Wireless ethernet system

• US 8,610,310 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TiVo Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Heaton, Kurtis G., Lockett, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Amrany, Adi
• Application Number:
  US12/393,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20090214051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 307/104
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• 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: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/108 the cable being constituted by a pair of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/00 Details of selecting apparatus or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2203/12 Beamforming aspects for stereophonic sound reproduction with loudspeaker arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/005 Audio distribution systems for home, i.e. multi-room use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/002 Non-adaptive circuits, e.g. manually adjustable or static, for enhancing the sound image or the spatial distribution control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field H04S7/30
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0021 Side-by-side or stacked arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus describes a stackable communications system. A system is modularized and stacked in various configurations. The interconnections between the modules may be by close proximity inductively coupled wireless Ethernet connections or a physical connection mechanism. Each module detects the power requirement of modules installed next to it. When a new module is installed, the module below determines the power requirements of the new module and whether adequate power is available. If adequate power is available, the new module is powered. An audio system that comprises an audio server and individual speaker clients may also be connected. Individual speaker clients may be the same physical configuration. When the audio server detects each speaker client, the audio server configures each speaker to a particular purpose. This allows the same type of speakers to be used for different features. Other audio devices may also be connected to the audio server.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first part of a separable coupling transformer; and

a first chassis configured to be in one or more physical surface contacts through stacking with a second different chassis of a second different apparatus, the second apparatus comprising a second part of the separable coupling transformer;

the first chassis at least containing the first part of the separable coupling transformer and an Ethernet transmitter electrically connected to the first part of the separable coupling transformer;

the first part of the separable coupling transformer configured to;

maintain, through the one or more physical surface contacts, an inductive coupling to the second part of the separable coupling transformer placed within an inductive range of the first part;

establish a wireless Ethernet communications link with the second part of the separable coupling transformer;

receive an Ethernet signal from the Ethernet transmitter; and

send the Ethernet signal un-modulated to the second part of the separable coupling transformer through the wireless Ethernet communications link.

2. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the Ethernet transmitter is configured to:

send, through the wireless Ethernet communication link, network traffic to the second apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an Ethernet receiver electrically connected to the first part of the separable coupling transformer, the Ethernet receiver configured to receive, through the wireless Ethernet communications link, network traffic from the second apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first part of the separable coupling transformer comprises a core with at least one of a C-shape, E-shape, U-shape, donut-shape, or rectangular shape.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a number of windings on the second part of the separable coupling transformer is symmetric with a number of windings on the first part of the separable coupling transformer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus and the second apparatus are vertically stacked.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus and the second apparatus are horizontally stacked.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a first part of a first separable coupling transformer;

a first part of a second separable coupling transformer;

a first chassis configured to be in one or more physical surface contacts through stacking with a second different chassis of a second different apparatus, the second apparatus comprising a second part of the first separable coupling transformer, the second apparatus comprising a second part of the second separable coupling transformer;

the first chassis at least containing the first part of the first separable coupling transformer and an Ethernet transmitter electrically connected to the first part of the first separable coupling transformer;

the first part of the first separable coupling transformer configured to;

maintain, through the one or more physical surface contacts, a first inductive coupling to the second part of the first separable coupling transformer placed within an inductive range of the first part of the first separable coupling transformer;

establish a first wireless Ethernet communications link for transmitting network traffic with the first separable coupling transformer;

receive a first Ethernet signal from the Ethernet transmitter; and

send the first Ethernet signal un-modulated to the second part of the first separable coupling transformer through the first wireless Ethernet communications link;

the first part of the second separable coupling transformer configured to;

maintain, through the one or more same physical surface contacts, a second inductive coupling to the second part of the second separable coupling transformer placed within an inductive range of the first part of the second separable coupling transformer; and

establish a second wireless Ethernet communications link for receiving network traffic with the second separable coupling transformer;

an Ethernet receiver electrically connected to the first part of the second separable coupling transformer, the first part of the second separable coupling transformer configured to receive a second Ethernet signal from the second part of the second separable coupling transformer through the second wireless Ethernet communications link.

9. A method, comprising:

establishing one or more physical surface contacts through stacking between a first chassis of a first apparatus and a second different chassis of a second different apparatus, the first apparatus comprising a first part of a separable coupling transformer, the second apparatus comprising a second part of the separable coupling transformer, the first chassis at least containing the first part of the separable coupling transformer and an Ethernet transmitter electrically connected to the first part of the separable coupling transformer;

maintaining, through the one or more physical surface contacts, an inductive coupling between the first part of the separable coupling transformer and the second part of the separable coupling transformer placed within an inductive range of the first part;

establishing a wireless Ethernet communications link between the first part of the separable coupling transformer and the second part of the separable coupling transformer;

receiving, by the first part of the separable coupling transformer, an Ethernet signal from the Ethernet transmitter; and

sending, by the first part of the separable coupling transformer, the Ethernet signal un-modulated to the second part of the separable coupling transformer through the wireless Ethernet communications link.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending, by the Ethernet transmitter through the wireless Ethernet communication link, network traffic to the second apparatus.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein an Ethernet receiver is electrically connected to the first part of the separable coupling transformer and is configured to receive, through the wireless Ethernet communications link, network traffic from the second apparatus.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first part of the separable coupling transformer comprises a core with at least one of a C-shape, E-shape, U-shape, donut-shape, or rectangular shape.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a number of windings on the second part of the separable coupling transformer is symmetric with a number of windings on the first part of the separable coupling transformer.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first apparatus and the second apparatus are vertically stacked.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the first apparatus and the second apparatus are horizontally stacked.

16. A method, comprising:

establishing one or more physical surface contacts through stacking between a first chassis of a first apparatus and a second different chassis of a second different apparatus, the first apparatus comprising a first part of a first separable coupling transformer and a first part of a second separable coupling transformer, the second apparatus comprising a second part of the first separable coupling transformer and a second part of the second separable coupling transformer, the first chassis at least containing the first part of the first separable coupling transformer and an Ethernet transmitter electrically connected to the first part of the first separable coupling transformer;

maintaining, through the one or more physical surface contacts, a first inductive coupling between the first part of the first separable coupling transformer and the second part of the first separable coupling transformer;

establishing a first wireless Ethernet communications link between the first part of the first separable coupling transformer and the second part of the first separable coupling transformer;

receiving, by the first part of the first separable coupling transformer, a first Ethernet signal from the Ethernet transmitter;

sending, by the first part of the first separable coupling transformer, the first Ethernet signal un-modulated to the second part of the second separable coupling transformer through the first wireless Ethernet communications link;

maintaining, through the one or more physical surface contacts, a second inductive coupling between the first part of the second separable coupling transformer and the second part of the second separable coupling transformer;

establishing a second wireless Ethernet communications link between the first part of the second separable coupling transformer and the second part of the second separable coupling transformer;

electrically connecting the first part of the second separable coupling transformer to an Ethernet receiver; and

receiving, by the first part of the second separable coupling transformer, a second Ethernet signal from the second part of the second separable coupling transformer through the second wireless Ethernet communications link.