Sharing public addressing system using personal communication devices in an ad-hoc network

• US 9,131,316 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sheth, Soham V., Trando, Huey
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thinh T
• Application Number:
  US12/333,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20100150373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,462 Days
• Field of Search: 381/80, 381/81, 381/82, 395/835, 434/350, 455/422.1, 455/414.1, 455/412.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/08 Two-way loud-speaking telephone systems with means for conditioning the signal, e.g. for suppressing echoes for one or both directions of traffic
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/007 for public address systems public address systems per se H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• 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

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for using a personal communication device as a microphone in a seminar or conference setting. A client is electrically connected to a PA system and one of many hosts can access the PA system by associating with the client. The association can be transferred by the client or the host. Tokens can be generated for each transfer and a map can be created and stored.

Claims

1. A method of using a client device with a public addressing audio system, the method comprising the steps of:

communicatively coupling the client device to an audio system of the public addressing audio system;

associating the client device with at least one first cellular wireless device via an ad-hoc network, wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device (i) obtains access to the public addressing audio system and (ii) is used as a microphone for audio communication over the public addressing audio system to multiple persons located in a single venue via a loudspeaker;

receiving audio and data from the at least one first wireless cellular device; and

granting permission for a second wireless cellular device to transmit audio data by generating and transmitting a token to the second wireless cellular device, wherein transmission of the token enables the second wireless cellular device to send the audio data and the token to the client device, enabling audio communication from the second wireless cellular device over the public addressing audio system via the client device.

45. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a permission to transfer an association between the client device and at least one first cellular wireless device to at least one second wireless cellular device, wherein the permission to transfer the association is granted by the client device or the at least one first wireless cellular device;

generating the token at the client device and sending the token from the client device to the at least one second wireless cellular device;

mapping the token, the at least one first wireless cellular device and the at least one second wireless cellular device, wherein the at least one second wireless cellular device obtains access to the public addressing audio system; and

receiving audio and data from the at least second wireless cellular device.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device is a wireless device capable of communicating in a wireless cellular network that is different than a wireless network that is used to communicate between the client device and the first wireless cellular device.

2. A system for using a client device with a public addressing audio system, the system comprising:

means for communicatively coupling the client device to an audio system of the public addressing audio system;

means for associating the client device with at least one first wireless cellular device via an ad-hoc network, wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device (i) obtains access to the public addressing audio system and (ii) is used as a microphone for audio communication over the public addressing audio system to multiple persons located in a single venue via a loudspeaker;

means for receiving audio and data from the at least one first wireless cellular device; and

means for granting permission for a second wireless cellular device to transmit audio data by generating and transmitting a token to the second wireless cellular device, wherein transmission of the token enables the second wireless cellular device to send the audio data and the token to the client device, enabling audio communication from the second wireless cellular device over the public addressing audio system via the client device.

3. A method of using a client device with a public addressing audio system, the method comprising the steps of:

communicatively coupling the client device to an audio system of the public addressing audio system;

associating the client device with at least one first wireless cellular device via an ad-hoc network, wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device (i) obtains access to the public addressing audio system and (ii) is used as a microphone for audio communication over the public addressing audio system to multiple persons located in a single venue via a loudspeaker;

providing a permission to transfer the association to at least one second wireless cellular device by generating and transmitting a token to at least one second wireless cellular device, wherein transmission of the token enables the at least one second wireless cellular device to send the audio data and the token to the client device;

transferring the association to at least one second wireless cellular device, wherein the at least one second wireless cellular device obtains access to the public addressing audio system; and

receiving audio and data from the at least one second wireless cellular device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the permission to transfer the association is granted by the client device.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the permission to transfer the association is granted by the at least one first wireless cellular device.

6. A system for using a client device with a public addressing audio system, the system comprising:

means for communicatively coupling the client device to an audio system of the public addressing audio system;

means for associating the client device with at least one first wireless cellular device via an ad-hoc network, wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device (i) obtains access to the public addressing audio system and (ii) is used as a microphone for audio communication over the public addressing audio system to multiple persons located in a single venue via a loudspeaker;

means for providing a permission to transfer the association to at least one second wireless cellular device by generating and transmitting a token to at least one second wireless cellular device, wherein transmission of the token enables the at least one second wireless cellular device to send the audio data and the token to the client device;

means for transferring the association to the at least one second wireless cellular device, wherein the at least one second wireless cellular device obtains access to the public addressing audio system; and

means for receiving audio and data from the at least one second wireless cellular device.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the means for providing the permission to transfer the association is granted by the client device.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the permission to transfer the association is granted by the at least one first wireless cellular device.

9. A method of using a client device in a public addressing audio system, the method comprising the steps of:

communicatively coupling the client device to an audio system of the public addressing audio system;

associating the client device with at least one first wireless cellular device via an ad-hoc network, wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device (i) obtains access to the public addressing audio system and (ii) is used as a microphone for audio communication over the public addressing audio system to multiple persons located in a single venue via a loudspeaker;

generating a permission for an association between the client device and at least one second wireless cellular device;

handing over the association with the at least first wireless cellular device to the at least one second wireless cellular device by generating and transmitting a token to at least one second wireless cellular device, wherein transmission of the token enables the at least one second wireless cellular device to send the audio data and the token to the client device; and

receiving audio and data from the at least one second wireless cellular device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device and the at least one second wireless cellular device are designated wireless cellular devices.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device comprises a designated wireless cellular device and the at least one second wireless cellular device comprises a non-designated wireless cellular device.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of disassociating the at least one first wireless cellular device from the client device.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of generating a permission is based on a request for permission from the at least one second wireless cellular device.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of generating a permission comprises the client device requesting the permission from the at least one first wireless cellular device.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of handing over the association comprises a predetermined time interval.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of handing over the association comprises a termination instruction.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of handing over the association comprises the client device generating the token and sending the token to the at least one second wireless cellular device.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of mapping the token, the at least one first wireless cellular device and the at least one second wireless cellular device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of mapping comprises updating a map upon transfer of the association.

20. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of terminating the association of the at least one second wireless cellular device and handing over the association to at least one third wireless cellular device.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of the client device generating a second token and sending the second token to the at least one third wireless cellular device and updating a map.

22. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of receiving a retrieval request of the association from the at least one first wireless cellular device.

23. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of calling back the at least one second wireless cellular device upon receipt of a response from the at least one first wireless cellular device.

24. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of storing requests for the association in a database.

25. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of sending a profile of the at least one second wireless cellular device.

26. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of receiving a call back from the at least one first wireless cellular device to allow the access to the at least one second wireless cellular device.

27. A system for using a client device with a public addressing audio system, the system comprising:

means for communicatively coupling the client device to an audio system of the public addressing audio system;

means for associating the client device with the at least one first wireless cellular device via an ad-hoc network, wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device (i) obtains access to the public addressing audio system and (ii) is used as a microphone for audio communication over the public addressing audio system to multiple persons located in a single venue via a loudspeaker;

means for generating a permission for an association between the client device and the at least one second wireless cellular device;

means for handing over the association with the at least first wireless cellular device to the at least one second wireless cellular device by generating and transmitting a token to at least one second wireless cellular device, wherein transmission of the token enables the at least one second wireless cellular device to send the audio data and the token to the client device; and

means for receiving audio and data from the at least one second wireless cellular device.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device and the at least one second wireless cellular device are designated wireless cellular devices.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device comprises a designated wireless cellular device and the at least one second wireless cellular device comprises a non-designated wireless cellular device.

30. The system of claim 27 further comprising means for disassociating the at least one first wireless cellular device from the client device.

31. The system of claim 27 wherein generating the permission is based on a request for permission from the at least one second wireless cellular device.

32. The system of claim 27 wherein the means for generating a permission comprises means for requesting the permission by the client device from the at least one first wireless cellular device.

33. The system of claim 27 wherein the means for handing over the association comprises a predetermined time interval.

34. The system of claim 27 wherein the means for handing over the association comprises a termination instruction.

35. The system of claim 27 wherein the means for handing over the association comprises means for generating the token by the client device and sending the token to the at least one second wireless cellular device.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising means for mapping the token, the at least one first wireless cellular device and the at least one second wireless cellular device.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the means for mapping comprises means for updating a map upon transfer of the association.

38. The system of claim 27 further comprising means for terminating the association of the at least one second wireless cellular device and means for handing over the association to at least one third wireless cellular device.

39. The system of claim 38 further comprising means for generating a second token by the client device and sending the second token to the at least one third wireless cellular device and means for updating a map.

40. The system of claim 27 further comprising means for receiving a retrieval request of the association from the at least one first wireless cellular device.

41. The system of claim 27 further comprising means for calling back the at least one second wireless cellular device upon receipt of a response from the at least one first wireless cellular device.

42. The system of claim 27 further comprising means for storing requests for the association in a database.

43. The system of claim 27 further comprising means for sending a profile of the at least one second wireless cellular device.

44. The system of claim 27 further comprising means for receiving a calling back from the at least one first wireless cellular device to allow the access to the at least one second wireless cellular device.

47. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for a client device to be used with a public addressing audio system, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

communicatively couple the client device to an audio system of the public addressing audio system;

associate the client device with at least one first wireless cellular device via an ad-hoc network, wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device (i) obtains access to the public addressing audio system and (ii) is used as a microphone for audio communication over the public addressing audio system to multiple persons located in a single venue via a loudspeaker;

receive audio and data from the at least one first wireless cellular device; and

grant permission for a second wireless cellular device to transmit audio data by generating and transmitting a token to the second wireless cellular device, wherein transmission of the token causes the second wireless cellular device to send the audio data and the token to the client device, enabling audio communication from the second wireless cellular device over the public addressing audio system via the client device.

48. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for a client device to be used with a public addressing audio system, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

communicatively couple the client device to an audio system of the public addressing audio system;

associate the client device with at least one first wireless cellular device via an ad-hoc network, wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device (i) obtains access to the public addressing audio system and (ii) is used as a microphone for audio communication over the public addressing audio system to multiple persons located in a single venue via a loudspeaker;

provide a permission to transfer the association to at least one second wireless cellular device by generating and transmitting a token to at least one second wireless cellular device, wherein transmission of the token enables the at least one second wireless cellular device to send the audio data and the token to the client device;

transfer the association to at least one second wireless cellular device, wherein the at least one second wireless cellular device obtains access to the public addressing audio system; and

receive audio and data from the at least one second wireless cellular device.

49. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for a client device to be used with a public addressing audio system, which when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

communicatively couple the client device to an audio system of the public addressing audio system;

associate the client device with at least one first wireless cellular device via an ad-hoc network, wherein the at least one first wireless cellular device (i) obtains access to the public addressing audio system and (ii) is used as a microphone for audio communication over the public addressing audio system to multiple persons located in a single venue via a loudspeaker;

generate a permission for an association between the client device and at least one second wireless cellular device;

hand over the association with the at least first wireless cellular device to the at least one second wireless cellular device by generating and transmitting a token to at least one second wireless cellular device, wherein transmission of the token enables the at least one second wireless cellular device to send the audio data and the token to the client device; and

receive audio and data from the at least one second wireless cellular device.