# US 12,113,585 B2 · Speaker output fault monitoring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,113,585 B2 - Document ID: US12113585B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/579,580 - Filed: 2022-01-19 - Published: 2022-07-21 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-01-21 - Assignees: Biamp Systems, LLC - Applicants: Biamp Systems, LLC - Inventors: Jacob Peter Campbell; Aaron Faulstich - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113585B2 ## CPC - H04R 29/007: {for public address systems (public address systems per se H04R27/00)} - G10L 25/18: the extracted parameters being spectral information of each sub-band - G10L 25/21: the extracted parameters being power information - G10L 25/51: for comparison or discrimination - H04R 3/12: for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers {(specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407)} - H04R 5/04: Circuit arrangements, {e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments (combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S)} - H04R 29/002: {Loudspeaker arrays} - 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) - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING ## Abstract An example method includes monitoring audio channels, determining an energy level of the audio channels, identifying a fault of one or more of the audio channels based on the energy level, and determining whether the fault is a low confidence measurement or a high confidence measurement. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: monitoring a plurality of audio channels; determining an energy level on the plurality of audio channels; identifying a fault of one or more of the plurality of audio channels based on the energy level; determining whether the fault is a low confidence measurement or a high confidence measurement; and wherein determining the energy level on the plurality of audio channels comprises determining whether a masking noise is present on the plurality of audio channels. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the fault comprises one or more of a short circuit or open circuit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, when the fault is determined to be the low confidence measurement, determining whether a low frequency tone signal is present on one or more of the plurality of audio channels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, determining the fault exists when the low frequency tone signal is not present on one or more of the plurality of audio channels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising determining the masking noise is present; determining whether the masking noise is above a threshold energy level; and determining the fault is the high confidence measurement when the masking noise is above the threshold energy level. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising Determining the masking noise is present; determining whether the masking noise is above a threshold energy level; and determining the fault is the low confidence measurement when the masking noise is not above the threshold energy level. ### Claim 7 An apparatus comprising: a processor configured to monitor a plurality of audio channels; determine an energy level on the plurality of audio channels; identify a fault of one or more of the plurality of audio channels based on the energy level; determine whether the fault is a low confidence measurement or a high confidence measurement; and wherein the processor determines the energy level on the plurality of audio channels by being configured to determine whether a masking noise is present on the plurality of audio channels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fault comprises one or more of a short circuit or open circuit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, when the fault is determined to be the low confidence measurement, the processor determines whether a low frequency tone signal is present on one or more of the plurality of audio channels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to determine the fault exists when the low frequency tone signal is not present on one or more of the plurality of audio channels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the masking noise is present; determine whether the masking noise is above a threshold energy level; and determine the fault is the high confidence measurement when the masking noise is above the threshold energy level. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to determine the masking noise is present; determine whether the masking noise is above a threshold energy level; and determine the fault is a low confidence measurement when the masking noise is not above the threshold energy level. ### Claim 13 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform: monitoring a plurality of audio channels; determining an energy level on the plurality of audio channels; identifying a fault of one or more of the plurality of audio channels based on the energy level; determining whether the fault is a low confidence measurement or a high confidence measurement; and wherein determining the energy level on the plurality of audio channels comprises determining whether a masking noise is present on the plurality of audio channels. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the fault comprises one or more of a short circuit or open circuit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein when the fault is determined to be the low confidence measurement, determining whether a low frequency tone signal is present on one or more of the plurality of audio channels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the determining the fault exists when the low frequency tone signal is not present on one or more of the plurality of audio channels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to perform: determining the masking noise is present; determining whether the masking noise is above a threshold energy level; and determining the fault is the high confidence measurement when the masking noise is above the threshold energy level.