Baby monitor and method for monitoring sounds and selectively controlling audio devices

Abstract

The present invention discloses a baby monitor system that incorporates into a receiver of the baby monitor circuitry that can remotely control an electric or electronic device when the output sound level of the receiver reaches a reference level. The control can be by infrared, radio frequency or hardwire transmission of a volume control command to the electric or electronic device. By incorporating this control system into the baby monitor, a parent is ensured to hear sounds of a baby.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A monitor system, comprising: 
 a sound detector,    a transmitter coupled to said sound detector for transmitting a signal upon said detector detecting a sound; and    a control device that receives said signal and supplies a control signal to at least one device remote from the control device.    
     
     
         2 . A monitor system as in  claim 1 , wherein a network is interposed between the transmitter and the control device.  
     
     
         3 . The monitor system as in  claim 2 , wherein the network is the Internet.  
     
     
         4 . A method of monitoring a location, comprising the steps of: 
 detecting a sound;    transmitting a signal upon detecting said sound; and    controlling at least one device via said transmitted signal.    
     
     
         5 . A method of enabling a user to monitor a location, comprising the steps of: 
 detecting a sound;    transmitting to said user a signal upon detecting said sound; and    controlling at least one device via said transmitted signal.    
     
     
         6 . Software for a home network for processing an audio signal received from a sound detector, and controlling at least one device remote from the home network.  
     
     
         7 . A baby monitor, comprising: 
 a transmitter having a sound detecting device for detecting sound and transmitting the detected sound; and    a receiver having a speaker for receiving the detected sound and outputting the detected sound, and means for controlling a volume level of at least one device remote from said receiver having at least one speaker.    
     
     
         8 . A baby monitoring system comprising: 
 a transmitter having a sound-detecting device and an antenna, the transmitter detecting sound and transmitting the detected sound through the antenna; and    a receiver having an antenna for receiving the detected sound, comprising: 
 means for comparing a level of the detected sound to a reference level; and  
 means for controlling at least one device remote from the receiver when the level of the detected sound is greater than the reference level.  
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the means for controlling decreases the volume of the at least one device.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the means for controlling mutes the volume of the at least one device.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the means for controlling disconnects the power to the at least one device.  
     
     
         12 . A baby monitor, comprising: 
 a sound-detecting device;    a transmitter connected to the sound-detecting device for transmitting a detected sound;    a receiver for receiving the detected sound;    a speaker connected to the receiver for outputting the detected sound;    a central processing unit (CPU) connected to the receiver for comparing the level of the detected sound to a reference level; and    a second transmitter connected to the CPU for transmitting a control command to at least one device remote from the receiver.    
     
     
         13 . The baby monitor of  claim 12 , wherein the control command is one of a command to decrease volume, mute volume and disconnect power.  
     
     
         14 . The baby monitor of  claim 13 , wherein the second transmitter is one of an infrared transmitter, a radio frequency transmitter and a hardwire connection.  
     
     
         15 . A method of programming a baby monitor, comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting a command signal from a remote control of a remote device;    receiving the command signal from the remote control; and    storing the command signal in a memory.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the command signal is transmitted by one of an infrared transmission, a radio frequency transmission and a hardwire connection transmission.  
     
     
         17 . A method of monitoring a baby, comprising the steps of: 
 detecting a sound from a baby;    transmitting the sound from a transmitter to a receiver;    outputting the sound from the receiver;    comparing the level of the sound to a reference level;    transmitting from the receiver at least one command to at least one device remote from the receiver;    receiving the at least one transmitted command at the at least one device remote from the receiver; and    performing the command.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of storing the reference level in a memory of the receiver.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the storing step further comprises the steps of: 
 transmitting from a remote control of one of the at least one device remote from the receiver a command signal;    receiving at the receiver the command signal; and    storing the command signal in a memory.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the command signal is transmitted by one of an infrared transmission, a radio frequency transmission and a hardwire connection transmission.  
     
     
         21 . A baby monitor, comprising: 
 a transmitter having a sound detecting device for detecting sound and transmitting the detected sound, and the detected sound transmitted in a signal formatted to be received by a receiver for receiving the detected sound and outputting the detected sound, having a speaker and means for controlling a volume level of at least one device remote from said receiver having at least one speaker.