NETWORKED INTERCOM NODE FOR A NETWORKED AUDIO DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

• US 20100195845A1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clearone Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ClearOne Communications Inc. (Clearone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Braithwaite, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/761,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20100195845A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00

Abstract

This disclosure describes a networked intercom node 100 for a networked audio distribution system, where the system includes one or more networked audio distribution nodes and one or more networked intercom nodes 100. The networked intercom node 100 includes a control processor 110 that uses web services to control the networked audio distribution node and or other intercom nodes 100 in the audio distribution system. The networked intercom node 100 also includes a network connection 190, a speaker output connection 145. Additionally, the networked intercom node 100 includes a microphone 137 that couples to the sound processing unit 130.

Claims

1. A networked intercom node for a networked audio distribution system, where the system includes one or more networked audio distribution nodes and one or more networked intercom nodes, comprising:

a control processor that further comprises a flash upgradeable memory, a control surface that receives control information, IR/RF transceivers for transmitting and receiving control information, and a display device that displays control information, said control processor uses web services to control the networked audio distribution node and or other intercom nodes in the audio distribution system;

a network connection that couples to said control processor, said network connection transmits and receives digital audio from the networked audio distribution node and or other networked integrated control nodes in the audio distribution system;

a speaker output connection that couples to said control processor, said speaker output connection transmits analog audio to the local speaker;

a sound processing unit with an integrated amplifier that couples to said network connection and said speaker output connection, said sound processing unit receives, processes, and transmits analog and digital audio between said network connection and said speaker output connection; and

a microphone that couples to said sound processing unit, said microphone receives analog audio.

2. The claim of claim 1 wherein said control information further comprises voice activated commands.

3. The claim of claim 1 further comprising a local audio I/O connection that couples to said control processor, said local audio I/O connection transmits and receives digital audio or analog audio to and from the local audio device, said control processor uses said local audio I/O connection to transmit and receive control information to and from the local audio device, said local audio I/O connection couples to said sound processing unit.

4. The claim of claim 1 wherein said digital audio further comprises VOIP.

5. A method to make a networked intercom node for a networked audio distribution system, where the system includes one or more networked audio distribution nodes and one or more networked intercom nodes, comprising:

providing a control processor that further comprises a flash upgradeable memory, a control surface that receives control information, IR/RF transceivers for transmitting and receiving control information, and a display device that displays control information, said control processor uses web services to control the networked audio distribution node and or other intercom nodes in the audio distribution system;

coupling a network connection to said control processor, said network connection transmits and receives digital audio from the networked audio distribution node and or other networked integrated control nodes in the audio distribution system;

coupling a speaker output connection to said control processor, said speaker output connection transmits analog audio to the local speaker;

coupling a sound processing unit with an integrated amplifier to said network connection and said speaker output connection, said sound processing unit receives, processes, and transmits analog and digital audio between said network connection, and said speaker output connection; and

coupling a microphone to said sound processing unit, said microphone receives analog audio.

6. The claim of claim 5 wherein said control information further comprises voice activated commands.

7. The claim of claim 5 further comprising a local audio I/O connection that couples to said control processor, said local audio I/O connection transmits and receives digital audio or analog audio to and from the local audio device, said control processor uses said local audio I/O connection to transmit and receive control information to and from the local audio device, said local audio I/O connection couples to said sound processing unit.

8. The claim of claim 5 wherein said digital audio further comprises VOIP.

9. A method to use a networked intercom node for a networked audio distribution system, where the system includes one or more networked audio distribution nodes and one or more networked intercom nodes, comprising:

using a control processor that further comprises a flash upgradeable memory, a control surface that receives control information, IR/RF transceivers for transmitting and receiving control information, and a display device that displays control information, said control processor uses web services to control the networked audio distribution node and or other intercom nodes in the audio distribution system;

transmitting and receiving digital audio from the networked audio distribution node and or other networked integrated control nodes in the audio distribution system with a network connection, said network connection couples to said control processor;

transmitting analog audio to the local speaker through a speaker output connection, said speaker output connection couples to said control processor;

receiving, processing, and transmitting analog and or digital audio between said network connection and said speaker output connection through a sound processing unit with an integrated amplifier, said sound processing unit couples to said network connection and said speaker output connection; and

receiving analog audio through a microphone that is coupled to said sound processing unit.

10. The claim of claim 9 wherein said control information further comprises voice activated commands.

11. The claim of claim 9 further comprising a local audio I/O connection that couples to said control processor, said local audio I/O connection transmits and receives digital audio or analog audio to and from the local audio device, said control processor uses said local audio I/O connection to transmit and receive control information to and from the local audio device, said local audio I/O connection couples to said sound processing unit.

12. The claim of claim 9 wherein said digital audio further comprises VOIP.

13. A program storage device readable by a computing device that tangibly embodies a program of instructions executable by the computing device to perform a method to use a networked intercom node for a networked audio distribution system, where the system includes one or more networked audio distribution nodes and one or more networked intercom nodes, comprising:

using a control processor that further comprises a flash upgradeable memory, a control surface that receives control information, IR/RF transceivers for transmitting and receiving control information, and a display device that displays control information, said control processor uses web services to control the networked audio distribution node and or other intercom nodes in the audio distribution system;

transmitting and receiving digital audio from the networked audio distribution node and or other networked integrated control nodes in the audio distribution system with a network connection, said network connection couples to said control processor;

transmitting analog audio to the local speaker through a speaker output connection, said speaker output connection couples to said control processor;

receiving, processing, and transmitting analog and or digital audio between said network connection and said speaker output connection through a sound processing unit with an integrated amplifier, said sound processing unit couples to said network connection and said speaker output connection; and

receiving analog audio through a microphone that is coupled to said sound processing unit.

14. The claim of claim 13 wherein said control information further comprises voice activated commands.

15. The claim of claim 13 further comprising a local audio I/O connection that couples to said control processor, said local audio I/O connection transmits and receives digital audio or analog audio to and from the local audio device, said control processor uses said local audio I/O connection to transmit and receive control information to and from the local audio device, said local audio I/O connection couples to said sound processing unit.

16. The claim of claim 13 wherein said digital audio further comprises VOIP.