# US 10,482,866 B2 · Masking open space noise using sound and corresponding visual > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,482,866 B2 - Document ID: US10482866B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/233,511 - Filed: 2016-08-10 - Published: 2016-12-01 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-20 - Assignees: Plantronics, Inc. - Applicants: Plantronics, Inc. - Inventors: Evan Harris Benway; Kwangsee Allen Woo; Dolores Frances Nelson; Ken Kannappan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482866B2 ## CPC - G10K 11/1754: {Speech masking} - H04K 1/04: by frequency scrambling, i.e. by transposing or inverting parts of the frequency band or by inverting the whole band - H04K 3/43: {characterized by the control of the jamming power, signal-to-noise ratio or geographic coverage area} - H04K 3/825: {by jamming} - H04K 3/84: {related to preventing electromagnetic interference in petrol station, hospital, plane or cinema} - H04R 1/323: {for loudspeakers (H04R1/34 and H04R1/40 take precedence)} - H04R 3/00: Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) - H04R 3/002: {Damping circuit arrangements for transducers, e.g. motional feedback circuits} - H04K 3/46: {characterized in that the jamming signal is produced by retransmitting a received signal, after delay or processing} - H04K 2203/12: for acoustic communication - H04R 2430/00: Signal processing covered by H04R, not provided for in its groups - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04K: SECRET COMMUNICATION; JAMMING OF COMMUNICATION - 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) ## Abstract Methods and apparatuses for addressing open space noise are disclosed. In one example, a method for masking open space noise includes outputting from a speaker a speaker sound corresponding to a flow of water, and displaying a water element system, the water element system generating a sound of flowing water. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for masking open space noise comprising: outputting a noise masking sound comprising a first sound of flowing water from a plurality of speakers being distributed in an open space; and reducing an adverse effect on a user hearing the first sound of flowing water from the plurality of speakers comprising displaying a water element system, the water element system generating a second sound of flowing water to mask open space noise, the second sound of flowing water combining with the first sound of flowing water in the open space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the water element system is a waterfall. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sound of flowing water a recording of a natural flow of water or an electronically synthesized sound of flow of water. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first sound of flowing water has been optimized to mask open space noise. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the water element system is a waterfall disposed in the open space, and the plurality of speakers include speakers disposed at varying distances from the waterfall, the method further comprising: adjusting an output level of the first sound of flowing water at a speaker in the plurality of speakers based on a distance of the speaker from the waterfall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting from the plurality of speakers a further noise masking sound comprising a pink noise. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the first sound of flowing water is output at a sound level to mask the pink noise. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the first sound of flowing water is optimized to mask a higher frequency open space noise than the pink noise. ### Claim 9 A system for masking open space noise comprising: a speaker arranged to output a speaker sound in an open space, the speaker sound comprising a sound corresponding to a flow of water and a noise configured to mask open space noise; and a display of flowing water disposed in the open space arranged to reduce an adverse effect on a user hearing the speaker sound comprising the sound corresponding to the flow of water and the noise configured to mask open space noise. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the speaker is one of a plurality of speakers which are disposed in a plenum above the open space and arranged to direct the speaker sound in a direction opposite the open space. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the display of flowing water is arranged to be visible from any location within the open space. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the display of flowing water comprises a floor-to-ceiling waterfall arranged to be visible from anywhere within the open space to reduce the adverse effect on the user hearing the speaker sound. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the speaker is one of a plurality of speakers disposed at varying distances from the display of flowing water, wherein an output level of the speaker sound from the speaker is adjusted based on a distance of the speaker from the display of flowing water. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the display of flowing water comprises a video recording of a visible flow of water shown on an electronic display screen. ### Claim 15 A method for masking open space noise comprising: outputting a first masking sound at a speaker to mask an open space noise; outputting a second masking sound comprising a sound of flowing water at the speaker to mask the first masking sound and mask the open space noise; and reducing an adverse effect on a user hearing the second masking sound comprising the sound of flowing water from the speaker comprising generating a flow of water, the flow of water emitting a water sound operable to mask the open space noise. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first masking sound is a pink noise and the second masking sound comprises an audio recording of the sound of flowing water. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first masking sound is a pink noise and the second masking sound comprises sounds associated with a nature environment, the nature environment comprising a rainforest. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the flow of water comprises a floor-to-ceiling waterfall arranged to be visible from anywhere within an open space to reduce the adverse effect on the user hearing the second masking sound. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein a first masking sound level of the first masking sound or a second masking sound level of the second masking sound are changed as a function of time.