Legacy Audio Converter/Controller for an Audio Network Distribution System

• US 20080114481A1
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clearone Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NetStreams LLC (Clearone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cardenas, Herman, Braithwaite, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,137,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• 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 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4398 involving reformatting operations of audio signals details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6338 directed to network

Abstract

This disclosures describes a legacy audio converter/controller 600 for an audio network distribution system 20. The legacy audio converter/controller 600 includes the following: a network controller 620, a network interface 610, an audio format converter 621, an analog to digital converter (ADC), a legacy controller 624, a legacy audio network interface 625 that couples the legacy sources 500 to the legacy controller 624, and a legacy home control network interface 625 that couples the legacy home control network 700 to the legacy controller 624.

Claims

1. A legacy audio converter/controller for an audio network distribution system, comprising:

a network controller that controls the processing of the digital audio signal to and from the audio network distribution system;

a network interface that couples said network controller to the audio network distribution system;

an audio format converter that couples to said network controller and converts and formats the digital audio signal and receives legacy digital audio from legacy sources;

an analog to digital converter (ADC) that couples to said audio format converter and converts the legacy analog audio signal to the digital audio signal;

a legacy controller that couples to said network controller and controls and communicates with legacy sources and or the legacy home control network;

a legacy audio network interface that couples the legacy sources to said legacy controller; and

a legacy home control network interface that couples the legacy home control network to said legacy controller.

4. The claim according to claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein said ADC further comprises a microphone speaker input.

2. A method to make a legacy audio converter/controller for an audio network distribution system, comprising:

providing a network controller that controls the processing of the digital audio signal to and from the audio network distribution system;

coupling said network controller to the audio network distribution system with a network interface;

coupling an audio format converter to said network controller, said audio format converter converts and formats the digital audio signal and receives legacy digital audio from legacy sources;

coupling an analog to digital converter (ADC) to said audio format converter, said ADC converts the legacy analog audio signal to the digital audio signal;

coupling a legacy controller to said network controller, said legacy controller controls and communicates with legacy sources and or the legacy home control network;

coupling the legacy sources to said legacy controller with a legacy audio network interface; and

coupling the legacy home control network to said legacy controller with a legacy home control network interface.

3. A method to use a legacy audio converter/controller for an audio network distribution system, comprising:

a network controller that controls the processing of the digital audio signal to and from the audio network distribution system;

a network interface that couples said network controller to the audio network distribution system;

an audio format converter that couples to said network controller and converts and formats the digital audio signal and receives legacy digital audio from legacy sources;

an analog to digital converter (ADC) that couples to said audio format converter and converts the legacy analog audio signal to the digital audio signal;

a legacy controller that couples to said network controller and controls and communicates with legacy sources and or the legacy home control network;

a legacy audio network interface that couples the legacy sources to said legacy controller; and

a legacy home control network interface that couples the legacy home control network to said legacy controller.