Intelligent network communication device in an audio video distribution system

• US 9,191,232 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• 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:
  US12/900,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20110026727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 381 7788- 7782, 381/85, 381/55, 381/57, 381/59
• 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 disclosure describes an intelligent network communication device in an audio video distribution system that uses a local area network that includes a network speaker node; an audio input device that receives the analog audio signal and that couples to a network speaker node through a speaker/microphone driver; and an audio output device that transmits the analog audio signal and that couples to the network speaker node through the speaker/microphone driver. The network speaker node further includes a controller with a network interface that couples to the local area network, where the controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server. The network speaker node further includes a digital signal processor that couples to the controller. And, the network speaker node further includes a speaker/microphone driver that couples to the digital signal processor.

Claims

1. An intelligent network communication device in an audio video distribution system that uses a TCP/IP local area network, comprising:

a network speaker node that further comprises;

an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server;

a pre-amplifier that couples to a digital signal processor and adjusts and filters an analog audio signal and an amplifier that couples to said pre-amplifier and amplifies said analog audio signal, said pre-amplifier further comprises an electronic crossover for frequency division;

said digital signal processor that couples to said embedded controller, said digital signal processor processes and formats a digital audio signal and said analog audio signal and converts said digital audio signal to and from said analog audio signal;

speaker sensors that include a microphone used for receiving and or gathering control information that enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance from said network speaker node'"'"'s surroundings and optimizes the audio for said network speaker node'"'"'s current location, said control information is sent to other network speaker nodes on the TCP/IP local area network; and

a speaker/microphone driver that couples to said amplifier and provides the external connection to speaker/microphone components for said analog audio signal;

an audio input device that receives said analog audio signal and that couples to said network speaker node through said speaker/microphone driver; and

an audio output device that transmits said analog audio signal and that couples to said network speaker node through said speaker/microphone driver.

2. The claim according to claim 1 wherein said audio input device is a microphone.

3. The claim according to claim 1 wherein said audio output device are headphones.

4. The claim according to claim 1 wherein said audio output device further comprises one or more analog speakers.

5. The claim according to claim 1 wherein said speaker sensors further comprise one or more of the following:

temperature sensors, SPL that further includes a baffle microphone, ambient and noise floor sensors, pressure sensors, or voltage sensors.

6. A method to manufacture an intelligent network communication device in an audio video distribution system that uses a TCP/IP local area network, comprising:

providing a network speaker node that further comprises;

an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server;

a pre-amplifier that couples to a digital signal processor and adjusts and filters an analog audio signal and an amplifier that couples to said pre-amplifier and amplifies said analog audio signal, said pre-amplifier further comprises an electronic crossover for frequency division;

said digital signal processor that couples to said embedded controller, said digital signal processor processes and formats a digital audio signal and said analog audio signal and converts said digital audio signal to and from the analog audio signal;

speaker sensors that include a microphone used for receiving and or gathering control information that enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance from said network speaker node'"'"'s surroundings and optimizes the audio for said network speaker node'"'"'s current location, said control information is sent to other network speaker nodes on the TCP/IP local area network; and

a speaker/microphone driver that couples to said amplifier and provides the external connection to speaker/microphone components for said analog audio signal;

coupling an audio input device that receives said analog audio signal and that couples to said network speaker node through said speaker/microphone driver; and

coupling an audio output device that transmits said analog audio signal and that couples to said network speaker node through said speaker/microphone driver.

7. The claim according to claim 6 wherein said audio input device is a microphone.

8. The claim according to claim 6 wherein said audio output device are headphones.

9. The claim according to claim 6 wherein said audio output device further comprises one or more analog speakers.

10. The claim according to claim 6 wherein said speaker sensors further comprise one or more of the following:

temperature sensors, SPL that further includes a baffle microphone, ambient and noise floor sensors, pressure sensors, or voltage sensors.

11. A method to use an intelligent network communication device in an audio video distribution system that uses a TCP/IP local area network, comprising:

processing the digital audio signal to and from the TCP/IP local area network with a network speaker node that further comprises;

an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server;

a pre-amplifier that couples to a digital signal processor and adjusts and filters an analog audio signal and an amplifier that couples to said pre-amplifier and amplifies said analog audio signal, said pre-amplifier further comprises an electronic crossover for frequency division;

said digital signal processor that couples to said embedded controller, said digital signal processor processes and formats a digital audio signal and said analog audio signal and converts said digital audio signal to and from said analog audio signal;

speaker sensors that include a microphone used for receiving and or gathering control information that enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance from said network speaker node'"'"'s surroundings and optimizes the audio for said network speaker node'"'"'s current location, said control information is sent to other network speaker nodes on the TCP/IP local area network; and

a speaker/microphone driver that couples to said amplifier and provides the external connection to speaker/microphone components for said analog audio signal;

receiving said analog audio signal through an audio input device to said network speaker node through said speaker/microphone driver; and

transmitting said analog audio signal through an audio output device to said network speaker node through said speaker/microphone driver.

12. The claim according to claim 11 wherein said audio input device is a microphone.

13. The claim according to claim 11 wherein said audio output device are headphones.

14. The claim according to claim 11 wherein said audio output device further comprises one or more speakers.

15. The claim according to claim 11 wherein said speaker sensors further comprise one or more of the following:

temperature sensors, SPL that further includes a baffle microphone, ambient and noise floor sensors, pressure sensors, or voltage sensors.