# US 10,321,544 B1 · Acoustics-based street light control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,321,544 B1 - Document ID: US10321544B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/117,047 - Filed: 2018-08-30 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-30 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Dipyaman Banerjee; Kuntal Dey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10321544B1 ## CPC - H05B 47/12: by detecting audible sound - G01S 3/80: using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves - G01S 5/18: using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves - G01S 11/14: using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves - H04R 1/028: {associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles} - H04R 1/406: {microphones} - H04R 3/005: {for combining the signals of two or more microphones (specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - H04R 29/005: {Microphone arrays} - H05B 47/175: by remote control - H04R 2430/20: Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic (H04R2203/12 takes precedence) - H05B 47/1965: {using handheld communication devices} - H05B 47/197: {Sound control or voice control} - Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A computer-implemented method for acoustics-based light source control of a lighting system is provided. The method may include detecting sounds emitted by a sound source from positions located along the path. A velocity of the sound source is determined with respect to a point on the path based on the detected sound emissions. A spatio-temporal trajectory of the sound source is based on the determined velocity and a topography of the path at the positions of the sound source. One or more light sources positioned adjacent to the determined trajectory are identified. Responsive to determining that a distance between the sound source and the identified light sources does not exceed a predetermined threshold, the identified light sources are energized to illuminate the length of the path ahead of the sound source. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method for acoustics-based light source control of a lighting system, wherein the lighting system is configured to illuminate a path, the method comprising: detecting, by one or more acoustic sensors, sounds emitted by a sound source from positions located along the path; determining a velocity of the sound source with respect to a point on the path based on the detected sound emissions; determining a spatio-temporal trajectory of the sound source based on the determined velocity and a topography of the path at the positions of the sound source, wherein the trajectory corresponds to a length of the path and is associated with a direction of motion of the sound source along the path; identifying one or more light sources of the lighting system positioned adjacent to the determined spatio-temporal trajectory based on the topography of the path at the positions of the sound source, the positions of the one or more light sources along the path, and the determined spatio-temporal trajectory; and in response to determining that a distance between the sound source and the identified light sources does not exceed a predetermined threshold, energizing the one or more light sources to illuminate the length of the path ahead of the sound source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to determining that a distance between the sound source and the identified light sources exceeds the predetermined threshold, de-energizing the identified light sources. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: mapping the topography of the path at the positions of the sound source to the positions of the one or more identified light sources along the path. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: modulating illumination intensity of the one or more energized light sources based on a position and the velocity of the sound source and positions of the light sources along the path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein energizing the one or more light sources to illuminate the length of the path ahead of the sound source comprises: detecting, by one or more acoustic sensors, sounds emitted by sound sources from positions located along the path; and modulating illumination intensity of the one or more energized light sources based on a number of the detected sound sources. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the trajectory comprises a length of the path ahead of and coinciding with the direction of motion of the sound source along the path. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising: communicating, among light source controllers, data corresponding to one or more of the detected sound emissions, the determined velocity, and the topography of the path with respect to the positions of the sound source along the path, wherein the data is implemented by each light source controller to control energization of one or more of the light sources positioned adjacent to the determined trajectory of the sound source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the velocity of the sound source based on the detected sound emissions comprises: determining a first and second position of the sound source with respect to first and second time periods based on the detected sounds emitted by the sound source during each respective period; determining a direction of motion of the sound source based on respective distances of the determined first and second positions from a reference point, wherein the reference point corresponds to a location of an acoustic sensor by which the emitted sounds are detected; and determining a speed of the sound source by division of a first quantity by a second quantity, wherein the first quantity comprises a difference between the respective distances of the first and second positions from the reference point, and wherein the second quantity comprises a time lag between the first and second time periods during which the emitted sounds are detected. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the velocity of the sound source based on the detected sound emissions comprises: determining a first position of the sound source with respect to a first time period based on the detected sounds emitted by the sound source during the first period and sounds detected by a first acoustic sensor with respect to a first reference point corresponding to a location of the first acoustic sensor, wherein the first position of the sound source corresponds to the location of the first reference point during the first time period at a point when an intensity of the detected sounds transitions from increasing to decreasing; determining a second position of the sound source with respect to a second time period based on the detected sounds emitted by the sound source during the second period and sounds detected by a second acoustic sensor with respect to a second reference point corresponding to a location of the second acoustic sensor, wherein the second position of the sound source corresponds to the location of the second reference point during the second time period at a point when an intensity of the detected sounds transitions from increasing to decreasing; determining a direction of motion of the sound source based on the relative locations of the first and second reference points and an order in which the first and second position of the sound source coincides with the locations of the first and second reference points; and determining a speed of the sound source by division of a first quantity by a second quantity, wherein the first quantity comprises a distance between the first and second reference points, and wherein the second quantity comprises a time lag beginning at the point during the first time period at which the intensity of the detected sounds transitions from increasing to decreasing, and ending at the point during the second time period at which the intensity of the detected sounds transitions from increasing to decreasing. ### Claim 10 A computer system for acoustics-based light source control of a lighting system, wherein the lighting system is configured to illuminate a path, the computer system comprising: one or more computer processors, one or more computer-readable storage media, and program instructions stored on one or more of the computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions, when executed by the at least one of the one or more computer processors, causing the computer system to perform a method comprising: detecting, by one or more acoustic sensors, sounds emitted by a sound source from positions located along the path; determining a velocity of the sound source with respect to a point on the path based on the detected sound emissions; determining a spatio-temporal trajectory of the sound source based on the determined velocity and a topography of the path at the positions of the sound source, wherein the trajectory corresponds to a length of the path and is associated with a direction of motion of the sound source along the path; identifying one or more light sources of the lighting system positioned adjacent to the determined spatio-temporal trajectory based on the topography of the path at the positions of the sound source, the positions of the one or more light sources along the path, and the determined spatio-temporal trajectory; and in response to determining that a distance between the sound source and the identified light sources does not exceed a predetermined threshold, energizing the one or more light sources to illuminate the length of the path ahead of the sound source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer system of claim 10, the method further comprising: in response to determining that a distance between the sound source and the identified light sources exceeds the predetermined threshold, de-energizing the identified light sources. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The computer system of claim 10, further comprising: mapping the topography of the path at the positions of the sound source to the positions of the one or more identified light sources along the path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The computer system of claim 10, the method further comprising: modulating illumination intensity of the one or more energized light sources based on a position and the velocity of the sound source and positions of the light sources along the path. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer system of claim 13, the method further comprising: detecting, by one or more acoustic sensors, sounds emitted by sound sources from positions located along the path; and modulating illumination intensity of the one or more energized light sources based on a number of the detected sound sources. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The computer system of claim 10, wherein the trajectory comprises a length of the path ahead of and coinciding with the direction of motion of the sound source along the path. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The computer system of claim 10, the method further comprising: communicating, among light source controllers, data corresponding to one or more of the detected sound emissions, the determined velocity, and the topography of the path with respect to the positions of the sound source along the path, wherein the data is implemented by each light source controller to control energization of one or more of the light sources positioned adjacent to the determined trajectory of the sound source. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The computer system of claim 10, wherein determining the velocity of the sound source based on the detected sound emissions comprises: determining a first and second position of the sound source with respect to first and second time periods based on the detected sounds emitted by the sound source during each respective period; determining a direction of motion of the sound source based on respective distances of the determined first and second positions from a reference point, wherein the reference point corresponds to a location of an acoustic sensor by which the emitted sounds are detected; and determining a speed of the sound source by division of a first quantity by a second quantity, wherein the first quantity comprises a difference between the respective distances of the first and second positions from the reference point, and wherein the second quantity comprises a time lag between the first and second time periods during which the emitted sounds are detected. ### Claim 18 A computer program product for acoustics-based light source control of a lighting system, wherein the lighting system is configured to illuminate a path, the computer program product comprising: one or more computer-readable storage devices and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable storage devices for execution by at least one or more computer processors of a computer system, the program instructions, when executed by the at least one of the one or more computer processors, causing the computer system to perform a method comprising: detecting, by one or more acoustic sensors, sounds emitted by a sound source from positions located along the path; determining a velocity of the sound source with respect to a point on the path based on the detected sound emissions; determining a spatio-temporal trajectory of the sound source based on the determined velocity and a topography of the path at the positions of the sound source, wherein the trajectory corresponds to a length of the path and is associated with a direction of motion of the sound source along the path; identifying one or more light sources of the lighting system positioned adjacent to the determined spatio-temporal trajectory based on the topography of the path at the positions of the sound source, the positions of the one or more light sources along the path, and the determined spatio-temporal trajectory; and in response to determining that a distance between the sound source and the identified light sources does not exceed a predetermined threshold, energizing the one or more light sources to illuminate the length of the path ahead of the sound source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The computer program product of claim 18, the method further comprising: in response to determining that a distance between the sound source and the identified light sources exceeds the predetermined threshold, de-energizing the identified light sources. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The computer program product of claim 18, the method further comprising: mapping the topography of the path at the positions of the sound source to the positions of the one or more identified light sources along the path.