Noise level measurement with mobile devices, location services, and environmental response

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for noise management are disclosed. In one example, a method includes receiving a plurality of noise level measurements. The method includes receiving a plurality of location data. In one example, the method further includes adjusting an environmental parameter utilizing the noise level measurements. In one example, the method further includes providing location services to a user directing the user to a geographical area having a lower noise level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving over an electronic communications link a plurality of noise level measurements taken with a plurality of microphones at a plurality of mobile devices located within a same building space;   receiving a plurality of location data, comprising receiving a location data associated with each mobile device in the plurality of mobile devices located within the same building space;   generating a map with a computing device, the map based upon the plurality of noise level measurements and the plurality of location data;   identifying a geographical area within the same building space having a higher noise level and a geographical area within the same building space having a lower noise level; and   providing location services to a user directing the user to the geographical area within the same building space having the higher noise level or the geographical area within the same building space having the lower noise level.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one mobile device in the plurality of mobile devices is a headset, and wherein at least one noise level measurement in the plurality of noise level measurements is a headset wearer speech level during a telephone call. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a unique identifier associated with each noise level measurement and each location data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one mobile device in the plurality of mobile devices comprises a headset, the method further comprising:
 detecting a headset worn state of the headset;   measuring a noise level at a headset microphone of the headset; and   transmitting the noise level from the headset to a remote computing device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a sound masking volume level utilizing the plurality of noise level measurements. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a sound masking sound type from a first masking sound type to a second masking sound type utilizing the plurality of noise level measurements. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein further comprising adjusting a lighting level or a lighting color in the same building space utilizing the plurality of noise level measurements. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the geographical area within the same building space having the lower noise level comprises a conference room. 
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 receiving over an electronic communications link a plurality of noise level measurements taken at a plurality of mobile devices located within a same building space;   receiving at a computing device a plurality of location data, comprising receiving a location data associated with each mobile device in the plurality of mobile devices located within the same building space;   identifying with the computing device a geographical area within the same building space having a higher noise level and a geographical area within the same building space having a lower noise level; and   providing at a user device a location of the geographical area within the same building space having the lower noise level.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of mobile devices comprise a plurality of headsets. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising generating a map based upon the plurality of noise level measurements and the plurality of location data. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising receiving a unique identifier associated with each noise level measurement and each location data. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of mobile devices comprise a plurality of headsets, the method further comprising:
 detecting a headset worn state of a headset;   measuring a noise level at a headset microphone of the headset; and   transmitting the noise level from the headset to a remote computing device.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising adjusting a sound masking volume level utilizing the plurality of noise level measurements. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the location comprises a conference room. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of mobile devices located within a same building space; and   a computing device comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory storing an application program executable by the processor, the application program comprising instructions to receive a plurality of noise level measurements taken at the plurality of mobile devices located within the same building space, and provide location services to a user directing the user to a geographical area having a higher noise level or a geographical area having a lower noise level. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a noise masking system, wherein the application program comprises further instructions to adjust a sound masking volume level output from the noise masking system. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the application program comprises further instructions to receive from the plurality of mobile devices a location data associated with each mobile device in the plurality of mobile devices. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the application program comprises further instructions to generate a map based upon the plurality of noise level measurements and the location data associated with the plurality of mobile devices. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the geographical area having the higher noise level or the geographical area having the lower noise level comprises a conference room.