System and method for achieving voice-activated radio broadcasting over IP networks

• US 8,498,288 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barclays Capital Incorporated (Barclays PLC)
• Original Assignee: Barclays Capital Incorporated (Barclays PLC)
• Inventors: Rozinsky, Saul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US11/416,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20060256713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,647 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/315, 370/352, 370/386
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/46 by voice-frequency signals; by pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/00 Communication routing or communication path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A system and method for adding voice capability to an existing computer network having non-voice-ready routers is described. A radio broadcasting base station is connected to a voice activated relay, such that the relay activates or switches to a broadcast mode of the base station when a voice signal is received from the router.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first system that receives information from a packet-switching communication network and detects a voice signal in the received information;

a second system that is activated by the voice signal detected by the first system; and

a third system that broadcasts the voice signal received from the activated second system,

wherein the second system is activated without using any software,

wherein the voice signal is received at a microphone input of the second system, the microphone input being connected to an ear-and-mouth port of the first system,

wherein the second system is a component that stands alone from the first system, and

wherein an output of the activated second system activates a transmission capability of the third system and transmits the voice signal.

2. A method comprising the steps of

receiving information from a packet-switching communication network using a router;

detecting a voice signal in the received information using the router;

transmitting the voice signal to a voice-activated relay using the router, the voice-activated relay outputting the voice signal to a radio broadcasting system and activating the radio broadcasting system without using any software; and

broadcasting the voice signal through the radio broadcasting system,

wherein the voice-activated relay is a component that stands alone from the router.

3. A system comprising:

a router configured to receive information from a packet-switching communication network, detect a voice signal in the received information and transmit the voice signal to a voice-activated relay;

the voice-activated relay configured to receive the voice signal from the router and transmit the voice signal to a radio broadcasting base station, the voice-activated relay configured to activate the radio broadcasting base station without using any software; and

the radio broadcasting base station configured to broadcast the voice signal from the voice-activated relay, the radio broadcasting base station normally in a receive state for receiving incoming signals,

wherein the voice-activated relay is a component that stands alone from the router.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the voice-activated relay is operable to activate push-to-talk circuitry in the radio broadcasting base station, thereby to switch the radio broadcasting base station to the broadcast state.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the voice-activated relay is operable to switch the radio broadcasting base station from a broadcast state to the receive state when the voice signal is no longer present.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the voice-activated relay is operable to switch to an idle state when the voice signal is no longer present.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the base station is configured to stop transmitting when the voice-activated relay is in the idle state.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the base station is operable to receive radio signals when the voice-activated relay is in the idle state.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein the router is further operable to receive an audio signal from the base station.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the router is operable to receive the audio signal through an ear-and-mouth port of the router.