Portable audio networking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9621224-B2
Application number	US-201313875688-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

A portable audio networking system is provided that includes master devices and slave devices in communication over cables adapted to simultaneously transport a digital audio signal, DC power, and a data signal. Master devices are configured to receive a digital audio signal, distribute power, and transceive a data signal, and slave devices are configured to transmit the digital audio signal to master devices, receive the power from master devices, and transceive the data signal with master devices. Slave devices can include wireless audio receivers that receive an RF signal containing an audio signal from wireless audio transmitters. Master devices can include gateway interconnection devices that act as hubs and routers for the system. The reduction in the number of cables compared to traditional systems results in less weight for crew members to carry and easier setup of the system. Remote control of wireless audio transmitters is also enabled.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A portable audio networking system, comprising:
a gateway interconnection device configured to receive a digital audio signal, receive a DC power from a power source, provide the DC power, and transceive a data signal; and
a wireless audio receiver in communication with the gateway interconnection device, wherein the wireless audio receiver is configured to transmit the digital audio signal to the gateway interconnection device, receive the DC power from the gateway interconnection device, and transceive the data signal with the gateway interconnection device;
wherein the gateway interconnection device and the wireless audio receiver are in communication over a Category 5 twisted-pair cable adapted to simultaneously transport the digital audio signal, the DC power, and the data signal;
wherein the gateway interconnection device is further in communication with an audio device comprising one or more of an audio recorder or an audio mixer;
wherein the gateway interconnection device is configured to generate a combined digital audio signal based on the digital audio signal, transmit the combined digital audio signal to the audio device, provide the DC power to the audio device, and transceive the data signal with the audio device, wherein the combined digital audio signal conforms to a Dante standard;
wherein the data signal comprises a status of the gateway interconnection device and the wireless audio receiver.

2. The portable audio networking system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless audio receiver is configured to:
wirelessly receive a radio frequency (RF) signal containing an audio signal from a wireless audio transmitter, the RF signal comprising one or more of an analog modulated signal or a digital modulated signal; and
generate the digital audio signal based on the audio signal.

3. The portable audio networking system of claim 1 , wherein:
the gateway interconnection device is further in communication with a wireless access point configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more of a wireless audio transmitter or an electronic control device;
the gateway interconnection device is configured to provide the DC power to the wireless access point and transceive the data signal with the wireless access point; and
the wireless access point is configured to enable control of a functionality of the wireless audio transmitter.

4. The portable audio networking system of claim 1 , wherein the Category 5 twisted-pair cable comprises:
a first differential pair for transporting the digital audio signal and a ground of the DC power; and
a second differential pair for transporting the data signal and a positive voltage of the DC power.

5. The portable audio networking system of claim 1 , wherein the digital audio signal conforms to an AES3 standard.

6. The portable audio networking system of claim 1 , wherein:
the data signal comprises bi-directional serial data communication conforming to an EIA-485 standard; and
the serial data communication comprises one or more protocols of an Architecture for Control Networks (ACN) standard.

7. The portable audio networking system of claim 3 , wherein the electronic control device comprises one or more of a smartphone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a desktop computer, the electronic control device capable of executing an application to enable the control of the functionality of the wireless audio transmitter.

8. The portable audio networking system of claim 1 , wherein:
the gateway interconnection device and the wireless audio receiver each comprises an RJ45 port; and
the Category 5 twisted-pair cable comprises a first RJ45 connector and a second RJ45 connector for connecting the gateway interconnection device and the wireless audio receiver through their respective RJ45 ports.

9. The portable audio networking system of claim 1 , wherein the DC power is transported over the cable using aspects of a Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard.

Assignees

• Shure Acquisition Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Babarskas Christopher
• Perkofski Ryan Jerold
• Cerra David
• Oakley William J

Classifications

• H04B3/542 Primary

  the information being in digital form · CPC title

• H04R27/00

  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 title

• H04R3/00

  Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F) · CPC title

• H04R2420/07

  Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones · CPC title

• H04R29/004

  for microphones (H04R29/007 takes precedence) · CPC title