driver of the ultrasonic transmitter allows field adjustment of the output thereof so that an optimal level (amplitude) for the transmitted ultrasonic signal may be found in an area of actual use (e.g., field adjustable).

Abstract: A method for determining orientation of an electronic device relative to another electronic device is described. The method includes synchronizing internal clock of a first electronic device with internal clock of a second electronic device using electromagnetic signals communicated between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, sending two or more sound waves from the second electronic device, receiving the two or more sound waves at the first electronic device, and calculating orientation of the first electronic device relative to the second electronic device based on a difference in time of arrival of the two or more sound waves at the first electronic device. The first electronic device and the second electronic device each have at least one transceiver configured to send and receive electromagnetic signals. The first electronic device has two or more acoustoelectric transducers and the second electronic device has one or more acoustoelectric transducer.

Abstract: The three-dimensional touch system by acoustic waves comprises of a plurality of sensors and their controllers. The three-dimensional touch system implements the any or a combination of three different sensing methods. The first is an active wave triangulation location method that involves a plurality of receivers and an active wave transceiver. The second is a passive wave triangulation location method that involves a plurality of transceivers and a passive wave receiver. The last method, multi-triangulation location, uses different transceivers (or receivers) to input a multitude of different acoustic waves. Also, it is important that a calibration system be used to ensure that the transceivers and receivers are accurate in their readings.

Abstract: A system and method of touchless interaction is provided for resolving a pivot point of an object where direct placement of a sensor at the pivot point is not practical. It applies to situations where the pivot point of a rigid object is inaccessible but remains stationary, while the other end is free to move and is accessible. The system maps the object's pivot point by way of an external sensor that detects constrained motion of the rigid object within a hemispherical banded boundary. It can also detect a geometric pattern and acceleration during the constrained motion to compensate for higher order rotations about the pivot point. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sound source detection device 1 which compares information of sound collected by sound collectors 13, 14, 15, and 16 to detect a predetermined sound source. The sound source detection device 1 includes a target determination unit 22 which arranges sound collectors at the same distance from a noise source inside a mobile object to determine a detection-target region of a sound source, and a sound source detection unit 25 which detects the direction of the predetermined sound source using information of sound of the detection-target region determined by the target determination unit 22. Accordingly, the sound source detection unit 25 does not determine sound input to the sound collectors 13, 14, 15, and 16 at the same timing as a detection target, making it possible to eliminate the influence of a noise source other than a sound source inside the mobile object in advance.

Abstract: An indoor ultrasonic location tracking system that can utilize standard audio speakers to provide indoor ranging information to modern mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. The method uses a communication scheme based on linearly increasing frequency modulated chirps in the audio bandwidth just above the human hearing frequency range where mobile devices are still sensitive. The method uses gradual frequency and amplitude changes that minimize human perceivable (psychoacoustic) artifacts derived from the non-ideal impulse response of audio speakers. Chirps also benefit from Pulse Compression, which improves ranging resolution and resilience to both Doppler shifts and multi-path propagation that plague indoor environments. The method supports the decoding of multiple unique identifier packets simultaneously. A Time-Difference-of-Arrival pseudo-ranging technique allows for localization without explicit synchronization with the broadcasting infrastructure.

Abstract: Static transmitter stations are used to determine the position of a mobile receiver unit. Each transmitter station transmits an ultrasonic signal including a transmitter-specific phase-shifting signature. The receiver unit receives a signal and identifies a transmitter station by its signature. It uses the received signal and the identity of the source transmitter station to determine the position of the mobile receiver unit. The signature may include two patterns phase-shift-key (PSK)-encoded on respective carrier signals of the same frequency but different phase, with the patterns being offset from each other by a transmitter-specific offset. The signal from the transmitter station may also include a PSK-encoded message.

Abstract: An acoustic underwater navigation system is disclosed. For instance, an underwater receiver determines its position using signals broadcast from an array of acoustic transmitters located near the surface. The position of the array is measured using global positioning system (GPS) technology and the transmitters collectively produce an acoustic signal in which the position and attitude of the array and the GPS time of transmission are encoded. An underwater receiver which is synchronized with the GPS time uses the transmitted position and attitude of the array and the transmission time information to calculate its position.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided to realize an input waveform using wavelet processing and reconstruction via separated antenna array systems having different beam paths and different frequency components which can include phased array transmitters to recreate the input waveform. One aspect of the invention can include a wavelet function used for the examples shown herein which includes a first and second moments of a statistical function, i.e. the mean and variance used with an inverse wavelet to create rectangular pulses that lend themselves to use in the invention herein. Other embodiments of the invention can use other input waveform separation functions paired with signal separation and recombination at a focus point. A selected function can be matched to its application associated with avoidance of sending the input waveform along a single beam path, a desired a focus point, and separation of an input signal.

Abstract: A sensor device for measuring the compression travel and/or the compression rate of wheels and/or axles of vehicles, in particular of commercial vehicles, may include at least one sensor measuring in a contactless manner. The sensor device may include a radar and/or high-frequency sensor generating a beam, which is emitted and received after reflection at a reference and reflection surface.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided, in which acoustic signals received by distributed acoustic sensors are processed in order to determine the position of a source or sources of the acoustic signals. The method and system are able to determine the position of several acoustic sources simultaneously, by measuring the corresponding several acoustic signals. Furthermore, the strength of the acoustic signal or signals can be determined. The location of the acoustic source may be overlaid on a map of an area being monitored, or be used to generate an alarm if perceived to correspond to a threat or an intrusion, for example in a pipeline monitoring application. Alternatively, the method and systems can be used to monitor a hydraulic fracturing process.

Abstract: The present invention employs an object information acquiring apparatus comprising a plurality of conversion elements which receive acoustic waves emitted from an object and convert the acoustic waves into electrical signals, a correlation calculator which calculates correlation data by using the plurality of electrical signals output from the plurality of conversion elements, an average correlation calculator which calculates an average correlation matrix by extracting a plurality of submatrices from the correlation data and averaging the submatrices, and an adaptive signal processor which generates power distribution by performing adaptive signal processing by using the average correlation matrix and calculating the power of each target position, wherein the correlation calculator calculates the correlation data by obtaining the correlation of input signals that are separated by at least one input signal among the input signals.

Abstract: An acoustic underwater navigation system is disclosed. For instance, an underwater receiver determines its position using signals broadcast from an array of acoustic transmitters located near the surface. The position of the array is measured using global positioning system (GPS) technology and the transmitters collectively produce an acoustic signal in which the position and attitude of the array and the GPS time of transmission are encoded. An underwater receiver which is synchronized with the GPS time uses the transmitted position and attitude of the array and the transmission time information to calculate its position.

Abstract: Methods for indirect data acquisition via exact inverse receiver extrapolation. The desired data are obtained from extrapolation of directly measured data containing a wavefield quantity (e.g. pressure) and a component of its gradient. The methods use exact representations of scattering reciprocity. Methods of evaluating/validating the extrapolated data are also disclosed. These methods can be used in any industries involving imaging, such as geophysical/seismic exploration, bio-medical imaging, non-destructive remote sensing, acoustic space architecture, design and engineering.

Abstract: The present invention employs an object information acquiring apparatus comprising a plurality of receiving elements which receive acoustic waves emitted from an object and convert the acoustic waves into received signals, a delay unit which matches phases of the received signals, a complex converter which converts the received signals into complex signals, a complex covariance matrix calculator which periodically obtains a complex covariance matrix by using a complex signal group configured from a plurality of phase-matched complex signals, an eliminator which eliminates the number of bits of input data configured from at least either the complex signal group or matrix elements, and an electric power calculator which calculates a power of target positions, wherein the eliminator eliminates the number of bits by performing common level conversion processing on all input data relating to one complex covariance matrix.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus can be used for identifying a posture. The method includes obtaining information about sending an ultrasonic wave by one or more ultrasonic transmitters and obtaining information about receiving the ultrasonic wave by ultrasonic receivers. The one or more ultrasonic transmitters are fixed on an object to be identified. The number of the one or more ultrasonic transmitters is at least one and the number of the ultrasonic receivers is at least three. A posture of the object to be identified can be identified according to the obtained information about sending an ultrasonic wave by one or more ultrasonic transmitters and information about receiving the ultrasonic wave by ultrasonic receivers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transmitting an acoustic signal using a human body are disclosed. The acoustic signal transmitting apparatus includes: a pre-processor configured to perform processing for compensating for transfer distortion of an acoustic signal; a controller configured to control beamforming of the acoustic signal whose transfer distortion has been compensated for; and a plurality of acoustic devices configured to transfer the acoustic signal to a human body which the plurality of acoustic devices have contacted, through beamforming according to a control of the controller. Accordingly, it is possible to to transmit acoustic signals using a human body as a medium with minimum signal loss and distortion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a location of a device in a space in which speakers are disposed. The methods involve receiving a Combined Audio Signal (“CAS”) by an MCD microphone. The CAS is defined by a Discrete Audio Signal (“DAS”) output from the speakers. DAS may comprise at least one Sound Component (“SC”) having a frequency greater than frequencies within an audible frequency range for humans. The MCD analyzes CAS to detect an Arriving Time (“AT”) of SC of DAS output from a first speaker and an AT of SC of DAS output from a second speaker. The MCD then determines a first Relative Time Difference (“RTD”) between the DASs arriving from the first and second speakers based on the ATs which were previously detected. The first RTD is used to determine the location of the MCD within the space.