Audio distribution over internet protocol

• US 20070217400A1
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Staples, Mathew
• Application Number:
  US11/377,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20070217400A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services

Abstract

Systems and methods for distributing audio locally over Internet Protocol (IP) are disclosed. The system may comprise a first host machine having a process hub (PHub) for handling local communications with a plurality of process spokes (PSpokes) on the first host machine, and a second host machine having a process hub (PHub) for handling local communications with a plurality of process spokes (PSpokes) on the first host machine. A local area network connects the first and second host machines via the respective PHubs. An audio channel is established on the local area network for communicating audio using Internet Protocol between devices controlled by the PSpokes on the first and second host machines.

Claims

1. A system for distributing audio locally over Internet Protocol, comprising:

a first host machine having a process hub (PHub) for handling local communications with a plurality of process spokes (PSpokes) on the first host machine;

a second host machine having a process hub (PHub) for handling local communications with a plurality of process spokes (PSpokes) on the first host machine; and

a local area network connecting the first and second host machines via the respective PHubs;

an audio channel established on the local area network for communicating audio using Internet Protocol between devices controlled by the PSpokes on the first and second host machines.

2. The audio system of claim 1, wherein each PSpoke has a unique address on the local area network.

3. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the devices controlled by the PSpokes are non-network-enabled consumer electronics (CE) audio source devices, input devices, and audio output devices.

4. The audio system of claim 1, wherein the audio is included in a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packet for IP multicast over the local area network.

5. The audio system of claim 4, wherein the UDP packet includes at least a packet format field and audio data.

6. The audio system of claim 5, wherein the UDP packet includes a packet format field.

7. The audio system of claim 5, wherein the UDP packet includes timestamp data.

8. The audio system of claim 5, wherein the UDP packet includes S/PDIF CSB data.

9. The audio system of claim 5, wherein the UDP packet includes sampling data.

10. A method comprising:

discovering audio devices on a local area network in a hub and spoke system;

establishing a UDP multicast channel between at least some of the audio devices in the local area network; and

streaming audio over the UDP multicast channel.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising joining the UDP multicast channel for receiving the streaming audio.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein establishing the UDP multicast channel is independent of the hub and spoke system.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising identifying at least a packet format for the audio data.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising synchronizing the streaming audio at an audio output device for remote rendering.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising including timestamp data for synchronizing the streaming audio.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising including S/PDIF CSB data for the streaming audio.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising including sampling data for the streaming audio.

18. An audio system comprising:

hub and spoke means for discovering audio devices on a local area network;

means for establishing an audio distribution channel between the discovered audio devices; and

means for multicasting audio data over the audio distribution channel.

19. The audio system of claim 18 further comprising means for synchronizing the audio data.

20. The audio system of claim 18 further comprising packet means for multicasting the audio data, the packet means including the audio data and at least one of the following means for identifying:

packet format, timing information, and sampling information.