Legacy converter and controller for an audio video distribution system

• US 9,137,035 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2007
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clearone Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NetStreams LLC (Clearone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Braithwaite, Michael, Cardenas, Herman
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Ping
• Application Number:
  US11/960,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20080114481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,827 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 381/55, 381/77, 381 80- 82, 381/85
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• 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: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• 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 21/4398 involving reformatting operations of audio signals details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6332 directed to client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6338 directed to network

Abstract

This disclosures describes a legacy converter and controller 600 for an audio video distribution system 20. The legacy converter and controller 600 includes the following: a network controller 620, a network interface 610, an audio format converter 621, an analog to digital converter (ADC), a legacy controller 624, a legacy audio network interface 625 that couples the legacy sources 500 to the legacy controller 624, and a legacy control network interface 625 that couples the legacy control network 700 to the legacy controller 624.

Claims

1. A legacy converter and controller for an audio distribution system that uses a TCP/IP Local Area Network (LAN) using TCP/IP as the communication protocol where the legacy converter and controller converts a digital audio signal to and from an analog audio signal and provides an external bridge connection between the audio system and one or more legacy sources and one or more legacy control networks, comprising:

a network controller that controls the processing of the digital audio signal to and from the audio distribution system on the TCP/IP LAN and uses TCP/IP as the communication protocol, said network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server that uses TCP/IP as the communication protocol;

a network interface that couples said network controller to the audio distribution system on the TCP/IP LAN;

an audio format converter that couples to said network controller and converts and formats the digital audio signal, said audio format converter is updated through the TCP/IP LAN using TCP/IP as the communication protocol, said audio format converter includes one or more audio encoders to provide multiple conversions of different legacy audio inputs simultaneously;

an analog to digital converter that couples to said audio format converter and converts the analog audio signal from legacy sources to the digital audio signal, said analog to digital converter additionally uses the analog video from the legacy video source device for converting to the digital audio signal wherein said analog to digital converter uses the analog video inputs for power status and feedback;

a legacy controller that couples to said network controller and controls and communicates with legacy sources and or the legacy control network;

a legacy audio network interface that bridges the legacy sources to said legacy controller; and

a legacy control network interface that bridges the legacy control network to said legacy controller.

2. The claim according to claim 1 further comprising a digital signal processor.

3. The claim according to claim 1 wherein said legacy audio network interface transmits and receives IR information from the legacy sources.

4. The claim according to claim 1 wherein said analog to digital converter further comprises a microphone connection.

5. A method to make a legacy converter and controller for an audio distribution system that uses a TCP/IP Local Area Network (LAN) using TCP/IP as the communication protocol where the legacy converter and controller converts a digital audio signal to and from an analog audio signal and provides an external bridge connection between the audio system and one or more legacy sources and one or more legacy control networks, comprising:

providing a network controller that controls the processing of the digital audio signal to and from the audio distribution system on the TCP/IP LAN and uses TCP/IP as the communication protocol, said network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server that uses TCP/IP as the communication protocol;

coupling said network controller to the audio distribution system on the TCP/IP LAN with a network interface;

coupling an audio format converter to said network controller, said audio format converter converts and formats the digital audio signal, said audio format converter is updated through the TCP/IP LAN using TCP/IP as the communication protocol, said audio format converter includes one or more audio encoders to provide multiple conversions of different legacy audio inputs simultaneously;

coupling an analog to digital converter to said audio format converter, said analog to digital converter converts the analog audio signal from legacy sources to the digital audio signal, said analog to digital converter additionally uses the analog video from the legacy video source device for converting to the digital audio signal wherein said analog to digital converter uses the analog video inputs for power status and feedback;

coupling a legacy controller to said network controller, said legacy controller controls and communicates with legacy sources and or the legacy control network;

bridging the legacy sources to said legacy controller with a legacy audio network interface; and

bridging the legacy control network to said legacy controller with a legacy control network interface.

6. The claim according to claim 5 further comprising a digital signal processor.

7. The claim according to claim 5 wherein said legacy audio network interface transmits and receives IR information from the legacy sources.

8. The claim according to claim 5 wherein said analog to digital converter further comprises a microphone connection.

9. A method to use a legacy converter and controller for an audio distribution system that uses a TCP/IP Local Area Network (LAN) using TCP/IP as the communication protocol where the legacy converter and controller converts a digital audio signal to and from an analog audio signal and provides an external bridge connection between the audio system and one or more legacy sources and one or more legacy control networks, comprising:

controlling the processing of the digital audio signal to and from the audio distribution system on the TCP/IP LAN with a network controller and uses TCP/IP as the communication protocol, said network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server that uses TCP/IP as the communication protocol, said network controller couples to the audio network distribution system on the TCP/IP LAN through a network interface;

converting and formatting the digital audio signal with an audio format converter that couples to said network controller, said audio format converter is updated through the TCP/IP LAN using TCP/IP as the communication protocol, said audio format converter includes one or more audio encoders to provide multiple conversions of different legacy audio inputs simultaneously;

converting the analog audio signal from legacy sources to the digital audio signal with an analog to digital converter that couples to said audio format converter, said analog to digital converter additionally uses the analog video from the legacy video source device for converting to the digital audio signal wherein said analog to digital converter uses the analog video inputs for power status and feedback; and

controlling and communicating the legacy sources and or the legacy control network with a legacy controller that couples to said network controller, said legacy controller bridges the legacy sources through a legacy audio network interface, said legacy controller bridges the legacy control network through a legacy home control network interface.

10. The claim according to claim 9 further comprising a digital signal processor.

11. The claim according to claim 9 wherein said legacy audio network interface transmits and receives IR information from the legacy sources.

12. The claim according to claim 9 wherein said analog to digital converter further comprises a microphone and or a speaker external connection.