Portable interconnection system for incompatible audio communication networks

• US 7,436,951 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JPS Interoperability Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JPS Communications, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Van Valkenburgh, John D., Hall, Douglas D., Pflasterer, Peter W., Marks, Kenneth H., Williams, Roger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUAN DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/792,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20050195969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 379/419, 37942801-42803, 379/433.09, 379/441, 379/442, 379/37, 379/90.01, 379/93.05
• US Class Current: 379/419
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/002 with subscriber controlled access to a line, i.e. key telephone systems

Abstract

A portable interconnection system has a housing having and a plurality of communications ports adapted for connection to a plurality of audio communication networks; electronics substantially enclosed by the housing; the electronics including at least interconnection electronics operative to selectively establish a plurality of independent connection sets, each connection set interconnecting at least a plurality of the communications ports for communications between a plurality of audio communication units operating in at least two different and incompatible ones of the audio communication networks; a user interface connected to the interconnection electronics and operative to control the interconnection electronics; wherein a combined weight of the housing and the electronics is not more than fifteen pounds. A display may show an interconnection status of the plurality of audio communication units for a plurality of the independent connection sets simultaneously.

Claims

1. A portable interconnection system, comprising:

a housing having an integral externally accessible user interface and a plurality of communications ports adapted for connection to a plurality of audio communication networks;

electronics substantially enclosed by said housing;

said electronics including at least interconnection electronics operative to selectively establish a plurality of independent connection sets, each connection set interconnecting at least a plurality of said communications ports for communications between a plurality of audio communication units operating in at least two different and incompatible ones of said audio communication networks;

said user interface connected to said interconnection electronics and operative to control said interconnection electronics;

wherein a combined weight of said housing and said electronics is not more than fifteen pounds.

2. The portable interconnection system of claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a display operative to show at least one interconnection status of said plurality of audio communication units.

3. The portable interconnection system of claim 2 wherein said display is operative to show an interconnection status of said plurality of audio communication units for a plurality of said independent connection sets simultaneously.

4. The portable interconnection system of claim 3 wherein said display displays said interconnection status in an array format.

5. The portable interconnection system of claim 1 further comprising a carrying handle connected to said housing and operative to supply the entirety of the vertical support necessary for a user to carry said housing.

6. The portable interconnection system of claim 1 wherein said electronics further comprises a power supply having a battery charger.

7. The portable interconnection system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said interconnection electronics are contained in a plurality of interface cards removably supported by said housing.

8. The portable interconnection system of claim 1 wherein said interconnection electronics are further operative to be responsive to commands supplied via DTMF tones to alter at least one of said connection sets.

9. The portable interconnection system of claim 1 wherein said interconnection electronics are further operative to digitally enhance audio communication signals supplied to said interconnection electronics via said connection ports.

10. The portable interconnection system of claim 1 wherein said combined weight of said housing and said electronics is not more than ten pounds.

11. The portable interconnection system of claim 1 wherein said housing has a volume of 750 cubic inches or less.

12. The portable interconnection system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of communication ports comprise at least four of said communication ports and wherein said housing has a volume of 600 cubic inches or less.

13. A portable interconnection system, comprising:

a housing having an integral externally accessible user interface and at least four communications ports adapted for connection to a plurality of audio communication networks;

electronics substantially enclosed by said housing;

said electronics including at least a power supply and interconnection electronics operative to selectively establish a plurality of independent connection sets, each connection set interconnecting at least a plurality of said communications ports for communications between a plurality of audio communication units operating in at least two different and incompatible ones of said audio communication networks;

wherein at least a portion of said interconnection electronics are contained in a plurality of interface cards removably supported by said housing;

said user interface connected to said interconnection electronics and operative to control said interconnection electronics;

said housing further comprising a display operative to show an interconnection status of said plurality of audio communication units for a plurality of said independent connection sets simultaneously; and

wherein a combined weight of said housing and said electronics is not more than ten pounds and wherein said housing has a volume of 600 cubic inches or less.

14. The portable interconnection system of claim 13 further comprising a carrying handle connected to said housing and operative to supply the entirety of the vertical support necessary for a user to carry said housing.

15. The portable interconnection system of claim 13 wherein said interconnection electronics are further operative to be responsive to commands supplied via DTMF tones to alter at least one of said connection sets.

16. The portable interconnection system of claim 13 wherein said interconnection electronics are further operative to digitally enhance audio communication signals supplied to said interconnection electronics via said connection ports.

17. A portable interconnection system, comprising:

a housing having an integral externally accessible user interface and at least first, second, and third communications ports;

a first audio communication unit connecting to said housing at said first communications port and operating in a first audio communications network;

a second audio communication unit connecting to said housing at said second communications port and operating in a second audio communications network;

said second audio communications network different from, and incompatible with, said first audio communication network;

a third audio communication unit connecting to said housing at said third communications port and operating in a third audio communications network;

said third audio communications network different from, and incompatible with, both said first and second audio communication networks;

electronics substantially enclosed by said housing;

said electronics including at least interconnection electronics operative to selectively establish a plurality of independent connection sets including a first connection set and a second connection set;

said first connection set comprising said first and second audio communication units, and excluding said third audio communication unit, said interconnection electronics operative to enable audio communications between audio communication units in said first connection set via said interconnection electronics;

said second connection set comprising said first and third audio communication units, and excluding said second audio communication unit, said interconnection electronics operative to enable audio communications between audio communication units in said second connection set via said interconnection electronics;

said user interface connected to said interconnection electronics and operative to control said interconnection electronics;

wherein a combined weight of said housing and said electronics is not more than fifteen pounds;

wherein said housing has a volume of 750 cubic inches or less.