Communications system

• US 20040091122A1
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LAB.Gruppen AB
• Original Assignee: LAB.Gruppen AB
• Inventors: Andersson, Kenneth, Bavholm, Dan, Dalbjorn, Klas
• Application Number:
  US10/471,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20040091122A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• 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

A first local controller (30) having a device port coupled to a device control port for communicating with a device to be monitored or controlled, a primary local port for coupling to a first interface port (90) of an interface unit, and a secondary local port.

Claims

1. An audio system comprising:

at least one audio device having

at least one audio signal input (22),

at least one audio signal output (24),

at least one audio device control port (40), and

circuitry for modifying an audio signal;

said signal modification

circuitry being connected to the at least one audio signal input (22) and

to the at least one audio signal output (24);

a central controller (50) having

a user interface for allowing a user to monitor and/or control the audio system;

a central control port for communication via a first communications path (70);

an interface unit (60) having

a first interface port (80) for communication with said central controller (50) via said first communications path (70);

a second interface port (90); and

means (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 100) for delivering and/or receiving a message on said second interface port (90);

a first local controller (30, 30;

1, 30;

2, 30;

i) having

a device port coupled to said audio device control port,

a primary local port (210, 210;

1, 210;

2, 210;

i) coupled to the second

interface port (90) of said interface unit (60), and

a secondary local port (220, 220;

1, 220;

2, 220;

i);

wherein the first local controller (30, 30;

1, 30;

2, 30;

i) comprises

means (330, 312, 350, 360, 370) for receiving a message arriving on the primary local port (210, 210;

1, 210;

2, 210;

i), and means (350, 360, 370, S55) for determining permission to transmit a message; and

means (314, 340, 350, 360, 370) for transmitting a message on the secondary local port (220, 220;

1, 220;

2, 220;

i) when permitted to do so.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the local controller further comprises

means for receiving a message arriving on the secondary local port and means for transparently forwarding such a message for delivery on the primary local port.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a second local controller having

a device port for coupling to a further audio device control port,

a second primary local port coupled to the secondary local port of said first local controller.

4. A first local controller (30) having

a device port (40) coupled to a device control port for communicating with a device to be monitored and/or controlled,

a primary local port (210, 210:

1, 210;

2) for coupling to a first interface port (90) of an interface unit;

a secondary local port (220, 220;

1, 220;

2);

means for receiving a message arriving on the primary local port (210, 210;

1, 210;

2);

means for setting a first address value when said received message includes an instruction to set an address;

means for storing said first address in an address field of said first local controller (30);

means for generating a second address value in response to said instruction to set an address;

said second address value being different from said first address value;

means for determining permission to transmit a message; and

means for transmitting a message on the secondary local port responsive to said permission determining means;

wherein

said transmitted message, in response to said instruction to set an address, includes said generated address value and said instruction to set an address.

8. The local controller according to claim 4, 5, 6 or 7, further comprising:

means (320) operating to detect data being received on the secondary communications port (220), said data detection means (320) also operating to transfer such data to said primary port (210).

9. The local controller according to claim 8, wherein

said data detection means (320) is adapted to transfer said data substantially without latency and/or substantially without delay.

10. The local controller according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein said means for determining permission to transmit a message includes:

a reference word (R_W) stored in said local controller (30);

means for extracting a status word (S_W) from a received message;

means for comparing said received status word (S_W) with said reference word (R_W);

means adapted to permit transmission of a message in response to the outcome of said comparison.

11. The local controller according to claim 10, wherein said means for determining permission to transmit a message includes:

means for amending said reference word (R_W) stored in said local controller (30) in response to said comparison having an outcome permitting transmission of a message.

18. A communications system comprising:

an interface unit (60) having

a first interface port (80);

a second interface port (90); and

means (110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 100) for delivering and/or

receiving a message on said second interface port (90); and

at least one local controller (30) according to any of claims 4 to 11.

19. The communications system according to claim 18, further comprising:

at least one device (20) to be monitored or controlled.

20. The communications system according to claim 19, wherein:

said at least one device (20) is connectable to a local controller (30) for delivering data to and/or receiving data from said at least one local controller (30).

21. The communications system according to claim 19 or 20, wherein:

said at least one device (20) includes a device for generating light.

22. The communications system according to claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein said at least one device (20) includes at least one audio device having

at least one audio signal input (22),

at least one audio signal output (24),

at least one audio device control port (40), and

circuitry for modifying an audio signal;

said signal modification

circuitry being connected to the at least one audio signal input (22) and to the at least one audio signal output (24).

23. The communications system according to claim 22, wherein

said at least one audio signal input (22) is adapted for receiving a digital or analogue signal;

and

said at least one audio signal output (24) is adapted for delivering a digital or analogue signal.

24. The communications system according to any of claims 18-23, wherein

said interface unit (60) has a second port (440);

the secondary local port (220, 220;

N) of one of said local controllers (30;

N) is connected to second port (440) of said interface unit (60).

25. The communications system according to any of claims 18-23, wherein

said interface unit (60) has a second port (440);

wherein system comprises;

a plurality of local controllers (30, 30;

1, 30;

2, 30;

3, 30;

N) being connected in a chain, wherein the primary local port (210;

1) of a first local controller (30;

1) is connected to a first interface port (90) of said interface unit 60); and

the secondary local port (220;

1) of said first local controller (30;

1) is connected to the primary local port (210;

2, 210;

i, 210;

N) of an other local controller (30;

N); and

the secondary local port (220;

N) of a local controller (30;

N) is connected to second port (440) of said interface unit (60).

26. The communications system according to claim 25, wherein said plurality of local controllers (30, 30:

1, 30;

2, 30;

3, 30;

N) includes up to sixty-four local controllers (30, 30;

1, 30;

2, 30;

3, 30;

N) connected in a chain.

27. The communications system according to any of claims 18-23, wherein

a connection between two local controllers (30, 30:

1, 30;

2, 30;

3, 30;

N) is embodied by a shielded twisted pair of conductors, and/or where a connection between a local controller (30, 30;

1, 30;

2, 30;

3, 30;

N) and said interface unit (60) is embodied by a shielded twisted pair of conductors.

28. An interface unit for co-operation with a plurality of local controllers according to claim 4 or 5.

5. A local controller (30) having

a device port (40) coupled to a device control port for communicating with a device to be monitored and/or controlled,

a primary local port (210, 210:

1, 210;

2) for coupling to a first interface port (90) of an interface unit, and

a secondary local port (220, 220;

1, 220;

2).

6. The local controller according to claim 5, further comprising:

means for receiving a message arriving on the primary local port, and means for determining permission to transmit a message; and

means for transmitting a message on the secondary local port when permitted to do so.

7. The local controller according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising:

means for setting a first address value when said received message includes an instruction to set an address;

means for storing said first address in an address field of said first local controller (30);

means for generating a second address value in response to said instruction to set an address;

said second address value being different from said first address value;

wherein

said transmitted message, in response to said instruction to set an address, includes said generated address value and said instruction to set an address.

12. A method of operating the controller according to claim 5, the method comprising:

receiving a message arriving on the primary local port,

determining permission to transmit a message; and

transmitting a message on the secondary local port when permitted to do so.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a message on the secondary local port;

transparently forwarding the message from the secondary local port for delivery on the primary local port.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said message is forwarded substantially without latency and/or substantially without delay.

15. The method according to claim 12, 13 or 14, further comprising:

setting a first address value when said received message includes an instruction to set an address;

storing said first address in an address field of said first local controller (30);

generating a second address value in response to said instruction to set an address;

said second address value being different from said first address value; and

including said generated address value and said instruction to set an address in said transmitted message when said received message includes an instruction to set an address.

16. The method according to claim 12, 13, 14 or 15, wherein said step of determining permission to transmit a message includes:

comparing a status word (S_W) derived from a received message with a reference word (R_W) stored in said local controller (30); and

permitting transmission of a message in response to an outcome of said comparison.

17. The method according to claim 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16, wherein said step of determining permission to transmit a message includes:

amending said reference word (R_W) stored in said local controller (30) in response to said comparison having an outcome permitting transmission of a message.

29. A computer program for performing the method according to any of claims 12-17 when said computer program runs on a computer unit (100) in said local controller (30).

30. A computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium, having thereon a computer program according to claim 29.