Audio systems and methods

• US 7,668,529 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Gibson, Timothy P., Hunter, Jeffrey K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US11/196,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20070030585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,664 Days
• Field of Search: 455 301- 306, 4554041-4042, 4554141-4143, 455/450, 455/452.1, 455/455, 455/458, 455/567, 455218-221
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/003 with radio receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/16 Circuits

Abstract

An audio system may comprise a transceiver configured to receive, detect, and transmit audio signals on a first channel frequency and to receive and detect audio signals on at least one additional channel frequency. The at least one additional channel frequency may include a second channel frequency. The system may include a controller configured to output a first audio cue while outputting audio signals received from the at least one additional channel frequency, to output a second audio cue at a time when the controller begins outputting an audio signal received from the first channel frequency, and to output a third audio cue at a time when the controller begins outputting an audio signal received from the second channel frequency. The first, second, and third audio cues may be different from one another.

Claims

1. An audio system, comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive, detect, and transmit audio signals on a first channel frequency and to receive and detect audio signals on at least one additional channel frequency, the at least one additional channel frequency including a second channel frequency; and

a controller configured to output a first audio cue while outputting audio signals received from said at least one additional channel frequency, to output a second audio cue at a time when the controller begins outputting an audio signal received from the first channel frequency, and to output a third audio cue at a time when the controller begins outputting an audio signal received from the second channel frequency, the first, second, and third audio cues being different from one another.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to output audio signals from no more than one of the first and additional channel frequencies at any given time.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to output audio signals from the first channel frequency at a time when the first channel frequency breaks squelch.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to output the second audio cue at a time when the first channel frequency breaks squelch and the second channel frequency has not broken squelch and at a time when the first channel frequency breaks squelch interrupting the second channel frequency that has broken squelch.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to output an audio signal from the second channel frequency at a time when the first channel frequency has not broken squelch.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to output the third audio cue at a time when the second channel frequency breaks squelch and the first channel frequency has not broken squelch and at a time when the first channel frequency ceases breaking squelch allowing audio from the second channel frequency that has broken squelch to be output.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to output an audio signal from any one of the additional channel frequencies at a time when no higher priority channel frequency has broken squelch.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to output a unique audio cue at a time when the additional channel frequency breaks squelch and no higher priority channel frequency has broken squelch and at a time when a higher priority channel frequency ceases breaking squelch allowing audio from the additional channel frequency that has broken squelch to be output.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second and third audio cues are instantaneous, and wherein the first audio cue is outputted either periodically or continuously throughout a time period when the audio of the second channel frequency is outputted.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver comprises an aviation communication transceiver.

11. A method of audio communication, comprising:

receiving, detecting, and transmitting audio signals on a first channel frequency with a transceiver;

receiving and detecting audio signals on at least one additional channel frequency with the transceiver, the at least one additional frequency including a second channel frequency;

outputting a first audio cue while outputting an audio signal received from the second channel frequency;

outputting a second audio cue at a time when outputting of an audio signal from the first channel frequency commences; and

outputting a third audio cue at a time when outputting of an audio signal from the second channel frequency commences, the first, second, and third audio cues being different from one another.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising outputting audio signals from no more than one of the first and additional channel frequencies at any given time.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising outputting audio signals from the first channel frequency at a time when the first channel frequency breaks squelch.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said outputting a second audio cue comprises outputting the second audio cue at a time when the first channel frequency breaks squelch and the second channel frequency has not broken squelch and at a time when the first channel frequency breaks squelch interrupting the second channel frequency that has broken squelch.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising outputting an audio signal from the second channel frequency at a time when the first channel frequency has not broken squelch.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said outputting a third audio cue comprises outputting the third audio cue at a time when the second channel frequency breaks squelch and the first channel frequency has not broken squelch and at a time when the first channel frequency ceases breaking squelch allowing audio from the second channel frequency that has broken squelch to be output.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising outputting an audio signal from any one of the additional channel frequencies at a time when no higher priority channel frequency has broken squelch.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising outputting a unique audio cue at a time when the additional channel frequency breaks squelch and no higher priority channel frequency has broken squelch and at a time when a higher priority channel frequency ceases breaking squelch allowing audio from the additional channel frequency that has broken squelch to be output.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the second and third audio cues are instantaneous, and wherein the first audio cue is outputted either periodically or continuously throughout a time period when the audio of the second channel frequency is output.