Method and apparatus for simplified interconnection and control of audio components of an home automation system

• US 8,131,386 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2009
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elbex Video Limited (Elbex Japan Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Elbex Video Limited (Elbex Japan Ltd.)
• Inventors: Elberbaum, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Application Number:
  US12/484,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20100316237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 381/58, 381/77, 381/22, 381/23, 381/123, 381/80, 381/81, 700/1, 700 56- 58, 700/94
• US Class Current: 700/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/025 Door telephones adapted for television H04N7/186
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• 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

A method and apparatus for distributing stereo signal of an audio system integrated with an home automation system. The audio system is further integrated with intercom and video intercom including the controlling of the intercom communications and the home automation appliances via a network and the Internet. The stereo signals are encoded and distributed from a selector/encoder, via distributors or directly to speakers via at least one single twisted pair carrying the encoded signals multiplexed with serial signals and with microphone signals for communicating with the intercom or with e-station via the network or the Internet. The multiplexed signals are propagated via the same twisted pair that also feeds a constant current to the system devices or providing power via separated twisted pair. The speakers include wired or wireless remote control receivers and transmitters for propagating remote control signals. The system is flexible and can be connected in many configurations using fitted network cables and connectors.

Claims

1. A method for combining a selector/encoder with one of a single pair of A and B speakers and at least one of said pair of A and B speakers via a sound distributor into a sound distribution system of an home automation by propagating an encoded stereo signal to said A speaker via one of a single segment and a cascading segments of an interconnection cable selected from a group comprising at least one twisted pair, a multi twisted pair cable, a fitted multi twisted pair cable and combinations thereof, wherein at least one segment of said cascading segments is intersected by a wall socket selected from a group comprising a connector, a pigtail, a fitted pigtail, a junction box, a junction board, a junction strip, a terminal block and combinations thereof;

each of said A speaker includes a decoding unit for decoding said stereo signal, a stereo amplifier for amplifying the decoded signal and feeding amplified stereo signal to said A and B speakers and a CPU for exchanging serial signals via one of multiplexed into said encoded stereo signal and through a third twisted pair of said interconnection cable with one of said selector/encoder direct and with said selector/encoder via said distributor, said method comprising the steps of;

a. interconnecting said selector/encoder with said A speaker by one of directly via said single segment and through said sound distributor via said cascading segments for feeding said encoded stereo signal to said decoder;

b. connecting said selector/encoder to a power supply for powering said sound distribution system including said A speaker by a feed selected from a group comprising a constant current via said one twisted pair, a DC power via a second twisted pair of said interconnection cable, said constant current via said one twisted pair cascading through said sound distributor, and said DC power via said second twisted pair cascading through said sound distributor;

c. interconnecting a twisted pair of a subsequent segment cable cascading between said A and B speakers for feeding B channel of said amplified stereo signals to said B speaker;

d. connecting a stereo cable between an input terminals of said selector/encoder and an output terminals of at least one music signal source;

e. exchanging said serial signals between said selector/encoder and said CPU via one of said third twisted pair and said multiplexed via said one twisted pair;

f. operating said sound distribution system via touch keys of said selector/encoder or via a remote control unit associated with said selector/encoder.

2. The method for combining sound distribution system according to claim 1, wherein a rechargeable battery is associated with said A speaker to provide for higher current drain by said amplifier for increasing the sound power output, and wherein one of said feeding a constant current to said decoding unit includes a current for charging said battery and said DC power provides for charging said battery randomly.

3. The method for combining sound distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said segment intersected by said wall socket comprises said fitted multi twisted pair cable including said at least one twisted pair.

4. The method for combining sound distribution system according to claim 3, wherein said A speaker includes a microphone for propagating one of a microphone signal multiplexed with said encoded stereo signal via said one twisted pair and analog microphone signal via a forth twisted pair of said interconnection cable and at least one remote control receiver, one of said selector/encoder and said sound distributor feeds one of said analog microphone signal and a microphone signal extracted from said multiplexed signal to an intercom and buffers a speaker signal received from said intercom;

one of said wall socket and said sound distributor provides terminals and a control port for connecting at least three twisted pairs of said interconnection cable, one pair connecting an intercom speaker line to said selector/encoder, a second pair connecting a microphone line to said intercom and a third pair connecting a serial signal line of said intercom with said control port for exchanging control and operation commands for integrating said sound distribution system with said intercom, said method comprising the further steps of;

g. connecting said intercom speaker line, said microphone line and said serial signal line between said intercom and one of said wall socket and said sound distributor;

h. exchanging said serial signals for commanding said sound distribution system and said intercom to switch over to intercom mode, propagate a monaural sound of said intercom speaker signal, enable said microphone and open voice communication with said intercom;

i. controlling the communication with said intercom including the operation of other functions of said intercom via one of said touch keys, keys of said intercom or keys of said remote control unit.

5. The method for combining sound distribution system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said A and B speakers includes at least one remote control receiver and at least one remote control transmitter for exchanging said serial signals including remote control signals via said interconnection cable connecting said A and B speakers with at least one of said selector/encoder and said sound distributor;

each said wall socket and said sound distributor includes a control port for exchanging said serial signals with a serial port of an home automation distributor for integrating said sound distribution system with said home automation system, said method comprising the further steps of;

g. connecting said serial port to said control port;

h. operating the integrated sound and said home automation by exchanging said serial signals between said home automation distributor, said sound distributor and said selector/encoder through a medium selected from a group comprising said selector/encoder, said sound distributor, said home automation distributor, said remote control unit, said A speaker, said B speaker, said serial port, said control port, a remote control driver included in said home automation system and combinations thereof.

6. The method for combining sound distribution system according to claim 5, wherein said control port of said sound distributor and said serial port of said home automation distributor and said serial signal line of said intercom are connected for integrating the controls of the three systems into one for operating said sound distribution, said intercom and said home automation through a medium selected from a group comprising said selector/encoder, said remote control unit, said A speaker, said B speaker, said serial signal, said serial port, said control port, said sound distributor, said home automation distributor, said intercom, a remote control driver included in said home automation system and combinations thereof.

7. The method for combining sound distribution system according to claim 4, wherein said intercom includes a combination port for propagating a combined multiplexed signals selected from a group comprising video, audio, data, command, control, alarm and combinations thereof generated by said intercom system, including said serial signals, said intercom speaker signal and said microphone signal exchanged through said sound distributor;

at least one of said home automation distributor and said sound distributor include a reciprocal port and an interface connector for propagating said combination of multiplexed signals to an interface unit selected from a group comprising a signal converter, a modem, ADSL, a PC, a PC server, a PC program, a USB converter, a network communicator, a router, a network switch and combinations thereof, said method comprising the further steps of;

j. connecting said combination port of said intercom with said reciprocal port of one of said home automation distributor and said sound distributor and said interface unit to said interface connector;

k. connecting said interface unit to a network selected from a group comprising a local area network, a wide area network, a public network, a dedicated network, the Internet and combinations thereof for propagating an interfaced signal adapted for communicating via said network for remotely operating said home automation and for communicating with said intercom and with an e-station selected from a group comprising e-emergency, e-medical, e-hospital, e-service, e-shopping and combinations thereof;

l. operating said sound distribution, said intercom, said home automation and said interface unit through a medium selected from a group comprising said selector/encoder, said remote control unit, said A speaker, said B speaker, said serial signal, said serial port, said control port, said remote control driver, said network, said Internet and combinations thereof.

8. The method for combining sound distribution system according to claim 7, wherein said remote control receiver and said remote control transmitter are selected from a group comprising IR, RF, wired and combinations thereof for exchanging data and signals generated by at least one emergency and medical devices associated with said intercom, said devices selected from a group comprising monitors, sensors, cameras, diagnosis, analysis, treatment, applicators, life support, rehabilitation and combinations thereof, for communicating with said e-station said data and signals outputted by said devices and for selectively operating said devices remotely.

9. The method for combining sound distribution system according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said distributor and said interface unit includes an extractor for extracting said video signal from said combined multiplexed signal for displaying an image onto a screen selected from a group comprising a television set, a video monitor, a tablet monitor, a PC display monitor, a set-top box, a cable box, an antenna box, a satellite box, a digital to analog converter box, an analog to digital converter box, a tuner box, a PC, a tablet controller, a video selector and combinations thereof, said method comprising the further steps of;

m. connecting a video feed cable from one of said home automation distributor, said sound distributor, said selector/encoder and said interface unit to said screen;

n. controlling said screen to display said image through a medium selected from a group comprising said selector/encoder, said remote control unit, said A speaker, said B speaker, said serial port, said control port, said remote control driver, said intercom and combinations thereof.

10. A method for combining sound distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said selector/encoder, said sound distributor and said A speaker propagate said encoded stereo signal via a first twisted pair, said DC power link via a second twisted pair and said serial signals are exchanged via a third twisted pair of a cascading fitted multi twisted pair cables, and wherein said selector/encoder, said sound distributor, said A speaker and said B speaker include matching connectors for said fitted multi twisted pair cables, and wherein said B speaker also connects to said A speaker via a cascaded segment of said fitted multi twisted pair cable.

11. An apparatus for combining a selector/encoder with one of a single pair of A and B speakers and at least one of said pair of A and B speakers via a sound distributor into a sound distribution system of an home automation by propagating an encoded stereo signal via one of a single segment and via a cascading segments of an interconnection cable selected from a group comprising at least one twisted pair, a multi twisted pair cable, a fitted multi twisted pair cable and combinations thereof, wherein at least one segment of said cascading segments is intersected by a wall socket selected from a group comprising a connector, a pigtail, a fitted pigtail, a junction box, a junction board, a junction strip, a terminal block and combinations thereof;

each of said A speaker includes a decoding unit for decoding said stereo signal, a stereo amplifier for amplifying the decoded signal and feeding amplified stereo signal to said A and B speakers and a CPU for exchanging serial signals via one of multiplexed into said encoded stereo signal and through a third twisted pair of said interconnection cable with one of said selector/encoder direct and with said selector/encoder via said distributor;

said selector/encoder connected to said A speaker via one of said single segment and through said sound distributor via said cascading segments feeds said encoded stereo signal to said decoder and exchanges said serial signals between said selector/encoder and said CPU via at least one of said third twisted pair and said multiplexed via said one twisted pair, and to a power supply for powering said sound distribution system including said A speaker by a power feed selected from a group comprising a constant current via said one twisted pair, a DC power via a second twisted pair of said interconnection cable, said constant current via said one twisted pair cascading through said sound distributor, and said DC power via said second twisted pair cascading through said sound distributor;

said B speaker is connected by a twisted pair of a subsequent segment of said interconnection cable with said A speaker for inputting said amplified B channel signals, said selector/encoder is connected through at least one of its stereo input connectors to one of stereo and mono output connectors of at least one music signal source via a stereo cable and said sound distribution system is operated via touch keys of said selector/encoder or via a remote control unit associated with said selector/encoder.

12. The apparatus for combining sound distribution system according to claim 11, wherein a rechargeable battery is associated with said A speaker to provide for higher current drain by said amplifier for increasing the sound power output, and wherein one of said feeding a constant current to said decoding unit includes a current for charging said battery and said DC power provides for charging said battery randomly.

13. The apparatus for combining sound distribution system according to claim 11, wherein said segment intersected by said wall socket comprises said fitted multi twisted pair cable and wherein said fitted multi twisted pair cable comprising said at least one twisted pair.

14. The apparatus for combining sound distribution system according to claim 13, wherein said A speaker includes a microphone for propagating one of a microphone signal multiplexed with said encoded stereo signal via said one twisted pair and analog microphone signal via a forth twisted pair of said interconnection cable and at least one remote control receiver, wherein one of said selector/encoder and said sound distributor feeds one of said analog microphone signal and a microphone signal extracted from said multiplexed signal to an intercom and includes a buffer for a speaker signal of said intercom;

one of said wall socket and said sound distributor provides terminals and a control port for connecting at least three twisted pairs of said interconnection cable, one pair connecting an intercom speaker line to said selector/encoder, a second pair connecting a microphone line to said intercom and a third pair connecting a serial signal line of said intercom with said control port for integrating the control and operation of said sound distribution system with said intercom;

said intercom speaker signal is propagated to said selector/encoder, said microphone signal is propagated to said intercom and said serial signals are exchanged between said at least one of said selector/encoder and said sound distributor with said intercom by a selected commands fed to at least one of said selector/encoder, said sound distributor, said decoding unit and said intercom, including commands to switch over to intercom mode, encode a monaural sound of said intercom speaker signal, enable said microphone and open voice communication with said intercom, wherein said commands are generated via said touch keys of one of said selector/encoder and keys of said intercom or said remote control unit.

15. The apparatus for combining sound distribution system according to claim 11, wherein at least one of said A and B speakers includes at least one remote control receiver and at least one remote control transmitter for exchanging said serial signals including remote control signals via said interconnection cable with at least one of said selector/encoder and said sound distributor;

each said selector/encoder and said sound distributor includes said control port for connection to a serial port of an home automation distributor for exchanging said serial signals including said remote control signals through said serial port of said home automation distributor for integrating said sound distribution system with said home automation system;

the integrated systems are operated by exchanging said serial signals between said home automation distributor, said sound distributor and said selector/encoder through a medium selected from a group comprising said selector/encoder, said sound distributor, said remote control unit, said A speaker, said B speaker, said control port, said serial port, a remote control driver included in said home automation system and combinations thereof.

16. The apparatus for combining sound distribution system according to claim 14, wherein said control port of said sound distributor, said serial port of said home automation distributor and said serial line of said intercom are connected for exchanging the controls and operation of the three systems for integrating said sound distribution, said intercom and said home automation through a medium selected from a group comprising said selector/encoder, said remote control unit, said A speaker, said B speaker, said control port, said serial signal, said serial port, said intercom, said remote control driver and combinations thereof.

17. The apparatus for combining sound distribution system according to claim 14, wherein said intercom includes a combination port for propagating a combined multiplexed signals selected from a group comprising video, audio, data, command, control, alarm and combinations thereof generated by said intercom system, including said serial signals, said intercom speaker signal and said microphone signal exchanged through said sound distributor;

at least one of said home automation distributor and said sound distributor include a reciprocal port and an interface connector for propagating said combination of multiplexed signals to an interface unit selected from a group comprising a signal converter, a modem, ADSL, a PC, a PC server, a PC program, a USB converter, a network communicator, a router, a network switch and combinations thereof;

said interface unit connects to a network selected from a group comprising a local area network, a wide area network, a public network, a dedicated network, the Internet and combinations thereof for propagating an interfaced signal adapted for communicating via said network for remotely operating said home automation including said sound distribution and for communicating with said intercom and with an e-station selected from a group comprising e-emergency, e-medical, e-hospital, e-service, e-shopping and combinations thereof.

18. The apparatus for combining sound distribution system according to claim 17, wherein said remote control receiver and said remote control transmitter are selected from a group comprising IR, RF, wired and combinations thereof for exchanging data and signals generated by at least one emergency and medical devices associated with said intercom, said devices selected from a group comprising monitors, sensors, cameras, diagnosis, analysis, treatment, applicators, life support, rehabilitation and combinations thereof, for communicating with said e-station said data and signals outputted by said devices and for selectively operating said devices remotely.

19. The apparatus for combining sound distribution system according to claim 17, wherein at least one of said distributor and said interface unit includes an extracting circuit for extracting said video signal from said combined multiplexed signal for displaying an image onto a screen selected from a group comprising a television set, a video monitor, a tablet monitor, a PC display monitor, a set-top box, a cable box, an antenna box, a satellite box, a digital to analog converter box, an analog to digital converter box, a tuner box, a PC, a tablet controller, a video selector and combinations thereof;

and

at least one of said home automation distributor, said sound distributor, said selector/encoder and said interface unit is connected via video feed cable to said screen for displaying said image by a command to a medium selected from a group comprising said selector/encoder, said remote control unit, said A speaker, said B speaker, said serial port, said control port, said remote control driver, said intercom and combinations thereof.

20. An apparatus for combining sound distribution system according to claim 11, wherein said selector/encoder, said sound distributor and said A speaker propagate said encoded stereo signal via a first twisted pair, said DC power link via a second twisted pair and said serial signals are exchanged via a third twisted pair of a cascading fitted multi twisted pair cables, and wherein said selector/encoder, said sound distributor, said A speaker and said B speaker include matching connectors for said fitted multi twisted pair cables, and wherein said B speaker also connects to said A speaker via a cascaded segment of said fitted multi twisted pair cable.