Audio network distribution system

• US 7,643,894 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clearone Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NetStreams LLC (Clearone Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cardenas, Herman, Braithwaite, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Ping
• Application Number:
  US10/513,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20050131558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,434 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 381/77, 381/80, 381/81, 381/82, 381/85, 381/55
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234327 by decomposing into layers, e.g. base layer and one or more enhancement layers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2227/003 Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• 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 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

This invention is a networked audio system (20). The invention includes a plurality of speaker nodes (100), a plurality of self-sufficient audio source node devices (300), an internet interface (400), a network control server (310), a legacy converter and controller (600) that connects to one or more legacy sources (500), all connected via an internet protocol network (200).

Claims

1. A local area network (LAN) audio system comprising:

a networked audio source node device connected to a plurality of network speaker nodes via a TCP/IP LAN network, wherein an individual network speaker node further comprises;

a first network controller that controls the processing of the first digital audio signal to and from said LAN network, said first network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server;

a first network interface that couples said first network controller to said LAN network;

a first audio format converter that couples to said first network controller and converts and formats the first digital audio signal, said first audio format converter is updated through said LAN network;

a digital to analog converter (DAC) that couples to said first audio format converter and converts the first digital audio signal to the first analog audio signal;

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

speaker sensors that couple to said pre-amplifier and provide feed back that enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance and allow for sending control signals back to other devices in said LAN network;

an internet interface connected to said network speaker nodes via said LAN network;

a network control server connected to said network speaker nodes via said LAN network; and

a legacy converter and controller connected to said LAN network, said legacy converter and controller connects one or more legacy sources and a legacy control network to said LAN network, said legacy converter and controller further comprises;

a second network controller that controls the processing of the second digital audio signal to and from said LAN network, said second network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server;

a second network interface that couples said second network controller to said LAN network;

a second audio format converter that couples to said second network controller and converts and formats the second digital audio signal and receives legacy digital audio from legacy sources, said second audio format converter is updated through said LAN network;

an analog to digital converter (ADC) that couples to said second audio format converter and converts the legacy analog audio signal to the second digital audio signal; and

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

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

a legacy control network interface that couples said legacy control network to said legacy controller.

2. The claim according to claim 1 wherein each said network speaker node through said web server renders audio media content and distributes, controls, and serves media content to other devices on said LAN network.

3. The claim according to claim 1 wherein said LAN network comprises a wired section and one or more wireless segments, and one or more of said network speaker nodes comprises interface means providing a communication bridge between said wire section and said one or more wireless segments.

4. The claim according to claim 3 wherein said interface means comprises an RF receiver/transmitter capable of both receiving and sending RF network communication.

5. The claim according to claim 1 wherein said network speaker nodes are adapted to participate in multi speaker sessions to establish a master speaker node and slave speaker nodes which would receive clocking control information from said master speaker node.

6. A method to make a local area network (LAN) audio system, comprising:

providing a networked audio source node device coupled to a plurality of network speaker nodes via a TCP/IP LAN network;

wherein an individual network speaker node further comprises;

a first network controller that controls the processing of the first digital audio signal to and from said LAN network, said first network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server;

a first network interface that couples said first network controller to said LAN network;

a first audio format converter that couples to said first network controller and converts and formats the first digital audio signal, said first audio format converter is updated through said LAN network;

a digital to analog converter (DAC) that couples to said first audio format converter and converts the first digital audio signal to the first analog audio signal;

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

speaker sensors that couple to said pre-amplifier and provide feed back that enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance and allow for sending control signals back to other devices in said LAN network;

coupling an internet interface to said network speaker nodes via LAN said network;

coupling a network control server to said network speaker nodes via said LAN network; and

coupling a legacy converter and controller to said LAN network, said legacy converter and controller couples one or more legacy sources and a legacy control network to said LAN network, said legacy converter and controller further comprises;

a second network controller that controls the processing of the second digital audio signal to and from said LAN network, said second network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server;

a second network interface that couples said second network controller to said LAN network;

a second audio format converter that couples to said second network controller and converts and formats the second digital audio signal and receives legacy digital audio from legacy sources, said second audio format converter is updated through said LAN network;

an analog to digital converter (ADC) that couples to said second audio format converter and converts the legacy analog audio signal to the second digital audio signal; and

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

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

a legacy control network interface that couples said legacy control network to said legacy controller.

7. The claim according to claim 6 wherein each said network speaker node through said web server renders audio media content and distributes, controls, and serves media content to other devices on said LAN network.

8. The claim according to claim 6 wherein said LAN network comprises a wired section and one or more wireless segments.

9. The claim according to claim 8 further comprising an RF receiver/transmitter capable of both receiving and sending RF network communication.

10. The claim according to claim 6 wherein said network speaker nodes are adapted to participate in multi speaker sessions to establish a master speaker node and slave speaker nodes which would receive clocking control information from said master speaker node.

11. A method to use a local area network (LAN) audio system, comprising:

using a TCP/IP LAN network to couple a networked audio source node device to a plurality of network speaker nodes, wherein an individual network speaker node further comprises;

a first network controller that controls the processing of the first digital audio signal to and from said LAN network, said first network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server;

a first network interface that couples said first network controller to the said LAN network;

a first audio format converter that couples to said first network controller and converts and formats the first digital audio signal, said first audio format converter is updated through said LAN network;

a digital to analog converter (DAC) that couples to said first audio format converter and converts the first digital audio signal to the first analog audio signal;

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

speaker sensors that couple to said pre-amplifier and provide feed back that enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance and allow for sending control signals back to other devices in said LAN network;

using said LAN network to couple an internet interface to said network speaker nodes;

using said LAN network to couple a network control server to said network speaker nodes; and

coupling a legacy converter and controller to said LAN network, said legacy converter and controller couples one or more legacy sources and a legacy control network to said LAN network, said legacy converter and controller further comprises;

a second network controller that controls the processing of the second digital audio signal to and from said LAN network, said second network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server;

a second network interface that couples said second network controller to said LAN network;

a second audio format converter that couples to said second network controller and converts and formats the second digital audio signal and receives legacy digital audio from legacy sources, said second audio format converter is updated through said LAN network;

an analog to digital converter (ADC) that couples to said second audio format converter and converts the legacy analog audio signal to the second digital audio signal; and

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

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

a legacy control network interface that couples said legacy control network to said legacy controller.

12. The claim according to claim 11 wherein each said network speaker node through said web server renders audio media content and distributes, controls, and serves media content to other devices on said LAN network.

13. The claim according to claim 11 wherein said LAN network comprises a wired section and one or more wireless segments.

14. The claim according to claim 13 further comprising an RF receiver/transmitter capable of both receiving and sending RF network communication.

15. The claim according to claim 11 wherein said network speaker nodes are adapted to participate in multi speaker sessions to establish a master speaker node and slave speaker nodes which would receive clocking control information from said master speaker node.

16. A program storage device readable by a programmable device that tangibly embodies a program of instructions executable by the programmable device to perform a method to use a local area network (LAN) audio system, comprising:

using a TCP/IP LAN network to couple a networked audio source node device to a plurality of network speaker nodes, wherein an individual network speaker node further comprises;

a first network controller that controls the processing of the first digital audio signal to and from said LAN network, said first network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server;

a first network interface that couples said first network controller to the said LAN network;

a first audio format converter that couples to said first network controller and converts and formats the first digital audio signal, said first audio format converter is updated through said LAN network;

a digital to analog converter (DAC) that couples to said first audio format converter and converts the first digital audio signal to the first analog audio signal;

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

speaker sensors that couple to said pre-amplifier and provide feed back that enables internal auto adjustment by frequency separation to enhance speaker protection and performance and allow for sending control signals back to other devices in said LAN network;

using said LAN network to couple an internet interface to said network speaker nodes;

using said LAN network to couple a network control server to said network speaker nodes; and

coupling a legacy converter and controller to said LAN network, said legacy converter and controller couples one or more legacy sources and a legacy control network to said LAN network, said legacy converter and controller further comprises;

a second network controller that controls the processing of the second digital audio signal to and from said LAN network, said second network controller further comprises an embedded controller with memory and which is programmed to function as a web server;

a second network interface that couples said second network controller to said LAN network;

a second audio format converter that couples to said second network controller and converts and formats the second digital audio signal and receives legacy digital audio from legacy sources, said second audio format converter is updated through said LAN network;

an analog to digital converter (ADC) that couples to said second audio format converter and converts the legacy analog audio signal to the second digital audio signal; and

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

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

a legacy control network interface that couples said legacy control network to said legacy controller.

17. The claim according to claim 16 wherein each said network speaker node through said web server renders audio media content and distributes, controls, and serves media content to other devices on said LAN network.

18. The claim according to claim 16 wherein said LAN network comprises a wired section and one or more wireless segments.

19. The claim according to claim 16 further comprising an RF receiver/transmitter capable of both receiving and sending RF network communication.

20. The claim according to claim 16 wherein said network speaker nodes are adapted to participate in multi speaker sessions to establish a master speaker node and slave speaker nodes which would receive clocking control information from said master speaker node.