Method of using a packet-switched network, a data processing system, a microphone system, and a speaker system

• US 20060221970A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Walter, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/097,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20060221970A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/392
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06

Abstract

A method of using a packet-switched network can be used to deliver broadcast messages using a VoIP connection. Packets within the broadcast message can be intelligently routed to intended recipients based on one or more addresses for a logical segment of an organization (e.g., employees of a department), a physical segment (e.g., a building, floor of a building, meeting room, etc.), individuals, or any combination thereof. The broadcast message may be heard by a significantly higher fraction of intended recipients compared to all recipients because the routing of packets of the packet-switched network can reduce the number of unintended recipients as would occur when using a conventional analog public address system. Also, existing infrastructure can be used and does not require speaker wires to pass through walls or ceilings.

Claims

1. A method of using at least one packet-switched network, the method comprising:

receiving a broadcast message at a data processing system via a first packet-switched network, wherein the broadcast message is delivered via a VoIP connection and after an address within the broadcast message has been determined by a user that provided an audio content of the broadcast message; and

transmitting the broadcast message from the data processing system via a second packet-switched network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast message comprises a uni-directional communication that is not part of a conversation or a dialog, wherein the uni-directional communication can be heard by one or more intended recipients.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the broadcast message includes one or more addresses of the one or more intended recipients and wherein the one or more intended recipients are located proximate to a speaker that is part of a public address system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the broadcast message from a microphone system to the data processing system via the first packet-switched network.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving the broadcast message from the data processing system at a speaker system via the second packet-switched network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the broadcast message is communicated to a plurality of speakers via the second packet-switched network.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first packet-switched network, the second packet-switched network, or a combination thereof, includes a wireless network.

8. A data processing system for use with at least one packet-switched network, the data processing system comprising:

a receiving module configured to receive a broadcast message via a first packet-switched network, wherein the broadcast message is deliverable via a VoIP connection after an address within the broadcast message has been determined by a user that provided an audio content of the broadcast message; and

a transmitting module configured to transmit the broadcast message via a second packet-switched network.

9. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the broadcast message comprises a uni-directional communication that is not part of a conversation or a dialog, wherein the uni-directional communication can be heard by one or more intended recipients.

10. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the broadcast message comprises an address of a speaker system that is part of a public address system.

11. The data processing system of claim 10, wherein the speaker system comprises a plurality of speakers that are connected to a wireless network.

12. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein the receiving module is further configured to receive the broadcast message from a microphone system.

13. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the transmitting module is further configured to transmit the broadcast message to a plurality of speakers.

14. A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) microphone system for use with a packet-switched network, the VoIP microphone system comprising:

a microphone;

a content module configured to receive audio content from the microphone;

an address module configured to identify an address of an intended recipient for a broadcast message including the audio content;

a broadcast message module configured to receive the audio content from the content module and to associate the address from the address module with the audio content from the content module to form the broadcast message; and

a transmission module configured to send the former broadcast message over the packet-switched network, wherein the broadcast message is communicated as a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication.

15. The VoIP microphone system of claim 14, wherein the address comprises an address of a location of a VoIP speaker that is part of a public address system.

16. The VoIP microphone system of claim 14, further comprising an interface to a personal computer, a home entertainment system, a VoIP phone, or a combination thereof.

17. The VoIP microphone system of claim 14, wherein the packet-switched network includes a wireless network.

18. A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) speaker system for use with a packet-switched network, the VoIP speaker system comprising:

a receiver module configured to receive a broadcast message that is communicated as a VoIP communication over the packet-switched network, wherein the broadcast message is deliverable via the VoIP connection after an address within the broadcast message has been determined by a user that provided an audio content of the broadcast message;

a content extraction module configured to extract audio content from the broadcast message; and

an audio module configured to convert the extracted audio content to an audio signal.

19. The VoIP speaker system of claim 18, wherein the audio signal is transmitted to speakers located in more than one room.

20. The VoIP speaker system of claim 18, wherein the receiver module, the content module, and the audio module are incorporated into a personal computer, a home entertainment system, a wireline VoIP phone, or a mobile VoIP phone.

21. The VoIP speaker system of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of speakers coupled to receive the audio signal.

22. The VoIP speaker system of claim 18, wherein the packet-switched network includes a wireless network.