Bi-directional audio bridge

• US 20060209730A1
• Filed: 03/19/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard Bautista
• Original Assignee: Richard Bautista
• Inventors: Bautista, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/084,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20060209730A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/285
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

Two half duplex communicators from separate networks each have an audio input port, an audio output port, and a terminal for receiving an external keying signal. Audio signal paths link respective audio output ports with respective audio input ports. Voice actuated circuits produce appropriate keying signals at the keying terminals of the communicators depending on the direction of the current audio signals. Preferably the keying circuits each include an audio amplifier having an adjustable gain, and a switching circuit responsive to a signal from the amplifier above a certain threshold for producing the keying signal, and preferably include a time delay circuit for delaying drop-out of the keying signals for a preset time after the amplifier signal has fallen below the threshold to prevent prematurely cutting-off audio before the speaker is finished talking.

Claims

1. An audio bridge between first and second separate half duplex communication networks comprising:

(a) a first network communicator having an audio input port, an audio output port, and a terminal for receiving an external keying signal;

(b) a second network communicator having an audio input port, an audio output port, and a terminal for receiving an external keying signal;

(c) an audio signal path between the audio output port of the first network communicator and the audio input port of the second network communicator;

(d) an audio signal path between the audio output port of the second network communicator and the audio input port of the first network communicator;

(e) a first circuit responsive to an audio signal at the audio output port of the first network communicator for producing a keying signal at the terminal of the second network communicator; and

(f) a second circuit responsive to an audio signal at the audio output port of the second network communicator for producing a keying signal at the terminal of the first network communicator.

2. The bridge according to claim 1 wherein the first circuit comprises an audio amplifier having an adjustable gain, and a switching circuit responsive to a signal from the amplifier above a certain threshold for producing the keying signal.

3. The bridge according to claim 2 wherein the second circuit comprises an audio amplifier having an adjustable gain, and a switching circuit responsive to a signal from the amplifier above a certain threshold for producing the keying signal.

4. The bridge according to claim 2 wherein the first circuit further comprises a time delay circuit for delaying drop-out of the keying signal for a preset time after the amplifier signal has fallen below the threshold.

5. The bridge according to claim 3 wherein the second circuit further comprises a time delay circuit for delaying drop-out of the keying signal for a preset time after the amplifier signal has fallen below the threshold.

6. The bridge according to claim 1 further comprising a disconnect circuit for disconnecting the audio path between the audio output port of the second network communicator and the audio input port of the first network communicator whenever the first circuit is producing the keying signal.

7. The bridge according to claim 2 further comprising a disconnect circuit for disconnecting the audio path between the audio output port of the second network communicator and the audio input port of the first network communicator whenever the switching circuit is producing the keying signal.

8. An audio bridge between first and second half duplex communicators each having an auxiliary port, the bridge comprising:

(a) an audio signal path between an audio output port of the first communicator and an audio input port of the second communicator;

(b) an audio signal path between an audio output port of the second communicator and an audio input port of the first communicator;

(c) a first circuit responsive to an audio signal at the audio output port of the first communicator for producing a keying signal at a keying terminal of the second communicator; and

(d) a second circuit responsive to an audio signal at the audio output port of the second communicator for producing a keying signal at a keying terminal of the first communicator.

9. The bridge according to claim 8 wherein the first circuit comprises an audio amplifier having an adjustable gain, and a switching circuit responsive to a signal from the amplifier above a certain threshold for producing the keying signal.

10. The bridge according to claim 9 wherein the second circuit comprises an audio amplifier having an adjustable gain, and a switching circuit responsive to a signal from the amplifier above a certain threshold for producing the keying signal.

11. The bridge according to claim 9 wherein the first circuit further comprises a time delay circuit for delaying drop-out of the keying signal for a preset time after the amplifier signal has fallen below the threshold.

12. The bridge according to claim 10 wherein the second circuit further comprises a time delay circuit for delaying drop-out of the keying signal for a preset time after the amplifier signal has fallen below the threshold.

13. The bridge according to claim 8 further comprising a disconnect circuit for disconnecting the audio path between the audio output port of the second communicator and the audio input port of the first communicator whenever the first circuit is producing the keying signal.

14. The bridge according to claim 9 further comprising a disconnect circuit for disconnecting the audio path between the audio output port of the second communicator and the audio input port of the first communicator whenever the switching circuit is producing the keying signal.