Server for allocating a frequency for wireless audio communications

• US 8,554,145 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2012
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Fehr, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Aminzay, Shaima Q
• Application Number:
  US13/412,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20120165031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 455/62, 455/66.1, 455/67.11, 455/67.13, 455/450, 455/458, 455/509, 455/517, 455/552.1, 455/556.1, 455/68, 455/71, 370/248, 370/348, 370/431, 375/133, 381/71.14, 381/94.1, 381/94.3, 381/98, 381/122
• US Class Current: 455/62
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0075 where the receiving frequencies of the stations are stored in a permanent memory, e.g. ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0091 provided with means for scanning over a band of frequencies H03J1/0058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 7/18 Automatic scanning over a band of frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/61 for local area broadcast, e.g. instore broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/41 for identifying broadcast space, i.e. broadcast channels, broadcast stations or broadcast areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/92 for local area

Abstract

A method is provided for allocating a frequency for wireless audio communications. A request is received for a frequency for wireless audio communications. The request contains the location, the time period, the quantity of required wireless communications paths and/or the available equipment for the wireless audio communications. This request is compared with information about frequency use which is stored in databases. Possible frequency ranges are outputted, and the possible frequency ranges are allocated to transmitting and/or receiving units of the requested audio communications.

Claims

1. A frequency information server for allocating a radio frequency for a wireless audio communications path between at least one wireless audio transmitter unit and at least one wireless audio receiver unit, the frequency information server comprising:

an input-output interface adapted to receive requests for a radio frequency for a wireless audio communications path, where the request includes a time period and a quantity of required wireless audio communications paths;

at least one database for storing information about utilized radio frequencies and time periods of wireless audio communications paths;

a calculation unit for coordinating the requested audio communications path with the information stored in the at least one database, and for allocating transmission parameters of the requested wireless audio communications path; and

a frequency information server interface for outputting the transmission parameters of the requested wireless audio communications path which are allocated by the calculation unit;

wherein the wireless audio communications path is a radio frequency transmission path.

2. The frequency information server according to claim 1;

wherein the requests for a radio frequency for a wireless audio communications path further include a location for the requested wireless audio communications path, and

wherein the at least one database further includes;

information about locations of utilized frequencies; and

time periods of wireless audio communications paths.

3. The frequency information server according to claim 2;

wherein information for radio frequency use of primary communications services is stored in the database.

4. The frequency information server according to claim 2, further comprising:

a frequency management interface;

wherein the frequency information server is configured to communicate with respective servers of a radio frequency management agency or regulatory body for performing regional frequency allocation via the frequency management interface.

5. The frequency information server according to claim 1;

wherein the requests for a radio frequency for a wireless audio communications path further include types of available equipment for the requested wireless audio communications path.

6. The frequency information server according to claim 1;

wherein the at least one database further includes;

information about the users of utilized radio frequencies; and

time periods of wireless audio communications paths.

7. The frequency information server according to claim 6, further comprising:

a billing interface configured to transmit billing information corresponding to the allocation of radio frequencies for the requested wireless transmission paths to an external server for billing.

8. The frequency information server according to claim 1;

wherein the transmission parameters outputted by the frequency information server interface include the radio transmitting frequency.

9. The frequency information server according to claim 8;

wherein the transmission parameters outputted by the frequency information server interface further include the transmitting power.

10. The frequency information server according to claim. 8;

wherein the transmission parameters outputted by the frequency information server interface further include the transmitting time.

11. The frequency information server according to claim 1;

wherein the at least one database is configured to be updated based on the requests received through the input-output interface.

12. The frequency information server according to claim 1;

wherein the frequency information server interface is configured to output the allocated transmission parameters directly to a corresponding transmitter-receiver device.

13. The frequency information server according to claim 1;

wherein the input-output interface for receiving requests for a radio frequency for a wireless audio communications path is configured so that external users can access this interface via the Internet.

14. The frequency information server according to claim 1;

wherein the calculation unit calculates a radio frequency range or radio frequency groups for a multiple of requested wireless transmission paths.

15. The frequency information server according to claim 1;

wherein the frequency information server interface is configured to output the allocated transmission parameters to a computer that is configured to be connected to a corresponding transmitter-receiver device.

16. A frequency information server for allocating a frequency for a wireless audio communications path between at least one wireless audio transmitter unit and at least one wireless audio receiver unit, the frequency information server comprising:

an input-output interface for receiving requests for a radio frequency for a wireless audio communications path, where the request includes a location, a time period, and a quantity of required wireless audio communications paths;

at least one database for storing information about utilized radio frequencies, locations, and time periods of wireless audio communications paths;

a calculation unit for coordinating the requested audio communications path with the information stored in the at least one database, and for allocating transmission parameters of the requested wireless audio communications path; and

a frequency information server interface for outputting the transmission parameters of the requested wireless audio communications path which are allocated by the calculation unit;

wherein the wireless audio communications path is a radio frequency transmission path.