Prior art

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 10656906, I will examine the "Prior art" section of the patent itself, as well as the citations listed in the patent. The patent document itself provides a good starting point for understanding what the inventors considered relevant at the time of filing.

Based on the full patent text provided, here are the cited prior art references that are most relevant to the claims of US patent 10656906, along with a brief description and potential anticipation points. The analysis focuses on how these references relate to the independent claims (Claim 1 and Claim 15) of US10656906, which generally describe a system and method for sensing noise, identifying sounds, determining if frequencies are outside a predetermined threshold, altering those sounds, and outputting them.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US10656906:

1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,884

   • Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,884, "Audio enhancement system and method of use with a sound system for producing primary sound from at least one main loudspeaker located at a main position."
   • Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated as filing or publication, but listed as "U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,884".
   • Brief Description: This patent describes an audio enhancement system with at least one wireless transmitter, time delay circuitry, and plural augmented sound-producing subsystems. Each subsystem is a portable unit with a wireless receiver and a transducer (e.g., headphones) carried by a person. The transmitter broadcasts a signal representing the input to the main loudspeaker. The receiver demodulates and amplifies this to drive the transducer, producing augmented sound synchronized with the main loudspeaker, with time delay circuitry to account for propagation time.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent relates to distributed sound systems and individual listener experience. It could potentially anticipate aspects of Claim 1 and Claim 15 related to:
     • The use of multiple "sound-producing subsystems" (portable units with transducers) that could be considered analogous to "at least one cluster of at least one computing device" with "sound sensing mechanism" and "wireless transceiver," especially if those transducers also have sensing capabilities.
     • The idea of adjusting sound delivery based on listener location or conditions, even if its primary mechanism is time delay for synchronization rather than frequency alteration.
     • The concept of a "wireless transceiver" for receiving data from a central source (the transmitter broadcasting the electrical signal).

2. U.S. Pat. No. 7,991,171

   • Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 7,991,171, "Method and apparatus for processing an audio signal in multiple audio frequency bands while minimizing undesirable changes in tonal qualities of the audio signal."
   • Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated as filing or publication, but listed as "U.S. Pat. No. 7,991,171".
   • Brief Description: This patent details a method and apparatus for processing audio signals across multiple frequency bands. It determines initial gain adjustment factors for each band and selects a final gain adjustment factor from weighted or unweighted initial factors. The initial factors for a specified band are derived from other bands with harmonic frequencies, aiming to decrease relative changes in volume between a fundamental frequency and its harmonics.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant to the "altering... sounds so that the frequency does not fall outside of a predetermined threshold" aspect of Claim 1 and Claim 15. Specifically, it directly addresses:
     • Processing audio signals in "multiple audio frequency bands."
     • Adjusting gain factors, which directly impacts sound alteration.
     • Minimizing undesirable changes, which aligns with the goal of improving audio quality by altering hazardous frequencies.

3. U.S. Pat. No. 8,315,398

   • Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 8,315,398, "Method of adjusting a loudness of an audio signal."
   • Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated as filing or publication, but listed as "U.S. Pat. No. 8,315,398".
   • Brief Description: This patent describes a method for adjusting audio signal loudness. It involves receiving an electronic audio signal, processing at least one channel to determine loudness (potentially using filters approximating human hearing), computing a gain to maintain substantially constant loudness, and applying that gain to the signal.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent directly addresses aspects of audio signal processing relevant to Claim 1 and Claim 15, particularly:
     • Receiving and processing an "electronic audio signal" to determine "loudness," which is related to "sensing a noise" and "identifying one or more sounds within the noise."
     • Computing and applying "at least one gain" to "cause a loudness of the audio signal to remain substantially constant," which is a form of "altering the one or more sounds" to manage specific audio characteristics. The predetermined threshold in US10656906 could be related to a desired constant loudness or a hazardous loudness level.

4. U.S. Pat. No. 8,594,319

   • Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 8,594,319, "Methods and apparatuses for adjusting audio content when more multiple audio objects are directed toward a single audio output device."
   • Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated as filing or publication, but listed as "U.S. Pat. No. 8,594,319".
   • Brief Description: This patent describes methods and apparatuses for adjusting audio content when multiple audio objects are directed to a single output device. It allows for adjusting amplitude, white noise content, and frequencies to enhance overall sound quality or make certain audio objects more intelligible. Audio objects are classified and ranked for class-specific processing and priority.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant to the core functionality of Claim 1 and Claim 15 regarding identifying, isolating, and altering sounds. It explicitly mentions:
     • "Adjusting audio content" including "amplitude, white noise content, and frequencies." This directly corresponds to "altering the one or more sounds so that the frequency does not fall outside of the predetermined threshold."
     • "Enhance overall sound quality or make content of certain audio objects more intelligible," which aligns with the implicit goal of US10656906's alteration for safety or quality.
     • The classification and ranking of "audio objects" can be seen as a more sophisticated form of "identifying one or more sounds within the noise" and "isolating the one or more sounds."

5. United States Patent Publication No.: 2013/0294618

   • Full Citation: United States Patent Publication No.: 2013/0294618, "Method and devices of sound volume management and control in the attended areas."
   • Publication/Filing Date: Not explicitly stated as filing or publication, but listed as "United States Patent Publication No.: 2013/0294618".
   • Brief Description: This publication describes a sound reproducing system for volume management and control in attended areas. It includes a sounding mode appointment device, a central station for audio signal transmittance, peripheral stations for reception and playback, a listener's location recognition appliance, and a computing device for calculating sounding parameters and controlling system tuning. The system can operate wirelessly and form a local network.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This publication presents a system with strong similarities to the overall architecture of US10656906. It could potentially anticipate aspects of Claim 1 and Claim 15 related to:
     • A "sound reproducing system" with a "central station for audio signal transmittance" and "peripheral stations for audio signal reception and playback" directly parallels the "audio control source" and "at least one output device" in US10656906.
     • The "appliance for listener's location recognition" and "computing device for performing calculation concerning sounding parameters at the points of each listener's location" relates closely to the "at least one cluster of at least one computing device" with a "sound sensing mechanism" and the audio control source's ability to "vary an output of the at least one output device."
     • The ability to "operate wirelessly and can compose a local network" supports the wireless communication aspects of US10656906.
     • While not explicitly stating "frequency outside a predetermined threshold" or "altering sounds," a "computing device for performing calculation of controlling parameters for system tuning" suggests the capability to adjust sound based on sensed conditions.

It's important to note that a full anticipation analysis would require a detailed claim-by-claim comparison and expert opinion on what each prior art reference inherently discloses or makes obvious. This analysis highlights the potential for anticipation based on the provided descriptions and the core elements of US10656906's independent claims.