Patent Description:
Public announcement systems, which are also called public address systems (PA system), typically comprise one or more components such as microphones, amplifiers and loudspeakers, and they allow the transmission of acoustic signals to an audience. Such systems are used in public areas and events to announce speech, alerts and important information.

Known public announcement systems typically consist of multiple speakers which are directed to an audience and which synchronously transmit the same audio signal. Public announcement systems with many speakers are widely used to make announcements in public, institutional and commercial buildings and locations, such as schools, stadiums and large passenger vessels and aircrafts.

<CIT> relates to an apparatus for generating filter characteristics for filters connectible to at least three loudspeakers at defined locations with respect to a sound reproduction zone hat includes an impulse response reverser for time-reversing impulse responses associated to the loudspeakers to obtain time-reversed impulse responses.

<CIT> relates to a method, which involves calculating dynamically a data set on the geometric relationships between speakers, focused sound sources and ears of the listener in all six degrees of freedom depending on the determined position and orientation of the head.

<CIT> relates to a wave field synthesis apparatus for driving an array of loudspeakers with drive signals, the loudspeakers being arranged at different defined positions, a drive signal for a loudspeaker being based on an audio signal associated with a virtual source having a virtual position with reference to the loudspeaker array and on the defined position of the loudspeaker, at first relevant loudspeakers of the loudspeaker array are determined on the basis of the position of the virtual source, a predefined listener position, and the defined positions of the loudspeakers.

<CIT> pertains to a beacon-based guidance functionality that assists the user in navigating over a desired route within an environment, wherein the environment is populated with a plurality of beacons having respective non-overlapping ranges. The desired route traverses ranges associated with a route-specific set of beacons, from among the plurality of beacons and the beacon-based guidance module generates guidance information which directs the user towards a next waypoint in the route.

According to a first aspect, the disclosure provides an apparatus as defined in the appended set of claims, the apparatus comprising circuitry configured to generate one or more focused sound sources as virtual loudspeakers of an announcement system.

According to a further aspect, the disclosure provides a method as defined in the appended set of claims, the method comprising generating one or more focused sound sources as virtual loudspeakers of an announcement system.

According to a further aspect, the disclosure provides a computer program as defined in the appended set of claims, the computer program comprising instructions, the instructions when executed on a processor, causing the processor to generate one or more focused sound sources as virtual loudspeakers of an announcement system.

Further aspects are set forth in the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

Before a detailed description of the embodiments under reference of <FIG> is given, some general explanations are made.

In the embodiments an apparatus is disclosed comprising circuitry configured to generate one or more focused sound sources as virtual loudspeakers of an announcement system.

The announcement system may, for example, be a public announcement system. For example, the announcement system may be an announcement system for a museum, a railway station, an airport, a passenger hall, or the like. Even though the term "public" as used here also relates to spaces and/or rooms that are open to the public, such as a museum, a train station, an airport building, a passenger hall, a garden, or a park, the term "public" should not be considered as being restricted to spaces that are accessible to everybody. A public announcement system may also be installed in a school to address teachers and pupils, in a company or firm to address the employees of the company or firm, or the like.

Circuitry may include a processor, a memory (RAM, ROM or the like), a storage, input means (mouse, keyboard, camera, etc.), output means (display (e.g. liquid crystal, (organic) light emitting diode, etc.)), loudspeakers, etc., a (wireless) interface, etc., as it is generally known for electronic devices (computers, smartphones, etc.). Moreover, it may include sensors for sensing still image or video image data (image sensor, camera sensor, video sensor, etc.), for sensing environmental parameters (e.g. radar, humidity, light, temperature), etc..

A focused sound source may, for example, be a sound field that gives the impression that an audio point source is located inside a predefined space or listening room (e.g. a museum, hall, park, etc.). Using focused sound sources may, for example, allow generating audio messages that are spatially confined. In particular, creating focused sound sources can be seen as a form of creating virtual loudspeakers.

The apparatus may comprise one or more video cameras that are distributed over a predefined space. For example, the video cameras may be comprised in a camera array that monitors a public space such as a passenger hall.

The circuitry may be configured to use Wavefield synthesis and/or monopole synthesis techniques to generate focused sound sources. Wavefield synthesis and/or monopole synthesis techniques may be used to generate a sound field that gives the impression that an audio point source is located inside a predefined space or listening room (e.g. a museum, hall, etc.). Such an impression can, for example, be achieved by using a Wavefield synthesis or monopole synthesis approach that drives a loudspeaker array such that the impression of a focused sound source is generated.

The circuitry may be configured to generate a focused sound source that is located at a predefined position of a predefined space. For example, the circuitry may be configured to generate a focused sound source that is located at an exit door, a passenger hall, or at an emergency exit of a building.

The circuitry may be configured to generate one or more audio messages at the focused sound sources. For example, audio messages (PA messages) of a public announcement system may be generated using the focused sound sources.

A focused sound source may, for example, be a sound field that gives the impression that an audio point source is located at a specific position in a predefined space. For example, the circuitry may be configured to generate one or more focused sound sources that allow generating audio messages that are spatially confined.

The circuitry may be configured to generate multiple focused sound sources that are combined to form arbitrarily shaped audio areas.

Still further, the circuitry may be configured to generate a focused sound source that directs a person to a specific position of a predefined space. For example, the circuitry may be configured to generate a focused sound source that directs a passenger to an exit of a passenger hall.

The circuitry may be configured to generate a focused sound source that is located close to an exit door.

Still further, the circuitry may be configured to generate person-individual focused sound sources. A public announcement system which uses focused sound sources as a form of creating virtual loudspeakers may be able to simultaneously convey multiple public announcement messages to different areas of interest.

The circuitry may be configured to apply image recognition techniques to images obtained by a camera array to obtain the positions of persons in a predefined space. Any known image recognition technique, such as pattern recognition, machine learning, or the like, may be applied for this purpose.

According to some embodiments, the circuitry is configured to calculate a trajectory that represents the path that a person should take to arrive at a predefined destination. For example, based on the position of a person in a predefined space (e.g. a passenger hall) and based on the predefined position of a destination (e.g. an exit door) in the predefined space, a public announcement system may calculate a trajectory representing the path that the person should take to arrive at the destination. On this trajectory, the public announcement system may place a focused sound source that is located close to a person. This focused sound source may generate an audio message such as "Please find the exit here".

Still further, the circuitry may be configured to adapt the loudness of an audio message so that the audio message is primarily audible for a specific person who is located close to a focused sound source, but less audible, or substantially inaudible, for other persons who are located father away from the focused sound source. It might also be possible to use signals of different character (e.g., male vs. female voice) to have a better separation of messages. The system could take this into account when generating the audio message for a specific person.

The circuitry may be configured to generate for each of a plurality of persons an individually focused sound source. With such individual focused sound sources, a public announcement system may guide persons individually to a specific destination.

Still further, the circuitry may be configured to generate a focused sound source that is moving. For example, by applying image recognition techniques to images obtained by a camera array, a public announcement system may obtain the position of a person in a predefined space. Based on this position of the person in the predefined space and based on the predefined position of a destination in the predefined space, the public announcement system may calculate a trajectory that represents the path that a person should take to arrive from his position at the destination. On this trajectory, the public announcement system may place a focused sound source that is located close to the person. This focused sound source may generate an audio message "Please find the exit here". The person will thus move into the direction of the focused sound source, i.e. in the direction where it perceives the audio message emerging from. This process of placing the focused sound source in accordance with the position of a person may be repeated until the person arrives at the destination.

Also, the circuitry may be configured to generate a focused sound source whose position is changed dynamically following a predefined trajectory in a smooth way.

The circuitry may be configured to generate multiple focused sound sources for emitting multiple audio messages at the same time. For example, by applying image recognition techniques to the images obtained by a camera array, a public announcement system may obtain the position of persons in a predefined space. By image matching techniques, the public announcement system may further determine the identity of the persons located in the predefined space. Based on the identity information the public announcement system may query a data base that stores check-in information concerning the persons in order to obtain the respective destinations to which the persons should go to (e.g. gate A1 for a first passenger and gate B2 for a second passenger located in a passenger hall of an airport). Close to each position of each person, the public announcement system may place a focused sound source. Each focused sound source may generate an audio message that directs the respective person to his destination. Persons can thus receive individual messages that direct them to their respective destinations.

The circuitry may be configured to generate multiple audio messages at the same time that are used to address a person or a group of persons simultaneously with different messages. With a public announcement system that allows conveying several audio messages at the same time, the messages can be individualized for a person or a group of persons.

The circuitry may be configured to generate one or more audio messages, each audio message depending on a location of a person, a destination of the person, and/or person-specific information of the person. For example, a public announcement system may guide a person in an airport such that he can easily transfer from one gate to another, if the public announcement system knows what his connecting flight is.

The embodiments also disclose a method comprising generating one or more focused sound sources as virtual loudspeakers of an announcement system. The method may comprise any of the processes and/or operations that are described above or in the detailed description of the embodiments below.

The embodiments also disclose a computer program comprising instructions, the instructions when executed on a processor, causing the processor to generate one or more focused sound sources as virtual loudspeakers of an announcement system. The computer program may implement any of the processes and/or operations that are described above or in the detailed description of the embodiments below.

<FIG> schematically describes an embodiment of an electronic system that can act as a public announcement system. The electronic system <NUM> comprises a CPU <NUM> as processor. The electronic device <NUM> further comprises a microphone <NUM>, a loudspeaker array <NUM> and a camera array <NUM> that are connected to the processor <NUM>. Microphone <NUM> can for example be used to generate audio messages that are distributed via the public announcement system. Loudspeaker array <NUM> consists of one or more loudspeakers that are distributed over the predefined space. Camera array <NUM> consists of one or more video cameras that are distributed over the predefined space. The electronic device <NUM> further comprises a user interface <NUM> that is connected to the processor <NUM>. This user interface <NUM> acts as a man-machine interface and enables a dialogue between an administrator and the electronic system. For example, an administrator may make configurations to the system using this user interface <NUM>. The electronic system <NUM> further comprises an Ethernet interface <NUM>, a Bluetooth interface <NUM>, and a WLAN interface <NUM>. These units <NUM>, <NUM> act as I/O interfaces for data communication with external devices. For example, additional loudspeakers, microphones, and video cameras with Ethernet, WLAN or Bluetooth connection may be coupled to the processor <NUM> via these interfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The electronic device <NUM> further comprises a data storage <NUM> and a data memory <NUM> (here a RAM). The data memory <NUM> is arranged to temporarily store or cache data or computer instructions for processing by the processor <NUM>. The data storage <NUM> is arranged as a long term storage, e.g., for recording sensor data obtained from the microphone <NUM> and the camera array <NUM>. The data storage <NUM> may also store audio data that represents audio messages which the public announcement system may transport to persons moving in the predefined space.

It should be noted that the description above is only an example configuration. Alternative configurations may be implemented with additional or other sensors, storage devices, interfaces, or the like.

<FIG> schematically depicts a public announcement system that generates a focused sound source. Here, the public space is a passenger hall <NUM> within an airport building. A loudspeaker array of the public announcement system comprises loudspeakers SP1 to SP10 that are arranged at the walls of the passenger hall <NUM>. Using techniques such as Wavefield synthesis, the public announcement system generates a focused sound source <NUM> that is located in the middle of the passenger hall <NUM>.

The focused sound source <NUM> generates an audio message "Passenger John Doe, please immediately go to gate A1!" that is distributed in hall <NUM>.

By focused sound source, it is referred here to a sound field that gives the impression that an audio point source is located inside the listening room (e.g., museum, hall, etc.). Such an impression can be achieved by using a Wavefield synthesis approach that drives the surrounding loudspeakers SP1 to SP10 such that the impression of a focused sound source is generated (see <FIG> and corresponding description below). Using focused sound sources for public announcement systems as described above with regard to <FIG> allows generating audio messages that are spatially confined. In particular, creating focused sound sources can be seen as a form of creating virtual loudspeakers.

In <FIG> there is displayed only one focused sound source <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, several focused sound sources are combined to form arbitrarily shaped audio areas.

<FIG> schematically depicts a public announcement system that generates a focused sound source that directs passengers P1 and P2 to an exit door <NUM> of a passenger hall <NUM>. As in the embodiment of <FIG> a loudspeaker array of the public announcement system comprises loudspeakers SP1 to SP10 that are arranged at the walls of the passenger hall <NUM>. Using techniques such as Wavefield synthesis, the public announcement system generates a focused sound source <NUM> that is located close to the exit door <NUM> of passenger hall <NUM>. The focused sound source <NUM> generates an audio message "Please find the exit here" that is distributed within the passenger hall <NUM>. The focused sound source <NUM> gives the impression that an audio point source is located in front of the exit door <NUM>. Passengers P1 and P2 thus can move into the direction of the focused sound source <NUM>, i.e. in the direction where they perceive the audio message emerging from and they will automatically arrive at the exit door <NUM>. That is, the audio message that is emitted by focused sound source <NUM> leads passengers P1 and P2 to exit door <NUM>.

That is, according to the embodiment of <FIG>, as the listener gets the impression of a source inside the room/hall, location information can be attached to an audio message without having the need to install a physical loudspeaker at the desired location (which might be impractical or even impossible, e.g., in the case of a moving source).

<FIG> schematically depicts a public announcement system that generates passenger-individual sound sources. As in the embodiments of <FIG> and <FIG> a loudspeaker array of the public announcement system comprises loudspeakers SP1 to SP10 that are arranged at the walls of a passenger hall <NUM>. In addition, the public announcement system comprises a camera array that comprises cameras C1 to C6 that are arranged at the walls of passenger hall <NUM>. The cameras C1 to C6 produce images of the passenger hall <NUM>. By applying image recognition techniques to the images obtained by cameras C1 to C6, the public announcement system obtains the position of passengers P1 and P2 in passenger hall <NUM>. Based on the position of passenger P1 in passenger hall <NUM> and based on the predefined position of exit door <NUM> in passenger hall <NUM>, the public announcement system calculates trajectory T1 that represents the path that passenger P1 should take to arrive at exit door <NUM>. On this trajectory T1, the public announcement system places a focused sound source <NUM> that is located close to passenger P1. This focused sound source <NUM> generates an audio message "Please find the exit here". As the focused sound source <NUM> is located close to passenger P1, the loudness of the audio message can be adapted so that the audio message is primarily and clearly audible for passenger P1, but not prominent for passenger P2 who is located far away from the focused sound source <NUM>. Similarly, based on the position of passenger P2 in passenger hall <NUM> and based on the predefined position of exit door <NUM> in passenger hall <NUM>, the public announcement system calculates trajectory T2 that represents the path that passenger P2 should take to arrive at exit door <NUM>. On this trajectory T2, the public announcement system places a focused sound source <NUM> that is located close to passenger P2. This focused sound source <NUM> generates an audio message "Please find the exit here". As the focused sound source <NUM> is located close to passenger P2, the loudness of the audio message can be adapted so that the audio message is primarily and clearly audible for passenger P2, but not prominent for passenger P1 who is located far away from the focused sound source <NUM>.

Passengers P1 and P2 thus can move into the direction of the focused sound sources <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, i.e. in the direction where they perceive the audio message emerging from and they will automatically arrive at the exit door <NUM>. That is, the audio message that is emitted by focused sound sources <NUM> and <NUM> leads passengers P1 and P2 to the exit door <NUM>. As the audio message is emitted for each passenger P1, P2 by a person sound source <NUM>, <NUM>, each passenger is individually guided to exit door <NUM> on an optimized path.

<FIG> schematically depicts a process that generates passenger-individual sound sources. At <NUM>, the process starts. At <NUM>, images of the passenger hall are obtained from a camera array. At <NUM>, image recognition techniques are applied to the images obtained by the camera array to identify the positions of passengers in the passenger hall. At <NUM>, for each passenger, a trajectory is calculated that represents the path that a passenger should take from his position to arrive at the exit door based on his position and based on the predefined position of the exit door. At <NUM>, for each passenger, a focused sound source is placed on the calculated trajectory close to the passenger. At <NUM>, for each focused sound source, an audio message "Please find the exit here" is generated at the focused sound source. At <NUM> it is tested if all passengers have arrived at the exit door. If yes, at <NUM>, the process ends. If no, operations <NUM> to <NUM> are repeated.

<FIG> schematically depicts a public announcement system that generates a moving sound source. As in the embodiment of <FIG> the public announcement system comprises a loudspeaker array comprising loudspeakers SP1 to SP10 that are arranged at the walls of a passenger hall <NUM>. In addition, the public announcement system comprises a camera array that comprises cameras C1 to C6 that are arranged at the walls of passenger hall <NUM>. The cameras C1 to C6 produce images of the passenger hall <NUM>. By applying image recognition techniques to the images obtained by cameras C1 to C6, the public announcement system obtains the position P1a of a passenger P1 at position P1a in passenger hall <NUM>. Based on the position P1a of passenger P1 in passenger hall <NUM> and based on the predefined position of exit door <NUM> in passenger hall <NUM>, the public announcement system calculates a trajectory T1a that represents the path that passenger P1 should take to arrive from location P1a at exit door <NUM>. On this trajectory T1a, the public announcement system places a focused sound source 502a that is located close to passenger P1 at position P1a. This focused sound source 502a generates an audio message "Please find the exit here". As the focused sound source 502a is located close to passenger P1 at position P1a, the loudness of the audio message can be adapted in such a manner that the audio message is primarily and clearly audible for passenger P1, but not prominent for other passengers (not shown in <FIG>) located in the passenger hall <NUM>. Passenger P1 will thus move into the direction of the focused sound source 502a, i.e. in the direction where he perceives the audio message emerging from. By applying image recognition techniques to the images obtained by cameras C1 to C6, the public announcement system obtains a next position P1b of passenger P1 at position P1b in passenger hall <NUM>. Based on position P1b of passenger P1 in passenger hall <NUM> and based on the predefined position of exit door <NUM> in passenger hall <NUM>, the public announcement system calculates a trajectory T1b that represents the path that passenger P1 should take to arrive from location P1b at exit door <NUM>. On this trajectory T1b, the public announcement system places a focused sound source 502b that is located close to passenger P1 at position P1b. This focused sound source 502b generates an audio message "Please find the exit here". Passenger P1 will thus move into the direction of the focused sound source 502b, i.e. in the direction where he perceives the audio message emerging from. Again, by applying image recognition techniques to the images obtained by cameras C1 to C6, the public announcement system obtains a next position P1c of passenger P1 at position P1c in passenger hall <NUM>. Based on position P1c of passenger P1 in passenger hall <NUM> and based on the predefined position of exit door <NUM> in passenger hall <NUM>, the public announcement system calculates a trajectory T1c that represents the path that passenger P1 should take to arrive from location P1c at exit door <NUM>. On this trajectory T1c, the public announcement system places a focused sound source 502c that is located close to passenger P1 at position P1c. This focused sound source 502c generates an audio message "Please find the exit here". Passenger P1 will thus move into the direction of the focused sound source 502c, i.e. in the direction where he perceives the audio message emerging from. Again, by applying image recognition techniques to the images obtained by cameras C1 to C6, the public announcement system obtains a next position P1d of passenger P1 at position P1d in passenger hall <NUM>. Based on position P1d of passenger P1 in passenger hall <NUM> and based on the predefined position of exit door <NUM> in passenger hall <NUM>, the public announcement system calculates a trajectory T1d that represents the path that passenger P1 should take to arrive from location P1d at exit door <NUM>. On this trajectory T1d, the public announcement system places a focused sound source 502d that is located close to passenger P1 at position P1d. This focused sound source 502d generates an audio message "Please find the exit here". Passenger P1 will thus move into the direction of the focused sound source 502d, i.e. in the direction where he perceives the audio message emerging from. This process of moving the focused sound source in accordance with the position of passenger P1 is repeated, until passenger P1 arrives at the exit door <NUM>.

That is, by the embodiment of <FIG>, the position of a focused sound source can be changed dynamically following an arbitrarily trajectory in a smooth way.

<FIG> schematically depicts a process that generates a moving sound source. At <NUM>, the process starts. At <NUM>, images of the passenger hall are obtained from a camera array. At <NUM>, image recognition techniques are applied to the images obtained by the camera array to identify the position of a passenger. At <NUM>, a trajectory is calculated that represents the path that the passenger should take from his position to arrive at the exit door based on the position of the passenger and based on the predefined position of the exit door. At <NUM>, a focused sound source is placed on the calculated trajectory close to the passenger. At <NUM>, an audio message "Please find the exit here" is generated at the focused sound source. At <NUM>, it is tested if the passenger has arrived at the exit door. If yes, at <NUM>, the process ends. If not, the process repeats operations <NUM> to <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically depicts a public announcement system that generates multiple audio messages at the same time. As in the embodiment of <FIG>, a public announcement system comprises a loudspeaker array comprising loudspeakers SP1 to SP10 that are arranged at the walls of a passenger hall <NUM>. In addition, the public announcement system comprises a camera array that comprises cameras C1 to C6 that are arranged at the walls of passenger hall <NUM>. The cameras C1 to C6 produce images of the passenger hall <NUM>. By applying image recognition techniques to the images obtained by cameras C1 to C6, the public announcement system obtains the position of passengers P1 and P2 in passenger hall <NUM> and by image matching techniques, the public announcement system determines the identity of passengers P1 and P2. Based on the identity information, the public announcement system queries a data base that stores check-in information concerning passengers P1 and P2 in order to obtain the respective gates to which passengers P1 and P2 should go to, here gate A1 for passenger P1 and gate B2 for passenger P2. Close to the position of passenger P1 in passenger hall <NUM>, the public announcement system places a focused sound source <NUM>. This focused sound source <NUM> generates a first audio message "Please go to gate A1". As the focused sound source <NUM> is located close to passenger P1, the loudness of the audio message can be adapted in such a manner that the audio message is primarily and clearly audible for passenger P1, but not prominent for passenger P2 who is located far away from the focused sound source <NUM>. Similarly, the public announcement system places a focused sound source <NUM> close to the position of passenger P2 in passenger hall <NUM>. This focused sound source <NUM> generates a second audio message "Please go to gate B2". As the focused sound source <NUM> is located close to passenger P2, the loudness of the audio message can be adapted in such a manner that the audio message is primarily and clearly audible for passenger P2, but not prominent for passenger P1 who is located far away from the focused sound source <NUM>. Passengers P1 and P2 thus receive individual messages that direct them to their respective gates A1 and B2.

According to this embodiment, multiple audio messages at the same time (e.g., with the help of focused sound sources) are used to address a person or a group of persons simultaneously with different messages. As the public announcement system allows conveying several audio messages at the same time, the messages can be individualized for a person or a group of persons. For example, the conveyed message could depend on the person's location. Even more, the audio message could depend on person-specific information, for example, if the public announcement system wants to guide a person in an airport such that he can easily transfer from one gate to another, if the public announcement system knows what his connecting flight is.

The embodiment of <FIG> which provides multiple messages for multiple focused sound sources may allow to individually address individual persons and/or groups, it may be time efficient as multiple messages can be conveyed at the same time. This may be helpful, e.g., in emergency situations to convey individual information and by this provide different escape routes. Also, such a public announcement system may be helpful, e.g., in a train station where persons may be guided differently to avoid congestion.

<FIG> schematically depicts a process that generates multiple audio messages at the same time. At <NUM>, the process starts. At <NUM>, the images of the passenger hall are obtained from a camera array. At <NUM>, image recognition techniques are applied to the images obtained by the camera array to identify the positions of passengers in the passenger hall. At <NUM>, image matching is performed to determine the identities of the passengers in passenger hall. At <NUM>, based on the obtained identity information, a data base is queried that stores check-in information concerning identified passengers in order to obtain the respective gates to which the passengers should go to. At <NUM>, for each identified passenger, a focused sound source is placed close to the passenger. At <NUM>, for each identified passenger, an audio message is generated that directs the passenger to his gate. At <NUM>, it is tested if all passengers arrived at their respective gates. If yes, at <NUM>, the process ends. If not, the process repeats operations <NUM> to <NUM>.

<FIG> provides an embodiment of a system which implements a method that is based on a digitalized Monopole Synthesis algorithm in the case of integer delays.

The theoretical background of this system is described in more detail in patent application <CIT>.

The technique which is implemented in the embodiments of <CIT> is conceptually similar to the Wave field synthesis, which uses a restricted number of acoustic enclosures to generate a defined sound field. The fundamental basis of the generation principle of the embodiments is, however, specific, since the synthesis does not try to model the sound field exactly but is based on a least square approach.

A target sound field is modelled as at least one target monopole placed at a defined target position. In one embodiment, the target sound field is modelled as one single target monopole. In other embodiments, the target sound field is modelled as multiple target monopoles placed at respective defined target positions. The position of a target monopole may be moving. For example, a target monopole may adapt to the movement of a noise source to be attenuated. If multiple target monopoles are used to represent a target sound field, then the methods of synthesizing the sound of a target monopole based on a set of defined synthesis monopoles as described below may be applied for each target monopole independently, and the contributions of the synthesis monopoles obtained for each target monopole may be summed to reconstruct the target sound field.

A source signal x(n) is fed to delay units labelled by z-np and to amplification units ap, where p = <NUM>,. , N is the index of the respective synthesis monopole used for synthesizing the target monopole signal. The delay and amplification units according to this embodiment may apply equation (<NUM>) to compute the resulting signals yp(n) = sp(n) which are used to synthesize the target monopole signal. The resulting signals sp(n) are power amplified and fed to loudspeaker Sp.

In this embodiment, the synthesis is thus performed in the form of delayed and amplified components of the source signal x.

According to this embodiment, the delay np for a synthesis monopole indexed p is corresponding to the propagation time of sound for the Euclidean distance r = Rp0 = |rp - ro| between the target monopole ro and the generator rp. For the synthesis of focused sound sources, the delays are inverted (negative value for np ). Since this result in a non-causal system, in practice this is realized by using a buffered solution, where the buffer size is chosen to cover the assumed range of delays necessary to place the source inside of the speakers' area. For example, if the maximum distance from a speaker to the focused source is Rmax, the buffer size should be an integer value Nmax = <MAT>, where c is the speed of sound and fs the sampling rate of the system.

Further, according to this embodiment, the amplification factor <MAT> is inversely proportional to the distance r = Rp0.

In alternative embodiments of the system, the modified amplification factor according to equation (<NUM>) of <CIT> can be used.

In yet alternative embodiments of the system, a mapping factor as described with regard to Fig. <NUM> of <CIT> can be used to modify the amplification.

It should be recognized that the embodiments describe methods with an exemplary ordering of method steps. The specific ordering of method steps is, however, given for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as binding.

It should also be noted that the division of the control or circuitry of <FIG> and <FIG> into units is only made for illustration purposes and that the present disclosure is not limited to any specific division of functions in specific units. For instance, at least parts of the circuitry could be implemented by a respectively programmed processor, field programmable gate array (FPGA), dedicated circuits, and the like.

All units and entities described in this specification and claimed in the appended claims can, if not stated otherwise, be implemented as integrated circuit logic, for example, on a chip, and functionality provided by such units and entities can, if not stated otherwise, be implemented by software.

Claim 1:
An apparatus comprising circuitry configured to
generate one or more focused sound sources as virtual loudspeakers of an announcement system, the one or more focused sound sources being generated by a plurality of loudspeakers of the apparatus distributed over a predefined space;
apply image recognition techniques to images obtained by a camera array of the apparatus distributed over the predefined space to obtain positions of at least one person in the predefined space;
characterised in that the circuitry is configured to:
calculate a trajectory representing the path that the at least one person should take to arrive at a predefined destination based on the current position of the at least one person in the predefined space and based on the predefined position of the destination in the predefined space, and
generate a focused sound source of the one or more focused sound sources at a position on the calculated trajectory close to the at least one person.