AUDIO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20110206211A1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Orbit Communication
• Original Assignee: Orbit Communication
• Inventors: Dahan, Naftali, Avraham, Daniel, Bachar, Tzahi, Inbal, Tova, Atia, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/871,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20110206211A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/62 for transportation systems, e.g. in vehicles

Abstract

A system and method for combining multiple media types for demanding mobile communications environments, such as airborne and ship borne communications. The system facilitates integration of multiple media types into a common system, enabling use of the optimal communication system for each media type when possible, and transfer of media between communication systems as necessary. The system facilitates convergence of various media types to a common communications system, for example transferring voice and data over a common IP communications system, integrated control and management of the communications systems including interconnection configuration, priority, and accessibility with integrated management of shared resources. The system is designed to meet all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulatory requirements.

Claims

1. A system for switching signals comprising:

(a) a plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) each providing an audio channel with associated source amplitude (I_k);

(b) a plurality of audio destinations (D_m);

(c) a digital signal processor (DSP) operationally connected to each of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) and operationally connected to each of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m), said DSP configured to;

(i) associate said plurality of audio destinations (D_m) with said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k);

(ii) generate an amplified input (A_mkI_k) for each of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) that has an association with one or more of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m) by multiplying each of the associated source amplitudes (I_k) by an input gain (A_mk), said input gain (A_mk) based on one of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) and an associated one of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m); and

(iii) generate combined amplified inputs (Sum[A_mkI_k]) for each of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m) by combining said amplified input (A_mkI_k) for each of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) that is respectively associated with each of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m); and

(d) output said combined amplified inputs (Sum[A_mkI_k]) as destination amplitudes (O_m) to correspondingly each of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m).

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said DSP is further configured to generate destination amplitudes (O_m) by multiplying each of said combined amplified inputs (Sum[A_mkI_k]) by an output gain (M_m), said output gain (M_m) based on an associated one of said audio destinations (D_m);

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said input gain (A_mk) is set to zero for each of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) that lacks an associated one of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m).

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said DSP is configured to accept at least one of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) having an effective analog bandwidth equivalent of 6 KHz.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said DSP is configured to accept at least one of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) having a sampling rate of 16 KHz and 16 bits of data.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of digital audio sources includes airborne audio control panels (ACPs).

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of digital audio sources include audio from aircraft navigation and warning systems.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of audio destinations include airborne audio control panels (ACPs).

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of audio destinations include aircraft black box flight data recorder (FDR).

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of audio destinations includes aircraft radios.

11. A system for crosstalk reduction comprising:

(a) a first signal input terminal (500) configured to receive a first analog input signal (502) of a first amplitude (504), wherein a first signal input range (506) of said first amplitude (504) is between a pre-determined first minimum amplitude (508A) and a pre-determined first maximum amplitude (508B);

(b) a second signal input terminal (510) configured to receive a second analog input signal (512) of a second amplitude (514), wherein a second signal input range (516) of said second amplitude (514) is between a pre-determined second minimum amplitude (518A) and a pre-determined second maximum amplitude (518B);

(c) a first receive circuit (521) having a first receive analog input terminal (520) configured to receive a first receive analog input signal (522) of a first receive amplitude (524), wherein a first receive signal input range (526) of said first receive amplitude (524) is between a pre-determined first receive minimum amplitude (528A) and a pre-determined first receive maximum amplitude (528B);

(d) a second receive circuit (531) having a second receive analog input terminal (530) configured to receive a second receive analog input signal (532) of a second receive amplitude (534), wherein a second receive signal input range (536) of said second receive amplitude (534) is between a pre-determined second receive minimum amplitude (538A) and a pre-determined second receive maximum amplitude (538B); and

(e) a first fixed attenuation network (541) having a first attenuation input terminal (540) operationally connected to said first signal input terminal (500) and a first attenuation output terminal (542) operationally connected to said first receive analog input terminal (520), wherein said first fixed attenuation network (541) is configured to apply a first attenuation to said first analog input signal (502) to provide said first receive analog input signal (522) via said first attenuation output terminal (542) to said first receive analog input terminal (520), wherein said first attenuation is based on said first signal input range (506) and said first receive signal input range (526), such that a first crosstalk signal generated by said first receive circuit (521) and received by said second receive circuit (531) is less than a pre-determined crosstalk maximum.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said first signal input terminal (500) is configured to receive a first analog input signal (502) that is balanced.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said first signal input terminal (500) is configured to receive a first analog input signal (502) that is singled-ended.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein said first signal input terminal (500) and said second signal input terminal (510) are adjacent to each other on a printed circuit (PC) board.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein said pre-determined first minimum amplitude (508A) is 200 mV and said pre-determined first maximum amplitude (508B) is 12 V.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said first attenuation is 23 dB.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein a distance from said first signal input terminal (500) to said first fixed attenuation network (541) is less than a calculated distance, said calculated distance based on a bandwidth of said first analog input signal (502), such that a calculated crosstalk signal generated by said first analog input signal (502) is less than said pre-determined crosstalk maximum.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein a bandwidth of said first analog input signal (502) is 10 KHz or less and a distance from said first signal input terminal (500) to said first fixed attenuation network (541) is 3 inches or less.

19. The system of claim 11 further including a second fixed attenuation network (551) having a second attenuation input terminal (550) operationally connected to said second signal input terminal (510) and a second attenuation output terminal (552) operationally connected to said second receive analog input terminal (530), wherein said second fixed attenuation network (551) is configured to apply a second attenuation to said second analog input signal (512) to provide said second receive analog input signal (532), wherein said second attenuation is based on said second signal input range (516) and said second receive signal input range (536), such that a second crosstalk signal generated by said second receive circuit (531) and received by said first receive circuit (521) is less than said pre-determined crosstalk maximum.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said first signal input range (506) is substantially equal to said second signal input range (516), said first receive signal input range (526) is substantially equal to said second receive signal input range (536), and hence said first attenuation is substantially equal to said second attenuation.

21. The system of claim 11 further including a first analog to digital converter (ADC) (560), wherein said first receive circuit (521) includes a first receive output terminal (529) operationally connected to said first ADC (560), said first receive analog input signal (522) provided via said first receive output terminal (529) to said first ADC (560).

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said second receive circuit (531) includes a second receive output terminal (539) operationally connected to said first ADC (560), said second receive analog input signal (532) provided via said second receive output terminal (539) to said first ADC (560).

23. The system of claim 21 further including a second analog to digital converter (ADC) (570) wherein said second receive circuit (531) includes a second receive output terminal (539) operationally connected to said second ADC (570), said second receive analog input signal (532) provided via said second receive output terminal (539) to said second ADC (570).

24. A system for calibration comprising:

(a) a test signal generator (602) configured for generating one or more test signals;

(b) an VOIP audio interface unit (VAIU) (600) operationally connected to said test signal generator (602), said VAIU configured to transmit one or more output signals, each of said one or more output signals (604) deriving from a corresponding one of said one or more test signals;

(c) one or more signal analyzers (606) operationally connected to said VAIU (600), said one or more signal analyzers (606) configured to receive said one or more output signals (604) and generate one or more signal parameters corresponding to each of said one or more output signals (604); and

(d) a controller (608) operationally connected to said VAIU (600) and operationally connected to said one or more signal analyzers (606), said controller configured to;

(i) process said one or more signal parameters with corresponding one of said one or more test signals to generate corresponding one or more compensation factors; and

(ii) facilitate storage of said one or more compensation factors in association with said corresponding one of said one or more test signals.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said test signal generator is included in said VAIU.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein said test signal generator is a digital signal processor (DSP)-based fixed tone generator.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein said test signal generator is configured to generate audio test signals.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein said VAIU is included in an aircraft communications system.

29. The system of claim 24 wherein said test signal generator is configured for generating said one or more test signals with respective amplitudes between 0.1 volts (V) and 1.5 V in steps of 0.1 V.

30. The system of claim 24 wherein said test signal generator is configured for generating said one or more test signals with amplitudes based on comparing said one or more signal parameters to a pre-determined required amplitude.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said test signal generator is configured to repeat generating said one or more test signals with amplitudes based on comparing said one or more signal parameters to a pre-determined required amplitude until said one or more signal parameters are within a pre-determined error range of said pre-determined required amplitude.

32. The system of claim 24 wherein said controller is included in said VAIU.

33. The system of claim 24 wherein said one or more compensation factors are stored in said VAIU.

34. The system of claim 24 including one or more aircraft radios (610) operationally connected to said VAIU, each of said one or more aircraft radios having a pre-determined radio input amplitude, and wherein said VAIU is configured to use said one or more compensation factors to transmit one or more communication signals at said pre-determined radio input amplitude to a respective one or more radios.

35. A method for switching signals comprising the steps of:

(a) associating a plurality of audio destinations (D_m) with a plurality of digital audio sources (S_k), wherein each of said plurality of digital audio sources (Sk) provides an audio channel with associated source amplitude (Ik);

(b) generating an amplified input (A_mkI_k) for each of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) that has an association with one or more of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m) by multiplying each of the associated source amplitudes (I_k) by an input gain (A_mk), said input gain (A_mk) based on one of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) and an associated one of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m);

(c) generating combined amplified inputs (Sum[A_mkI_k]) for each of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m) by combining said amplified input (A_mkI_k) for each of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) that is respectively associated with each of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m); and

(d) outputting said combined amplified inputs (Sum[A_mkI_k]) as destination amplitudes (O_m) to correspondingly each of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m).

36. The method of claim 35 wherein outputting said combined amplified inputs (Sum[AmkIk]) as destination amplitudes (O_m) includes multiplying each of said combined amplified inputs (Sum[A_mkI_k]) by an output gain (M_m), said output gain (M_m) based on an associated one of said audio destinations (D_m);

37. The method of claim 35 wherein said input gain (A_mk) is set to zero for each of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) that lacks an associated one of said plurality of audio destinations (D_m).

38. The method of claim 35 wherein at least one of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) has an effective analog bandwidth equivalent of 6 KHz.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein at least one of said plurality of digital audio sources (S_k) has a sampling rate of 16 KHz and 16 bits of data.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein said plurality of digital audio sources includes airborne audio control panels (ACPs).

41. A method for crosstalk reduction comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a first analog input signal (502) having a first signal input range (506), at a first signal input terminal (500);

(b) receiving a second analog input signal (512) having a second signal input range (516), at a second signal input terminal (510); and

(c) applying a first attenuation to said first analog input signal (502) wherein said first attenuation is based on said first signal input range (506) such that a first crosstalk signal generated by a first receive circuit (521) operationally connected to said first signal input terminal (500) and received by a second receive circuit (531) operationally connected to said second signal input terminal (510), is less than a pre-determined crosstalk maximum.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said first signal input range (506) is between a pre-determined first minimum amplitude (508A) of 200 mV and a pre-determined first maximum amplitude (508B) of 12 V.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein said first attenuation is 23 dB.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein a distance from said first signal input terminal (500) to a first fixed attenuation network (541) is less than a calculated distance, said calculated distance based on a bandwidth of said first analog input signal (502), such that a calculated crosstalk signal generated by said first analog input signal (502) is less than said pre-determined crosstalk maximum.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein a bandwidth of said first analog input signal (502) is 10 KHz or less and a distance from said first signal input terminal (500) to a first fixed attenuation network (541) is 3 inches or less.

46. The method of claim 41 further including the step of applying a second attenuation to said second analog input signal (512) wherein said second attenuation is based on said second signal input range (516) such that a second crosstalk signal generated by a second receive circuit (531) operationally connected to said second signal input terminal (510) and received by a first receive circuit (521) operationally connected to said first signal input terminal (500), is less than a pre-determined crosstalk maximum.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said first signal input range (506) is substantially equal to said second signal input range (516), said first receive signal input range (526) is substantially equal to said second receive signal input range (536), and hence said first attenuation is substantially equal to said second attenuation.

48. A method for calibration comprising the steps of:

(a) generating one or more test signals;

(b) transmitting one or more output signals, each of said one or more output signals (604) deriving from a corresponding one of said one or more test signals;

(c) measuring said one or more output signals (604) and generating one or more signal parameters corresponding to each of said one or more output signals (604); and

(d) processing said one or more signal parameters with corresponding one of said one or more test signals to generate corresponding one or more compensation factors; and

(e) storing said one or more compensation factors in association with said corresponding one of said one or more test signals.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said one or more test signals are generated by an aircraft VOIP audio interface unit (VAIU).

50. The method of claim 48 wherein generating one or more test signals is based on comparing said one or more signal parameters to a pre-determined required amplitude.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein generating one or more test signals based on comparing said one or more signal parameters to a pre-determined required amplitude is repeated until said one or more signal parameters are within a pre-determined error range of said pre-determined required amplitude.

52. The method of claim 48 wherein said one or more compensation factors are used to transmit one or more communication signals at a pre-determined radio input amplitude to a respective one or more aircraft radios.