Networked sound masking system

A sound masking system for controlling the ambient noise in a physical environment, said sound masking system comprising:

• a control communication network configured for controlling a plurality of sound masking units in said physical environment;
• at least some of said sound masking units including a controller and a communication interface for coupling to said control communication network for receiving control signals over said control communication network, and said controller being responsive to said control signals for generating a sound masking signal and said control signals including a masking volume setting command and a masking frequency setting command;
• a control unit configured to generate said control signals including said masking control setting command and said masking frequency setting command, and said control unit having a communication interface for coupling to said communication network for sending said control signals to selectively control operation of said plurality of sound masking units.

A sound masking system for controlling the ambient noise in a physical environment, said sound masking system comprising:

• a sound masking control communication network in said physical environment;
• a plurality of sound masking units, at least some of said sound masking units including a controller having a component for generating a sound masking output signal and a communication interface for coupling to said sound masking control communication network for receiving and transmitting control information over said sound masking control communication network, and said control information including address information identifying one or more of said sound masking units, and said controller being responsive to said control information addressed to said associated sound masking unit for controlling said sound masking output signal;
• and a control unit configured to generate said control information including said address information, and said control unit having a communication interface for coupling to said sound masking control communication network for transmitting said control information to selectively control operation of said plurality of sound masking units, wherein said control information includes a sound masking volume command and a sound masking frequency command.

A sound masking system for masking sound in a physical environment, said sound masking system comprising:

• a sound masking control communication network for said physical environment;
• a plurality of sound masking units, at least some of said sound masking units including a sound masking generator and a communication interface for coupling to said sound masking control communication network for receiving a plurality of control signals over said sound masking control communication network including a masking volume control command and a masking frequency control command, and said sound masking generator being responsive to said masking volume control command and said sound masking frequency control command for generating a sound masking output signal, said sound masking output signal having a volume derived from said masking volume control command and a frequency characteristic derived from said sound masking frequency control command;
• a control unit configured to generate said control signals including said masking volume control command and said masking frequency control command, and said control unit having a communication interface for coupling to said communication network for transmitting said control signals to selectively control operation of said plurality of sound masking units.