IP based microphone and intercom

• US 9,001,729 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2010
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LP Partners, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LP Partners, Inc.
• Inventors: Holmes, Fred H., Baxter, Kevin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang B
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, HARDIKKUMAR D
• Application Number:
  US12/874,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20110211524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 379 68- 70, 379/72, 375/240.1
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/20 for coupling gramophone pick-up, recorder output, or microphone to receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/545 Audio/video application, e.g. interphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A transceiver including, a codec, microcontroller, and radio. The codec including an analog to digital converter for receiving a first audio program and converting it to a first digital signal; a digital to analog converter for receiving a second digital audio signal and converting it to a second audio program; and, a control function for managing characteristics of the codec. The microcontroller is in electrical communication with the codec: for receiving the first digital audio signal from the codec and packetizing it into a first packet for transmission over a TCP/IP network; for receiving a second packet from network and converting it into the second digital audio signal and sending it to the codec; and for receiving control signals from the network. The radio is in electrical communication with the microcontroller for connection to the network to transmit the first packet to the network and receive the second packet from the network.

Claims

1. A transceiver for digitally transmitting live performance audio and receiving digital audio, comprising:

(a) A codec comprising;

(i) an analog to digital converter for receiving an electrical representation of a live performance audio program from a performer and converting said electrical representation to a first digital audio signal;

(ii) a digital to analog converter for receiving a second digital audio signal and converting said second digital audio signal to a second electrical representation of an IFB cue for delivery to said performer;

(iii) a control function for managing at least one characteristic of said analog to digital converter or said digital to analog converter;

(b) a microcontroller in electrical communication with said codec;

for receiving said first digital audio signal from said codec and packetizing said first digital audio signal into a first packet for transmission via a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network;

for receiving a second packet from said TCP/IP network and converting said second packet into a said second digital audio signal and sending said second digital audio signal to said codec; and

for receiving control signals from said TCP/IP network;

(c) a radio in electrical communication with said microcontroller for connection to a TCP/IP network to wirelessly transmit said first packet to said TCP/IP network and wirelessly receive said second packet from said network;

(d) at least one battery for providing electrical power to said codec;

said microcontroller and said radio.

5. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the transceiver supports real time bidirectional audio feedback.

2. A transceiver for digitally transmitting live performance audio and receiving digital intercom audio, comprising:

(a) an analog to digital converter for receiving an electrical representation of a live performance audio program from a performer and converting said electrical representation to a digital audio signal;

(b) a microcontroller in electrical communication with said analog to digital converter for receiving said digital audio signal and packetizing said digital audio signal into at least one digital audio packet for transmission over a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network;

(c) a radio in electrical communication with said microcontroller for connection to said TCP/IP network;

said radio for wireless transmission of said at least one digital audio packet over said TCP/IP network;

said radio for wireless reception of at least one digital intercom packet over said TCP/IP network and providing said at least one digital intercom packet to said microcontroller;

(d) wherein said microcontroller converts said at least one digital intercom packet into a digital intercom audio signal;

(e) a digital to analog converter in electrical communication with said microcontroller for receiving said digital intercom audio signal from said microcontroller and converting said digital intercom audio signal into an electrical representation of an analog intercom audio signal for delivery to said performer;

(f) wherein said analog to digital converter includes at least one control function controllable by said microcontroller;

(g) wherein the transceiver supports real time bidirectional audio feedback.

3. The transceiver of claim 2 wherein at least one of said analog to digital converter and said digital to analog converter is a codec.

4. The transceiver of claim 2 wherein said analog to digital converter and said digital to analog converter are a codec.

6. The transceiver of claim 2 further including at least one battery for providing electrical power to said analog to digital converter, said microcontroller and said radio.