Audio hub and a system having one or more audio hubs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018317009-A1
Application number	US-201815965933-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 29, 2018
Priority date	Apr 30, 2017
Publication date	Nov 1, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

There may be provided a system that may include a processor and an audio hub; wherein the audio hub may include first communication interfaces, a second communication interface, a processor, and a memory; wherein the first communication interfaces may be configured to exchange audio signals with a group of audio components of different types; wherein an aggregate number of first communication interface bits exceeds a number of second communication interface bits; wherein the audio signals may include input audio signals received from the group and output audio signals transmitted to the group; wherein the processor may be configured to generate an input multiplex of input audio signals; and wherein the second communication interface may be configured to transmit the input multiplex to the processor and to receive an output multiplex from the processor.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A system comprising a processor and an audio hub;
wherein the audio hub comprises first communication interfaces, a second communication interface, a processor, and a memory; wherein the first communication interfaces are configured to exchange audio signals with a group of audio components of different types; wherein an aggregate number of first communication interface bits exceeds a number of second communication interface bits; wherein the audio signals comprise input audio signals received from the group and output audio signals transmitted to the group; wherein the processor is configured to generate an input multiplex of input audio signals; and wherein the second communication interface is configured to transmit the input multiplex to the processor and to receive an output multiplex from the processor.

2 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the audio hub is configured to generate the input multiplex based on a mapping stored in the audio hub.

3 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the audio hub is configured to generate the input multiplex based on types of audio signals requested by the processor and based on a usage of the first communication interfaces.

4 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the audio hub is configured to generate the input multiplex to include audio signals of different rate.

5 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the audio hub is configured to generate the input multiplex by truncating audio signal chunks.

6 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the audio hub is configured to generate the input multiplex from audio signals received from one or more wireless modems, from one or more CODEC and from one or more digital microphones.

7 . The system according to claim 1 wherein the audio hub is configured to generate the input multiplex from audio signals received from wireless antennas, from wired cables, and from digital microphones.

8 . The system according to claim 1 wherein first communication interfaces comprise a first plurality of time division multiplex buses.

9 . The system according to claim 1 comprising an additional audio hub; wherein the processor is configured to control the additional audio hub.

10 . The system according to claim 9 wherein the additional audio hub comprises additional first communication interfaces, an additional second communication interface, an additional processor, and an additional memory; wherein the additional first communication interfaces are configured to exchange audio signals with an additional group of audio components of different types; wherein an aggregate number of additional first communication interface bits exceeds a number of additional second communication interface bits; wherein the additional audio signals comprise additional input audio signals received from the additional group and additional output audio signals transmitted to the additional group; wherein the additional processor is configured to generate an additional input multiplex of additional input audio signals; and wherein the additional second communication interface is configured to transmit the additional input multiplex to the processor and to receive an additional output multiplex from the processor.

11 . The system according to claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to control the first and second audio hubs using a shared control bus.

12 . The system according to claim 10 wherein the additional second communication interface and the second communication interface are coupled to the processor over a shared bus.

13 . A method, comprising:
exchanging, by first communication interfaces of an audio hub, audio signals with a group of audio components of different types; wherein an aggregate number of first communication interface bits exceeds a number of second communication interface bits; wherein the audio hub also comprises a second communication interface, a processor, and a memory; wherein the audio signals comprise input audio signals received from the group and output audio signals transmitted to the group; generating, by the processor, an input multiplex of input audio signals; and transmitting, by the second communication interface, the input multiplex to the processor; and receiving, by the second communication interface, an output multiplex from the processor.

14 . The method according to claim 13 comprising generating, by the audio hub, the input multiplex based on a mapping stored in the audio hub.

15 . The method according to claim 13 comprising generating, by the audio hub, the input multiplex based on types of audio signals requested by the processor and based on a usage of the first communication interfaces.

16 . The method according to claim 13 comprising generating, by the audio hub, the input multiplex to include audio signals of different rate.

17 . The method according to claim 13 comprising generating, by the audio hub, the input multiplex by truncating audio signal chunks.

18 . The method according to claim 13 comprising generating, by the audio hub, the input multiplex from audio signals received from one or more wireless modems, from one or more CODEC and from one or more digital microphones.

19 . The method according to claim 13 comprising generating, by the audio hub, the input multiplex from audio signals received from wireless antennas, from wired cables, and from digital microphones.

20 . The method according to claim 13 wherein first communication interfaces comprise a first plurality of time division multiplex buses.

21 . The method according to claim 13 wherein the audio hub comprises an additional audio hub; wherein the method comprises controlling, by the processor, the additional audio hub.

22 . The method according to claim 9 wherein the additional audio hub comprises additional first communication interfaces, an additional second communication interface, an additional processor, and an additional memory; wherein the method comprises:
exchanging, by the additional first communication interfaces, audio signals with an additional group of audio components of different types; wherein an aggregate number of additional first communication interface bits exceeds a number of additional second communication interface bits; wherein the additional audio signals comprise additional input audio signals received from the additional group and additional output audio signals transmitted to the additional group;
generating, by the additional processor, an additional input multiplex of additional input audio signals;
transmitting, by the additional second communication interface, the additional input multiplex to the processor; and
receiving, by the additional second communication interface, an additional output multiplex from the processor.

23 . The method according to claim 22 comprising controlling, by the processor, the first and second audio hubs using a shared control bus.

24 . The method according to claim 22 wherein the additional second communication interface and the second communication interface are coupled to the processor over a shared bus.

Assignees

• Dsp Group Ltd

Inventors

• Feld Eran
• Rabin Fredy
• Molkho Gad

Classifications

• H04R2201/405

  Non-uniform arrays of transducers or a plurality of uniform arrays with different transducer spacing · CPC title

• H04R27/00 Primary

  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 title

• H04R2227/003

  Digital PA systems using, e.g. LAN or internet · CPC title

• H04R3/14 Primary

  Cross-over networks · CPC title

• H04R5/04

  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)} · CPC title