Dynamic sound controller and method therefor

A dynamic noise masking system for operation in a room, said system comprising:

• means for producing random masking noise,
• means for providing a plurality of cyclic predetermined timed intervals,
• first means operative with said providing means for changing the spectral shape of said noise in a predetermined cyclic fashion,
• second means operative with said providing means for changing the amplitude of said noise in a predetermined cyclic fashion, and
• a plurality of speakers receptive of said noise modified by said first and second means for injecting said modified noise into said room.

A sound control system for operation in a room of a building having a set of loudspeakers mounted thereon:

• first means operative with said speakers for extending masking noise into said room,
• second means operative with said speakers for extending music above the level of said masking noise into said room,
• third means operative with said speakers for extending paging signals above the level of said music,
• means in said third means responsive to the presence of fire in said building for extending emergency commands to said speakers, and
• fourth means operative with said speakers for selectively listening to the sound in said room for signaling the presence of an intruder in said room, said speakers being capable of microphonic pick-up when said fourth means is selectively activated.

A method for dynamically controlling masking noise in a room, said method comprising the steps of:

• determining the spectrum and amplitude of ambient noise in the room at different intervals during a day of twenty-four hours,
• determining the spectrum and amplitude of instrusion noise at different intervals during the day,
• generating random masking noise, and
• continually modifying the amplitude and spectrum of the masking noise to mask over the determined ambient and intrusion noise at the different intervals, said step of modifying being cyclic day-by-day.