Communications system with proximity-based audio signal amplitude modulation

Abstract

A communications headset 104 (eg. ear defenders with active noise cancellation processing 152) uses proximity-based audio modulation or amplification to replicate natural human-to-human direct verbal communication via microphone 154 in noisy environments for users 114 & 146. A positioning system 116 determines the proximity of a second headset 136 by eg. trilateration / triangulation of an emitted signal 156 indicating the face direction of the other user (eg. via the angle presented by the lateral span of the headset) and modulates the amplitude or phase of the audio accordingly, possibly using 3 dimensional spatial audio to render the speech as though it originated from the user’s face. Face direction may also be determined from images from a headset camera. Reducing distant speech to zero (fig. 2b) allows communication ‘zones’.

Description

In noisy environments, such as in factories, motorsport garages, and building sites, clear communication between people within those environments is typically very important to the productivity and safety therein. Adverse background noise can not only endanger people to hearing damage, but may also drown out verbal communication between people. Using ear defenders may reduce the risk of hearing damage, but may further inhibit clear verbal communication. Headset systems that include ear defender functionality with radio communication between headsets may allow some level of communication between users, but also introduce a number of difficulties. If headsets on a given channel produce sound from a number of different conversations ongoing simultaneously, then this may be distracting for some users. Similarly, the origin of the recorded sound may not be clear to a given user, so they may not know who said something, and where from. Furthermore, if a private one-on-one conversation is needed between two people in a noisy environment, then they may need to partially remove their headset to leave an ear free for the other person to speak into - removing the headset removes the ear defending functionality and hence would risk hearing damage. Moreover, in noisy environments where the level of noise varies, people may be inclined to remove their headsets to allow natural human-to-human direct conversation when the noise level is low, only having to quickly put them back on as the noise level increases, which could come suddenly. Notwithstanding the communication effectiveness of the prior art discussed, a need still exists for a system communications system to replicate natural human-to-human direct verbal communication in noisy environments. To meet this need, according to various examples there is provided a communications system, comprising: a headset suitable for being operably couplable to a user, moderating environmental noise perceivable to the user, converting sound waves into audio signals, transmitting the audio signals, receiving audio signals, and converting the received audio signals into corresponding produced sounds perceivable to the user; a positioning system suitable for determining the proximity of the headset relative to another headset; and a processor suitable for modulating the amplitude of the audio signals as a function of the proximity of the headset relative to the other headset as determined by the positioning system. The headset may include an over-ear feature and or an in-ear feature for being operably couplable to the user, a means of active noise control for moderating environmental noise perceivable to the user, and a microphone for converting sound waves into audio signals. The positioning system may include an emitter for emitting a signal, and a receiver for receiving a signal, whereby trilateration or triangulation of said signals may be used for determining the proximity of the emitter relative to the receiver. The headset may be configured to include the emitter and or the receiver, the positioning system determining the proximity of the headset relative to the other headset based on the determined proximity of the emitters relative to the receivers included in the respective headsets. The processor may include an amplifier for modulating the amplitude of the audio signals. The positioning system may also be suitable for determining the face direction of the user of the headset. The emitter may also be suitable for emitting a directional signal, the receiver receiving the directional signal when the emitted directional signal from the emitter is directed towards the receiver. The headset may include the emitter configured to emit the directional signal in a set direction relative to the face of the user of the headset, the receiver receiving the directional signal when the emitted directional signal from the emitter is directed towards the receiver, thereby the positioning system determines the face direction of the user of the headset relative to the receiver, wherein the receiver may be included in the other headset. The processor may also be also suitable for modulating the amplitude and phase characteristics of the audio signals as a function of the face direction of the user of the headset relative to the other headset, and or the face direction of the user of the headset relative to the face direction of the user of the other headset, as determined by the positioning system, thereby being suitable for producing stereophonic audio signals. The processor may include a filter for modulating the phase characteristics of the audio signals. The headset may also be suitable for converting stereophonic audio signals into sounds with a multidirectional, 3-dimensional audible perspective for the user. The headset may include a plurality of speakers for converting stereophonic audio signals into sounds with a multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective for the user. The headset may be configured to include more than one emitter and or more than one receiver positionally separated across the lateral span of the headset, thereby the positioning system determines the proximity of each side of the headset relative to the other headset independently, whereby the face direction of the user of the headset may be inferred as normal to the lateral span of the headset. The communications system may further comprise a camera operably couplable to the headset for capturing image data. The headset may also be also suitable for transmitting image data, receiving image data, and converting the received image data into corresponding produced images perceivable to the eyes of the user. The positioning system may be configured to include the camera for using machine vision for determining the proximity of the headset and or the face direction of the user of the headset relative to the other headset. The communications system may further comprise a user interface for allowing the user or another user to view and modify the parameters of the communications system. The communications system may further comprise a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configurable to include any features of the communications system. The communications system may further comprise a cryptographic device for encrypting or decrypting any signals or data operably shared between any features of the communications system. The communications system may further comprise a storage device for storing any signals or data operably shared between any features of the communications system for future playback. The communications system may further comprise a protective housing for protecting features of the communications system from the surrounding environment. According to various examples there is provided a communications network comprising a communications system as described in any of the preceding paragraphs. The skilled person will appreciate that except where mutually exclusive, a feature described in relation to any one of the above aspects may be applied mutatis mutandis to any other aspect. Furthermore except where mutually exclusive any feature described herein may be applied to any aspect and / or combined with any other feature described herein. INTRODUCTION TO THE DRAWINGS Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the Figures, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a communications system according to various examples; Fig. 2a illustrates a schematic diagram of a function relating parameters of a communications system according to various examples; Fig. 2b illustrates a schematic graph of another function relating parameters of a communications system according to various examples; Fig. 2c illustrates a schematic graph of a further function relating parameters of a communications system according to various examples; Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of another communications system according to various examples; Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a communications network according to various examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following description, the terms 'connected' and 'coupled' mean operationally connected and coupled. It should be appreciated that there may be any number of intervening components between the mentioned features, including no intervening components. Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a communications system 100 according to various examples. In these examples, the communications system 100 includes a headset 104, another headset 136, a positioning system 116, and a processor 120. The headset 104 may comprise any suitable features for being operably couplable to a user 114 (arrows 106) (for example, an over-ear feature 148 shaped to fit over each ear of the user 114 connected around the head of the user 114 by a flexible member, or an in-ear feature 150 - as illustrated within the other headset 136 - shaped to fit within each ear of the user 114 or another user 146). The headset 104 may also comprise any suitable features for moderating environmental noise (arrow 102) perceivable to the user 114 (arrow 108) to protect the ears of the user 114 from adverse environmental noise (for example, a sound-deadening material such as acoustic foam shaped to fill or cover the entrance to the ear of the user 114, or a means of active noise control 152 - as illustrated in Fig. 1 - such as a means to analyse the environmental noise (arrow 102) reaching the headset 104 and generating the opposite reversed sound waves to neutralise said environmental noise). The headset 104 may also comprise any suitable features for converting sound waves (arrow 110) from the user 114 into audio signals (arrow 122) to record the voice of the user 114 (for example, a microphone 154, as illustrated in Fig. 1, configured to preferentially record the voice of the user 114 over the environmental noise (arrow 102) - e.g. unidirectional microphone - into an electrical audio signal with an encoder for encoding said recordings into transmittable audio signals such as radio signals, or the equivalent for Bluetooth or any other suitable digital or analogue wireless technology). The headset 104 may also comprise any suitable features for transmitting the audio signals (arrow 122) to other features of the communications system 100, such as the processor 120 (for example, a radio transmitter antenna for transmitting audio signals encoded onto a radio frequency wherein the encoding of signals may include encryption achieved with a cryptographic device included in the communications system 100, or the equivalent for Bluetooth or any other suitable wireless technology). The headset 104 may also comprise any suitable features for receiving audio signals (arrow 124), the audio signals (arrows 124) originating from one or more other headset (136) (for example, a radio receiver antenna for receiving audio signals wherein any encrypted signals may be decrypted with a cryptographic device included in the communications system 100, or the equivalent for Bluetooth or any other suitable wireless technology). The headset 104 may also comprise any suitable features for converting the received audio signals (arrow 124) into corresponding produced sounds (arrow 112) perceivable to the user 114 (for example, a speaker with a decoder for decoding received audio signals from a radio frequency into a suitable format for the speaker such as an electrical audio signal, where the speaker may direct sound into or around the ears of the user 114, or the equivalent for Bluetooth or any other suitable wireless technology). The other headset 136 may comprise any of the features of the headset 104. In these examples, the other headset 136 is operably couplable to another user 146 (arrows 138), moderates the environmental noise (arrow 128) perceivable to the other user 146 (arrow 140), converts sound waves (arrow 142) from the user 146 into audio signals (arrow 132), and converts the received audio signals (arrow 134) into corresponding produced sounds (arrow 144). The audio signals transmitted to the headset 104 (arrow 124) originate from the other headset 136 (operably coupled to another user 146), and signals (arrow 134) transmitted to the other headset 136 originate from the headset 104. The communications system 100 may include any number of interconnected headsets (the headset 104, the other headset 136) to support communication between any number of users (the user 114, the other user 146). The positioning system 116 may comprise any suitable features for determining the proximity of the headset 104 relative to the other headset 136 (for example, radar with a wavelength for an appropriate positional accuracy). In these examples, the positioning system 116 includes an emitter 156 for emitting a signal and a receiver 158 for receiving a signal, whereby trilateration or triangulation of said signals may be used for determining the proximity of the emitter 156 relative to the receiver 158. The headset 104 may be configured to include the emitter 156 and or the receiver 158, the positioning system 116 determining the proximity of the headset 104 relative to the other headset 136 based on the determined proximity of the emitters 156 relative to the receivers 158 included in the headset 104 and the other headset 136. Further emitters 156 and receivers 158 may be used, for example coupled to objects with known positions (for example, satellite, signal tower) to increase the geographical coverage of the positioning system 116. In these examples, the proximity information is communicated between the headset 104 and the positioning system 116 (arrow 118), communicated between the other headset 136 and the positioning system 116 (arrow 130), and communicated to the processor 120 from the positioning system 116 (arrow 126). The positioning system 116 may comprise any suitable features for communicating proximity information (arrow 118, arrow 130, and arrow 126) to any features of the communication system 100 (for example, radio, Bluetooth, or any other suitable wireless communication technology). The processor 120 may comprise any suitable features for modulating the amplitude of the audio signals as a function of the proximity (arrow 126) of the headset 104 relative to the other headset 136 as determined by the positioning system 116 (for example, an amplifier 160 configured to increase the magnitude of voltage or current of the audio signals, or an amplifier 160 configured to increase the amplitude of digital audio signals, with an attenuator configured to reduce the amplitude of the audio signals, and a circuit board connecting thereof). In these examples, the processor 120 is represented as a distinct feature of the communications system 100, where the audio signals (arrows 122) and audio signals (arrows 132) are received by the processor 120 from the headset 104 and the other headset 136, respectively, and the modulated audio signals (arrows 124) and modulated audio signals (arrows 134) are transmitted by the processor 120 to be received by the headset 104 and the other headset 136, respectively. In other examples, the processor 120 may be configured to be included in any other features of the communications system 100 to achieve similar functionality (for example, the headset 104 may be configured to include the processor 120, the other headset 136 may be configured to include the processor 120). In other examples, the communications system 100 may include any suitable features for capturing image data (for example, a camera operably couplable to the headset 104), for transmitting image data (for example, a radio transmitter antenna operably couplable to the headset 104 for transmitting image data encoded onto a radio frequency, or the equivalent for Bluetooth or any other suitable wireless technology), receiving image data originating from one or more other headset (136) (for example, a radio receiver antenna operably couplable to the headset 104, or the equivalent for Bluetooth or any other suitable wireless technology), and converting the received image data into corresponding produced images perceivable to the eyes of the user 114 (for example, a screen operably connectable to the headset 104, or glasses configured to change their optical properties to include displays that add information alongside what the user 114 sees, wherein the information may include augmented reality). Fig. 2a illustrates a schematic diagram of a function 200 relating a distance 206 to an amplification factor 208 according to various examples. In these examples, the distance 206 is derived from the proximity of the headset 104 relative to the other headset 136 as determined by the positioning system 116 (arrow 126 from the positioning system 116 to the processor 120), and the amplification factor 208 is applied by the processor 120 to the audio signals 136 to modulate them into the audio signals 124 (arrow 124 from the processor 120 to the headset 104) that are subsequently converted by the headset 104 into a corresponding produced sounds (arrow 112) perceivable to the user 114, as explained for Fig. 1. The function 200 illustrates a relationship between the amplification factor 208 and the distance 206, whereby the amplification factor 208 reduces as the distance 206 increases, thereby reducing the decibels of the corresponding produced sounds (arrow 112) perceivable to the user 114. With the amplification factor 208 related to the distance 206 by the function 200, the produced sounds (arrow 112, arrow 144) perceivable to the user 114 and the other user 146 through the communications system 100 may purposefully replicate 'natural' human-to-human direct verbal communication as sound waves with respect to how the sound level of a persons' voice dissipates over a distance through the air, yet the communications system 100 is also moderating the environmental noise (arrow 102) that would otherwise interfere with such 'natural' human-to-human direct verbal communication, thereby overall providing the users with an effective means of something similar to 'natural' human-to-human direct verbal communication, even in noisy environments. Fig. 2b illustrates a schematic diagram of another function 202 relating the distance 206 to the amplification factor 208 according to various examples. The function 202 is illustrated similarly to the function 200 and where features are similar, the same reference numerals are used. In these examples, the function 202 illustrates a relationship between the amplification factor 208 and the distance 206, whereby the amplification factor 208 reduces to zero (or near zero) at a certain distance 206, thereby reducing the decibels of the corresponding produced sounds (arrow 112) perceivable to the user 114 to zero. With the amplification factor 208 related to the distance 206 by the function 202, the produced sounds (arrow 112, arrow 144) perceivable to the user 114 and the other user 146 through the communications system 100 may purposefully allow 'zoned' communication between users (a 'zone' may be the immediate geographical area local to a user - for example, a particular work cell in a factory), whereby communication through the communications system 100 is effectively cut off at a certain distance outside of said 'zone' or distance from other users (or other fixed location with a relative proximity known to or determined by the positioning system 116), thereby allowing users to communicate within their zone (even in noisy environments) without being distracted by background communication from another zone that may otherwise be communicated through the communications system 100 with a different function (for example, the function 200). Fig. 2c illustrates a schematic diagram of another function 204 relating the distance 206 to the amplification factor 208 according to various examples. The function 204 is illustrated similarly to the function 200 and the function 202, and where features are similar the same reference numerals are used. In these examples, the function 204 illustrates a relationship between the amplification factor 208 and the distance 206, whereby the amplification factor 208 remains at a constant level even with a changing distance 206. With the amplification factor 208 related to the distance 206 by the function 204, the produced sounds (arrow 112, arrow 144) perceivable to the user 114 and the other user 146 through the communications system 100 may be purposefully set not to be modulated with distance, thereby allowing 'broadcast' communication from one headset to any number of other headsets, even in noisy environments (for example, a factory supervisor may broadcast to all reporting workers). The communications system 100 may include multiple functions (for example, the functions 200, 202, 204) for different groups / hierarchies of the headsets utilised concurrently with overlapping groups of users to suit the individual requirements of the particular use case of the communications system 100. Any other functions relating the distance 206 to the amplification factor 208 may also be used (for example, the amplification factor 208 reducing with distance 206 up to a certain distance 206 where it sharply reduces to zero, having the amplification factor 208 vary for different groups of headsets to provide private channels of communication). Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of another communications system 300 according to various examples. The communications system 300 is similar to the communications system 100 and where features are similar, the same reference numerals are used. The communications system 300 differs from the communications system 100 in that the communications system 300 includes a headset 302, a positioning system 306, a processor 310, and another headset 316. The positioning system 306 differs from the positioning system 116 in that the positioning system 306 is also suitable for determining the face direction of the user 114 of the headset 302. In these examples, the positioning system 306 includes an emitter 320 and a receiver 322, which are illustrated to be included in the headset 302 and the other headset 316. The headset 302 differs from the headset 104 in that the headset 302 includes the emitter 320, the receiver 322, and a plurality of speakers 330. The emitter 320 may comprise any suitable features for emitting a directional signal (arrow 324 for the headset 302, arrow 326 for the other headset 316) (for example, an infrared laser diode with a suitable power supply). The receiver 322 may comprise any suitable features for receiving the directional signal when the emitted directional signal (arrow 324) from the emitter 320 is directed towards the receiver 322 (for example, an infrared detector with a suitable power supply). In these examples, headset 302 includes the emitter 320 configured to emit the directional signal (arrow 324) in a set direction relative to the face of the user 114 of the headset 302, and the other headset 316 includes the receiver 322 configured for receiving the directional signal (arrow 324) when the emitted directional signal (arrow 324) from the emitter 320 is directed towards the receiver 322, thereby the positioning system 306 determines the face direction of the user 114 of the headset 302 relative to the other headset 316. The headset 302 and the other headset 316 include both the emitter 320 and the receiver 322 so the face direction of the user 146 of the other headset 316 relative to the headset 302 may also be determined by the positioning system 306. The directional signal (arrow 324) may be a single unidirectional signal (for example, following a laser beam pattern, wherein the receiver 322 receives the unidirectional signal as a binary input to confirm alignment of the emitter 320 to the receiver 322), multiple unidirectional signals (for example, multiple signals following a laser beam pattern with some spacing between said signals, wherein the receiver 322 is configured to interpret which specific signal it receives, thereby inferring the relative direction of the emitter to the receiver over a range of angles, including in multiple spatial dimensions), a profiled signal (for example, the intensity of emitted signal varies over a given area, wherein the receiver 322 is configured to interpret the directional alignment as a function of the intensity of the signal received), or any other arrangement of signals for the positioning system 306 to determine the face directions. In these examples, data concerning the face directions is shared between the emitters 320 and receivers 322 included in the headset 302 and the other headset 316 and other features of the positioning system 306, as illustrated by arrows 332 and 334. In other examples, features of the positioning system 306 may be in other locations (for example, the receiver 322 coupled to a known fixed stationary location, whereby signals are received by the receiver 322 from the emitter 320 included in the headset 302 and or the other headset 316, the positioning system 306 determining the individual face directions of the users and or the relative face direction). In other examples, the positioning system 306 includes more than one emitter 156 and or more than one receiver 158 positionally separated across the lateral span of the headset 302, thereby the positioning system 306 determines the proximity of each side of the headset 302 relative to the other headset 316 independently, whereby the face direction of the user 114 of the headset 302 may be inferred as normal to the lateral span of the headset 302. Notwithstanding the suitability of the examples given, the positioning system 306 may comprise any suitable features for determining the face direction of the user 114 of the headset 302 and or the face direction of the user 146 of the other headset 316 (for example, a camera operably connected to other features of the communication system 300 configured with machine vision capabilities, including suitable processors for image processing). The processor 310 differs from the processor 120 in that the processor 310 includes a filter 328. In these examples, the face direction of the user 114 of the headset 302 (and or the face direction of the user 146 of the other headset 316) is shared from the positioning system 306 to the processor 310, as illustrated by arrow 308, which is similar to arrow 126 but may include this face direction information in addition to the proximity information. The processor 310 may comprise any suitable features for modulating the amplitude (amplification factor 208) and phase characteristics of the audio signals as a function of the face direction (included in arrow 308) of the user 114 of the headset 302 relative to the other headset 316, and or the face direction (included in arrow 308) of the user 114 of the headset 302 relative to the face direction (also included in arrow 308) of the user 146 of the other headset 136, as determined by the positioning system 306 (for example, the filter 328 configured to modulate the phase characteristics of the audio signals, in combination with the amplifier 160 for modulating the amplitude of audio signals, thereby being suitable for producing stereophonic audio signals). The function may be similar to functions 200, 202 and 204 of Fig. 2a, 2b and 2c, but with a face direction variable included in addition to, or instead of, the direction 206 on the x-axis. In these examples, the processor 310 is represented as a distinct feature of the communications system 300, where the audio signals (arrows 122) and audio signals (arrows 132) are received by the processor 310 from the headset 302 and the other headset 316, respectively, and the stereophonic audio signals (arrow 312) and stereophonic audio signals (arrows 314) are transmitted by the processor 310 to be received by the headset 302 and the other headset 316, respectively. In other examples, the processor 310 may be configured to be included in any other features of the communications system 300 to achieve similar functionality (for example, the headset 302 may be configured to include the processor 310, the other headset 316 may be configured to include the processor 310). In these examples, the plurality of speakers 330 included in the headset 302 (and or included in the other headset 316) may comprise any suitable features for converting stereophonic audio signals (arrow 312) into sounds with a multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective for the user 302 (arrow 304, or arrow 318 for user 316) (for example, the headset 302 configured to include the plurality of speakers 330 for each ear of the user 302, each speaker receiving an independent audio signal and creating sounds that together give a multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective for the user 302 (arrow 304)). In other examples, additional signal processing (for example, digital signal processing using algorithms and a microprocessor as part of the processor 310) may be used in combination with single speakers in the headset 302 for each ear of the user 302 for a similar multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective for the user 302. Such a multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective may purposefully replicate 'natural' human-to-human direct verbal communication as sound waves with respect to not only how the sound level of a persons' voice dissipates over a distance through the air, but also with respect to how the face direction of a person speaking relative to someone listening affects the sound level perceivable to the listener, yet the communications system 300 is also moderating the environmental noise (arrow 102, arrow 128) that would otherwise interfere with such 'natural' human-to-human direct verbal communication, thereby overall providing the users with an effective means of something similar to 'natural' human-to-human direct verbal communication, even in noisy environments. The communications systems 100, 300 may include a user interface. The user interface may include any suitable features for allowing the user 114 or the other user 146 to view and modify the parameters (including changes to functions of amplitude factor 208 based on any suitable parameters, such as the user 114 manually modifying the amplitude of audio signals and hence the volume of the produced sounds (arrow 112) perceivable to the user 114) of the communications systems 100, 300 (for example, a mobile device with touch screen capability and a suitable application - the processor 310 may be included in the mobile device, buttons and dials included in the headsets). Any features of the communications system 100, 300 may be housed in a protective housing. The protective housing may include any suitable features for protecting the features of the communications system 100, 300 from the surrounding environment (for example, sealed waterproof and dustproof containers, backpack). The protective housing may be comprised of any suitable material, such as any non-corrosive, waterproof materials (for example, plastic, stainless steel, fabric). Any features of the communications system 100, 300 may be provided with a source of power. The source of power may include any suitable features for providing a usable source of power to any features of the communications system 100, 300 (for example, rechargeable batteries included in the headsets, mains wired power connected to the processors). Any features of the communications system 100, 300 may include security systems configured to protect the features from theft (for example, a GPS tracker, and or features to pair a given headset to a particular user, such as password, fingerprint, voice recognition protection). Fig. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a communications network 10 according to various examples. In these examples, the communications network 10 includes one or more communications system 100, 300, 20, and a storage device 18. The communications system 20 may be similar to the communications system 100 and the communications system 300, or an entirely different type of communications system (for example, a means of voice call over the internet). The communications system 100, 300, 20 may be operable with any number of users in their respective environments (for example, user 114, user 146, user 12, and user 22 subjected to environmental noises illustrated by arrow 102, arrow 128, arrow 26, and arrow 28, respectively). Each communication system 100, 300, 20 may be connected to another communication system 100, 300, 20 (illustrated by arrows 16) through a suitable means of connectivity (for example, the internet), wherein any signals or data stored or operably shared between any features of the communications system 100, 300, 20 may be operably shared with another communications system 100, 300, 20. In these examples, the connectivity includes connection to storage device 18. The storage device 18 may include any suitable features for storing any signals or data operably shared between any features of the communications system 100, 300, 20 for future playback (for example, a hard disk drive in a computer, the internet). In other examples, the storage device 18 may be isolated within a given communication system 100, 200, 20 without the means of connectivity to other communication systems (for example, the communication system 100 is configured to include the storage device 18). The communication system 100, 300 may provide several advantages. First, the communication system 100, 300 may provide the users with an effective means of something similar to 'natural' human-to-human direct verbal communication, even in noisy environments, thereby allowing the voices of users in closer proximity to (and / or users facing towards) a listening user to be preferentially heard by the listening user over users further away (and / or facing away) to avoid distracting the listening user with conversations over a communications system of the prior art, and to allow the listening user to infer from who the verbal communication originated and act accordingly. Second, the communications system 100, 300 enables the natural verbal communication in noisy environments without users needing to remove their ear defenders / headsets (for example, private one-on-one conversations in a motor racing pit garage), thereby reducing the risk of hearing damage attributed to adverse environmental noise. Third, the communications system 100, 300 enables the natural verbal communication to continue seamlessly as the level of environmental noise changes (for example, ground staff at an airport with temporarily increased environmental noise when an aircraft is taking off), thereby avoiding the need for users to take their ear defenders / headsets on and off. Fourth, the communications system 100, 300 enables the natural communication in noisy environments without users needing to use hand signals (for example, troop-to-troop communication in a military operation), thereby increasing the clarity potential scope of information that may be communicated, freeing the users eyes to focus on something else, and, with some embodiments being configurable to avoid the need for line-of-sight between users. Fifth, the functionality and parameters of the communications system 100, 300 can be modified by the users to suit the individual use case (for example, allowing 'broadcast' communication from one headset used by a supervisor to any number of other headsets used by reporting staff, or allow 'zoned' communication between users in particular work cells of a factory, orallowing the volume to generally be turned up in the users ear to allow whispering to be heard between users in a hostile military environment), thereby increasing the scope of useful applications. Sixth, the communications system 100, 300 may be portable (for example, in a forestry application where the workers and their noisy equipment move from location to location), thereby further increasing the scope of useful applications. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above-described and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts described herein. For example, the different embodiments may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment containing both hardware and software elements. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to and includes all combinations and subcombinations of one or more features described herein.

Claims

1. A communications system, comprising:a headset suitable for being operably couplable to a user, moderating environmental noise perceivable to the user, converting sound waves into audio signals, transmitting the audio signals, receiving audio signals, and converting the received audio signals into corresponding produced sounds perceivable to the user;a positioning system suitable for determining the proximity of the headset relative to another headset; anda processor suitable for modulating the amplitude of the audio signals as a function of the proximity of the headset relative to the other headset as determined by the positioning system.

2. A communications system as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the headset includes an over-ear feature and or an in-ear feature for being operably couplable to the user.

3. A communications system as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the headset includes a means of active noise control for moderating environmental noise perceivable to the user.

4. A communications system as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the headset includes a microphone for converting sound waves into audio signals.

5. A communications system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning system includes an emitter for emitting a signal, and a receiver for receiving a signal, whereby trilateration or triangulation of said signals may be used for determining the proximity of the emitter relative to the receiver.

6. A communications system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the headset is configured to include the emitter and or the receiver, the positioning system determining the proximity of the headset relative to the other headset based on the determined proximity of the emitters relative to the receivers included in the respective headsets.

7. A communications system as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the processor includes an amplifier for modulating the amplitude of the audio signals.

8. A communications system as claimed in in any of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning system is also suitable for determining the face direction of the user of the headset.

9. A communications system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the emitter is also suitable for emitting a directional signal, the receiver receiving the directional signal when the emitted directional signal from the emitter is directed towards the receiver.

10. A communications system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the headset includes the emitter configured to emit the directional signal in a set direction relative to the face of the user of the headset, the receiver receiving the directional signal when the emitted directional signal from the emitter is directed towards the receiver, thereby the positioning system determines the face direction of the user of the headset relative to the receiver, wherein the receiver may be included in the other headset.

11. A communications system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the processor is also suitable for modulating the amplitude and phase characteristics of the audio signals as a function of the face direction of the user of the headset relative to the other headset, and or the face direction of the user of the headset relative to the face direction of the user of the otherheadset, as determined by the positioning system, thereby being suitable for producing stereophonic audio signals.

12. A communications system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the processor includes a filter for modulating the phase characteristics of the audio signals.

13. A communications system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the headset is also suitable for converting stereophonic audio signals into sounds with a multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective for the user.

14. A communications system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the headset includes a plurality of speakers for converting stereophonic audio signals into sounds with a multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective for the user.

15. A communications system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the headset is configured to include more than one emitter and or more than one receiver positionally separated across the lateral span of the headset, thereby the positioning system determines the proximity of each side of the headset relative to the other headset independently, whereby the face direction of the user of the headset may be inferred as normal to the lateral span of the headset.

16. A communications system as claimed in any preceding claims, further comprising a camera operably couplable to the headset for capturing image data.

17. A communications system as claimed in any preceding claims, wherein the headset is also suitable for transmitting image data, receiving image data, and converting the received image data into corresponding produced images perceivable to the eyes of the user.

18. A communications system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the positioning system is configured to include the camera for using machine vision for determining the proximity of the headset and or the face direction of the user of the headset relative to the other headset.

19. A communications system as claimed in any preceding claims, further comprising a user interface for allowing the user or another user to view and modify the parameters of the communications system.

20. A communications system as claimed in any preceding claims, further comprising a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configurable to include any features of the communications system.

21. A communications system as claimed in any preceding claims, further comprising a cryptographic device for encrypting or decrypting any signals or data operably shared between any features of the communications system.

22. A communications system as claimed in any preceding claims, further comprising a storage device for storing any signals or data operably shared between any features of the communications system for future playback.

23. A communications system as claimed in any preceding claims, further comprising a protective housing for protecting features of the communications system from the surrounding environment.

24. A communications network comprising the communications system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein any signals or data stored or operably shared between any features of the communications system may be operably shared with another communications system.15

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