Systems and methods for positioning a user of a hands-free intercommunication system

• Main Authors: Wood Victoria Y. H, Myhrvold Nathan P, Wilson Andrew, Mundie Craig J, Hyde Roderick A, Wood, Jr. Lowell L, Ishikawa Muriel Y, Petroski Robert C, Wing Jeannette M, Tegreene Clarence T, Whitmer Charles, Kare Jordin T, Cheatham, III Jesse R, Tan Desney S, Rudder Eric D
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 03.10.2017
• Subjects: ALARM SYSTEMS; CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DEAF-AID SETS; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRICITY; LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKEACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; PHYSICS; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS; SIGNALLING; SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; STEREOPHONIC SYSTEMS; TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION; WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

A hands-free intercom may include a user-tracking sensor, a directional microphone, a directional sound emitter, a display device, and/or a communication interface. The user-tracking sensor may determine a location of a user so the directional microphone can measure vocal emissions by the user and the directional sound emitter can deliver audio to the user. The hands-free intercom may induce the user to move to a desired location and/or to stay within a connectivity area. The hands-free intercom may also or instead induce the user to face in a desired orientation. The directional sound emitter and/or the display device may induce the user by explicitly indicating the desired location, by adjusting an apparent source of the audio or video, by changing quality of delivered audio or video based on user position, by producing irritating audio or video, and/or the like.