INTERCOM NETWORK AND TERMINAL THEREFOR

• US 20160050505A1
• Filed: 08/11/2015
• Published: 02/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Riedel Communications International GmbH (RIEDEL Communications GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Riedel Communications International GmbH (RIEDEL Communications GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: RIEDEL, Thomas, DIEHL, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 10,904,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/007 wherein the key telephone sets are star-connected to a central unit by a limited number of lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 27/00 Public address systems circuits for preventing acoustic reaction H04R3/02; circuits for distributing signals to loudspeakers H04R3/12; monitoring or testing arrangements for public address systems H04R29/007; amplifiers H03F

Abstract

The invention relates to, among others, an intercom network (10), comprising a plurality of speech stations (11a, 11b, 11c) and at least one switching center (13, 16), wherein from each speech station connected to the switching center a connecting line (12a, 12b, 12c) extend to the switching center, wherein the connecting line provides a direct connection, respectively, between the switching center and the connected speech station, and wherein the speech stations of the intercom network, due to an audio data communication via the switching center, can enter into audio communication in real time. The particular feature consists, among others, in that at least one speech station (11a) comprises a terminal (53, 54) for a second connecting line (50, 50a, 50b, 50c), via which the speech station is connected with the same switching center (13) or with another switching center (16).

Claims

1. An intercom network, comprising a plurality of speech stations and at least one switching center, wherein from each speech station connected to the switching center a connecting line extends to the switching center, wherein the connecting line provides a direct connection, respectively, between the switching center and the connected speech station, and wherein the speech stations of the intercom network, due to an audio data communication via the switching center, can enter into audio to communication with each other in real time, wherein at least one speech station comprises a terminal for a second connecting line, via which the speech station is connected with the same switching center or with another switching center.

2. The intercom network according to claim 1, wherein the speech station connected with the same switching center via the second connecting line, providing a redundant connecting line compared to the first connecting line.

3. The intercom network according to claim 2, wherein each of the speech stations connected to a switching center comprises a terminal for a second connecting line, via which the speech station is connected with the same switching center, thereby forming a redundant intercom network.

4. The intercom network according to claim 1, wherein the speech station is connected via the second connecting line with another switching center of the same intercom network.

5. The intercom network according to claim 1, wherein the speech station is connected via the second connecting line with another switching center of another intercom network.

6. The intercom network according to claim 1, wherein each speech station comprises a loudspeaker and a microphone.

7. The intercom network according to claim 1, wherein each speech station comprises several selections keys, wherein when a first selection key is pressed by an operator, a direct audio connection can be established between this speech station and a selected speech station via the first connecting line and via a first switching center, and when a second selection key is pressed by an operator, a direct audio connection can be established between this speech station and a selected speech station via a second connecting line and the second switching center.

8. The intercom network according to claim 1, wherein, when a first selection key is pressed by an operator, a direct audio connection can be established between this speech station and a selected speech station via the first connecting line, and when a second selection key is pressed by an operator, a direction audio connection can be established between this speech station and a selected speech station via the second connecting line.

9. The intercom network according to claim 1, wherein a speech station comprises an access for selecting a connection via the first connecting line or the second connecting line, wherein via the access, in particular when a connecting-line selection key is pressed by an operator, a direct audio connection can be established between this speech station and a further selected speech station either via the first connecting line or via the second connecting line.

10. The intercom network according to claim 1, wherein a speech station has a display associated with it, in particular in that a speech station comprises a display, on which information can be displayed regarding which connecting line has been selected or is active or regarding which switching center has been selected or is active.

11. The intercom network according to claim 1, wherein a speech station comprises a user interface, which permits the input of information by an operator, in particular a selection of available information by an operator, for the purpose of communicating the information via the first connecting line or via the second connecting line.

12. The intercom network according to claim 1, wherein the terminal for connecting the speech station via a second connecting line with a switching center is configured as a physical terminal, and is made separately available by a first connecting-line terminal arranged at the speech station.

13. The intercom network according to claim 1, wherein the terminal for connecting the speech station via a second connecting line with a switching center is configured as a logical terminal, wherein the logical terminal is connected with a second connecting line.

14. A speech station for use in an intercom network comprising at least one switching center, with a loudspeaker and a microphone, and a first connecting line terminal for connection with the switching center, and with several selection keys, wherein, when a selection key is pressed by an operator, a direct audio connection can be established between this speech station and a selected speech station of the intercom network via the switching center, wherein the speech station comprises a second connecting line terminal for connecting the speech station via a second connecting line with the same switching center or for connecting the speech station with another switching center.

15. The speech station according to claim 14, wherein the speech station comprises an access to the second connecting line, in particular a connecting-line selection key, wherein due to pressing the access, in particular when the connecting-line selection key is pressed by an operator, a direct audio connection can be established between this speech station and a further selected speech station, optionally via the second connecting line.