System for controlling remote speakers using centralized amplifiers, centralized monitoring and master/slave communication protocol

• US 20030063755A1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Youndt, Keith R., Nourse, James D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,197,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing a centralized speaker system that allows multiple speakers connected to a central amplifier speaker line to be monitored and controlled from a central location via a master/slave protocol. The centralized speaker system comprises a central station for selectively communicating at least one of a command and an information signal to a destination device. A tone generator is adapted to communicate an activation tone to the destination device. An amplifier, which is colocated with the central station, is adapted to amplify the signals to the destination device.

Claims

1. A speaker control system, comprising:

a central station for selectively communicating at least one of a command and an information signal to a destination device;

a tone generator adapted to communicate an activation tone to said destination device; and

an amplifier colocated with said central station and adapted to amplify said signals to said destination device.

2. The speaker control system of claim 1, wherein said activation tone comprises an inaudible signal.

3. The speaker control system of claim 1, wherein said activation tone provides power to said destination device.

4. The speaker control system of claim 1, wherein said destination device comprises at least one of a plurality of speakers.

5. The speaker control system of claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of speakers includes an individual address.

6. The speaker control system of claim 5, wherein a group corresponds to selected ones of each of said plurality of speakers and is associated with a group address.

7. The speaker control system of claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of speakers remains powered only if said command and said information signal were addressed to at least one of said individual speaker address and group address associated with a respective one of said plurality of speakers.

8. The speaker control system of claim 4, wherein a volume level of each one of said plurality of speakers is remotely adjusted.

9. The speaker control system of claim 5, wherein each one of said plurality of speakers receives a unique said information signal.

10. The speaker control system of claim 1, wherein said command signal includes an audio level setting for said destination device.

11. The speaker control system of claim 1, wherein said amplifier is located remote from said destination device.

12. The speaker control system of claim 1, wherein said information signal comprises at least one of musical content and human speech content.

13. The speaker control system of claim 1, wherein said information signal is transmitted from said central station in a first signal format and processed into a second signal format at said destination device.

14. The speaker control system of claim 1, wherein communication among said central station, said destination device, said tone generator and said amplifier is via an RS-485 interface.

15. A method for providing centralized speaker monitoring, comprising:

providing at least one of a command signal and an information signal to a destination device via central station;

amplifying said information signal using an amplifier colocated with said central station; and

providing an activation tone to said destination tone via a tone generator.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said activation tone comprises an inaudible signal.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said destination device comprises at least one of a plurality of speakers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each of said plurality of speakers includes at least one of a group address and an individual address.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said destination device is remote from said amplifier.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

selectively activating said destination device in response to said destination device receiving said activation tone and at least of said command and information signals, said command and information signals being associated with an address of said destination device.