Wireless audio systems and related methods

• US 20070189202A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Asati, Rajiv, Guy, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,284,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/00 Systems employing more than two channels, e.g. quadraphonic H04S5/00, H04S7/00 take precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate the distribution of audio signals over wireless networks. In one implementation, an audio system includes a head end having an encoder and a wireless network interface. Audio signals associated with a plurality of audio channels are processed by the encoder to provide an encoded signal in accordance with an audio codec. The encoded signal can be provided to a wireless network by the wireless network interface as a plurality of data packets associated with a network address in accordance with a wireless networking protocol, such as an IEEE 802.11 protocol. One or more remote endpoints can also be provided to receive the data packets from the wireless network, assemble the data packets to obtain the encoded signal, and extract at least one of the audio signals from the encoded signal in accordance with the audio codec. Multicast and unicast implementations are also provided.

Claims

1. An audio system comprising:

an encoder adapted to process a plurality of audio signals to provide an encoded signal in accordance with an audio codec, wherein the audio signals are associated with a plurality of audio channels; and

a first wireless network interface adapted to provide the encoded signal to a wireless network in accordance with a wireless networking protocol.

2. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless network interface is further adapted to distribute the encoded signal to the wireless network as a plurality of data packets associated with a network address in accordance with the wireless networking protocol.

3. The audio system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of remote endpoints associated with the network address in a multicast implementation, wherein each of the remote endpoints is associated with one of the audio channels.

4. The audio system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the remote endpoints comprises:

a second wireless network interface adapted to receive the data packets from the wireless network and assemble the data packets to obtain the encoded signal; and

a decoder adapted to extract at least one of the audio signals from the encoded signal in accordance with the audio codec.

5. The audio system of claim 4, wherein the at least one of the remote endpoints further comprises an amplifier adapted to receive the at least one of the audio signals from the decoder.

6. The audio system of claim 4, wherein the at least one of the remote endpoints further comprises an amplified speaker adapted to receive the at least one of the audio signals from the decoder.

7. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the wireless networking protocol is an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

8. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the audio codec is AC-3.

9. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the encoded signal is a compressed audio signal.

10. An audio system comprising:

a first wireless network interface adapted to receive a plurality of data packets over a wireless network and assemble the data packets to obtain an encoded signal, wherein the encoded signal comprises at least one of a plurality of audio signals processed in accordance with an audio codec, wherein the audio signals are associated with a plurality of audio channels; and

a decoder adapted to extract the at least one of the audio signals from the encoded signal in accordance with the audio codec.

11. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the first wireless network interface and the decoder comprise a remote endpoint associated with at least one of the audio channels.

12. The audio system of claim 10, further comprising a head end comprising:

an encoder adapted to process the audio signals in accordance with the audio codec to provide the encoded signal; and

a second wireless network interface adapted to distribute the encoded signal to the wireless network as the data packets in accordance with the wireless networking protocol.

13. The audio system of claim 10, further comprising an amplifier adapted to receive the at least one of the audio signals from the decoder.

14. The audio system of claim 13, wherein the first wireless network interface, the decoder, and the amplifier comprise a remote endpoint associated with at least one of the audio channels.

15. The audio system of claim 14, wherein the remote endpoint further comprises a control adapted to configure the amplifier.

16. The audio system of claim 15, wherein the control is adapted to select between an enabled state and a disabled state of the amplifier.

17. The audio system of claim 15, wherein the control is adapted to adjust a gain of the amplifier.

18. The audio system of claim 15, wherein the control is a switch.

19. The audio system of claim 15, wherein the control is a graphical user interface (GUI).

20. The audio system of claim 10, further comprising an amplified speaker adapted to receive the at least one of the audio signals from the decoder.

21. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the wireless networking protocol is an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

22. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the audio codec is AC-3.

23. The audio system of claim 10, wherein the encoded signal is a compressed audio signal.

24. A method of providing a plurality of audio signals, the method comprising:

receiving an encoded signal comprising a plurality of audio signals processed in accordance with an audio codec; and

distributing the encoded signal to a wireless network as a plurality of data packets in accordance with a wireless networking protocol.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving the data packets over the wireless network;

assembling the data packets to obtain the encoded signal; and

extracting at least one of the audio signals from the encoded signal in accordance with the audio codec.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the wireless networking protocol is an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

27. An audio system comprising:

means for processing a plurality of audio signals to provide an encoded signal in accordance with an audio codec, wherein the audio signals are associated with a plurality of audio channels; and

means for providing the encoded signal to a wireless network in accordance with a wireless networking protocol.

28. The audio system of claim 27, further comprising means for distributing the encoded signal as a plurality of data packets associated with a network address in accordance with the wireless networking protocol.

29. An audio system comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of data packets over a wireless network;

means for assembling the data packets to obtain an encoded signal, wherein the encoded signal comprises at least one of a plurality of audio signals processed in accordance with an audio codec, wherein the audio signals are associated with a plurality of audio channels; and

means for extracting the at least one of the audio signals from the encoded signal in accordance with the audio codec.

30. The audio system of claim 29, further comprising means for amplifying the at least one of the audio signals.