A multi-channel hot backup computer play controller

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of multi-channel hot backup computer play controller, including multiple computer audio channels, play progress controller, audio output switcher, audio signal comparator and audio output interface, computer audio channel includes the computer interface for connecting computer, concentrator and audio decoding distributor, concentrator is connected with the input end of computer interface, audio decoding distributor and the output end of play progress controller respectively, the input end of audio output switcher and the input end of audio signal comparator are connected with the output end of audio decoding distributor respectively, the output end of audio signal comparator is connected with the control end of audio output switcher, the output end of audio output switcher is connected with audio output interface.The utility model effectively solves the problem that switching audio in prior art causes playing interruption and cannot realize the synchronous control of multiple computers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of audio playback control technology, specifically to a multi-channel hot-backup computer playback controller. Background Technology

[0002] In live performances, large conferences, and other events, the stability of the audio reinforcement system is crucial, with the computer player, as the signal source, being a core component. Currently, hot backup management for audio reinforcement equipment is relatively mature in the industry, but there is still a gap in hot backup management for computer players. Existing multi-computer playback control solutions mainly adopt a cold backup mode: one computer plays normally, and when that computer malfunctions and stops working, another computer is manually started to continue playback. However, the switching between the two computers causes audio playback interruption, severely impacting the event experience. Furthermore, existing multi-computer playback control solutions either rely on the computer's built-in mouse / keyboard control or use an external numeric keypad (based on USB / MIDI technology) to add mechanical feel, but cannot achieve synchronous control of multiple computers.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a hot backup playback controller that can achieve synchronous control and automatic switching of multiple computers to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to overcome the problems of existing multi-computer playback control schemes, such as audio playback interruption caused by switching audio and inability to achieve synchronous control of multiple computers, this utility model provides a multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model is as follows:

[0006] A multi-channel hot-backup computer playback controller includes multiple computer audio channels, a playback progress controller, an audio output switcher, an audio signal comparator, and an audio output interface. Each computer audio channel includes a computer interface for connecting to a computer, a hub, and an audio decoder / distributor. The hub is connected to the computer interface, the input terminal of the audio decoder / distributor, and the output terminal of the playback progress controller. The output terminal of the audio decoder / distributor is connected to the input terminal of the audio output switcher and the input terminal of the audio signal comparator. The output terminal of the audio signal comparator is connected to the control terminal of the audio output switcher, and the output terminal of the audio output switcher is connected to the audio output interface.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the audio decoder splitter includes an audio decoder and a signal splitter. The input terminal of the audio decoder is connected to the hub, and the output terminal of the audio decoder is connected to the input terminal of the signal splitter. The first output terminal and the second output terminal of the signal splitter are respectively connected to the input terminal of the audio output switcher and the input terminal of the audio signal comparator.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the computer audio channel further includes an input level display, and the third output terminal of the signal distributor is connected to the input level display.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, it also includes an output level display, and the output terminal of the audio output switch is also connected to the output level display.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, it further includes a switching controller, the input terminal of which is connected to the output terminal of the audio signal comparator, and the output terminal of which is connected to the control terminal of the audio output switcher.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the switching controller is provided with an output switching button for controlling the output channel of the audio output switcher.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the playback progress controller is provided with multiple playback control buttons and control knobs.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the playback control button is a mechanical button, and the control knob is an electronic encoder.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the playback progress controller is provided with an input cascade interface for connecting to an upper-level playback progress controller and an output cascade interface for connecting to a lower-level playback controller.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the computer interface is a USB interface, and the hub is a USB hub.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0017] The multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller provided by this utility model ensures the continuity and stability of audio playback through multi-channel design, audio signal comparison and automatic switching mechanism; at the same time, with the help of playback progress controller, it realizes synchronous control of multiple computers, improves the reliability and ease of operation of audio amplification system in live performances, large conferences and other events, and greatly improves the event experience. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of a multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a circuit diagram of the playback progress controller in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a circuit diagram of an audio output switcher in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a circuit diagram of an audio signal comparator in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a circuit diagram of the audio output interface in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 This is a circuit diagram of a hub in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 7 This is a circuit diagram of an audio decoder / distributor in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 8 This is a structural block diagram of a multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 9 This is a circuit diagram of an input level display in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 10 This is a circuit diagram of the output level display in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 11 This is a structural block diagram of a multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 12 This is a circuit diagram of the switching controller in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] In the diagram,

[0032] 1. Computer audio channel; 11. Computer interface; 12. Hub; 13. Audio decoder / distributor; 131. Audio decoder; 132. Signal distributor; 14. Input level display; 2. Playback progress controller; 21. Playback control button; 22. Control knob; 23. Input cascade interface; 24. Output cascade interface; 3. Audio output switcher; 4. Audio signal comparator; 5. Audio output interface; 6. Output level display; 7. Switching controller; 71. Output switching button. Detailed Implementation

[0033] To make the technical problem to be solved, the technical solution, and the beneficial effects of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following drawings indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent drawings. It is also declared that the embodiments described below are only for explaining this utility model and are not intended to limit this utility model.

[0034] It should be noted that the terms "installation," "setting," "connection," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly defined. Indications of orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product is in use, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly understood by those skilled in the art. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. The terms "first" and "second" are used only for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implying a number of technical features. "A plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined. "Several" means one or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0035] Please see Figures 1 to 7This utility model provides a multi-channel hot-backup computer playback controller, including multiple computer audio channels 1, a playback progress controller 2, an audio output switcher 3, an audio signal comparator 4, and an audio output interface 5. The computer audio channel 1 includes a computer interface 11 for connecting to a computer, a hub 12, and an audio decoder / distributor 13. The hub 12 is connected to the input terminals of the computer interface 11, the audio decoder / distributor 13, and the output terminal of the playback progress controller 2. The output terminal of the audio decoder / distributor 13 is connected to the input terminal of the audio output switcher 3 and the input terminal of the audio signal comparator 4. The output terminal of the audio signal comparator 4 is connected to the control terminal of the audio output switcher 3. The output terminal of the audio output switcher 3 is connected to the audio output interface 5.

[0036] Working principle:

[0037] Each computer audio channel 1 can be connected to a computer for playing music via its computer interface 11. The number of computers that can be connected is equal to the number of computer audio channels 1; for example, four computer audio channels 1 can connect to a maximum of four computers. After each computer audio channel 1 is connected to a computer, it receives the digital audio signal from the computer. The hub 12 then distributes the received digital audio signal to the audio decoder / distributor 13. The audio decoder / distributor 13 decodes the signal and generates analog audio signals, which are then sent to the input terminals of the audio output switcher 3 and the audio signal comparator 4. The audio signal comparator 4 compares the analog audio signals input to each computer audio channel 1, promptly detects any abnormalities, and outputs corresponding switching commands to the control terminal of the audio output switcher 3 according to priority (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4). The audio output switcher 3 then outputs only the analog audio signal of the corresponding computer audio channel 1 to the audio output interface 5 according to the switching command. After the audio output interface 5 is connected to audio amplification equipment, a stable audio signal source can be provided to the venue, ensuring the audio effect at the event.

[0038] When all analog audio signals input to computer audio channel 1 are normal, audio signal comparator 4 outputs the switching command corresponding to computer audio channel 1 with sequence number 1 to the control terminal of audio output switcher 3. Audio output switcher 3 then outputs the analog audio signal of computer audio channel 1 with sequence number 1 to audio output interface 5 according to the switching command. When the analog audio signal input to computer audio channel 1 with sequence number 1 is lost, but the analog audio signals input to computer audio channels 1 with sequence numbers 2, 3, and 4 are all normal, audio signal comparator 4 automatically outputs the switching command corresponding to computer audio channel 1 with sequence number 2 to the control terminal of audio output switcher 3. Audio output switcher 3 then outputs the analog audio signal of computer audio channel 1 with sequence number 2 to audio output interface 5 according to the switching command, and so on.

[0039] The playback progress controller 2 is equipped with multiple playback control buttons 21 and control knobs 22. Users can trigger corresponding control commands to the computers connected to each computer audio channel 1 through the playback control buttons 21 and control knobs 22 on the playback progress controller 2, thereby achieving synchronous control of multiple connected computers. The playback control buttons 21 are mechanical buttons, and the control knobs 22 are electronic encoders. Each playback control button 21 and control knob 22 can be customized according to the shortcut keys or mouse macro commands of the computer playback software, respectively realizing functions such as playing, pausing, stopping, previous track, next track, and specifying the sequence number of the music played on the computer. The control knobs 22 are used to control the fast forward and rewind functions of the currently playing track.

[0040] Please see Figure 8 In one embodiment, the audio decoder-distributor 13 includes an audio decoder 131 and a signal distributor 132. The input of the audio decoder 131 is connected to the hub 12, and the output of the audio decoder 131 is connected to the input of the signal distributor 132. The first and second outputs of the signal distributor 132 are respectively connected to the inputs of the audio output switcher 3 and the audio signal comparator 4. When a digital audio signal is input to the audio decoder 131, the audio decoder 131 decodes it to generate an analog audio signal. The signal distributor 132 splits the generated analog audio signal into two paths: the first path is sent to the input of the audio output switcher 3, and the second path is sent to the input of the audio signal comparator 4.

[0041] Please see Figure 8 , Figure 9 In one embodiment, the computer audio channel 1 further includes an input level display 14, and the third output terminal of the signal distributor 132 is connected to the input level display 14. In this embodiment, the signal distributor 132 splits the generated analog audio signal into three paths: the first path is sent to the input terminal of the audio output switcher 3, the second path is sent to the input terminal of the audio signal comparator 4, and the third path is sent to the input level display 14. The input level display 14 can display the audio signal level input to each computer audio channel 1 in real time, allowing users to intuitively understand the status of the audio signal input to each computer audio channel 1, facilitating timely detection and handling of audio signal abnormalities.

[0042] Please see Figure 8 , Figure 10 In one embodiment, the channel hot backup computer playback controller also includes an output level display 6. The output terminal of the audio output switcher 3 is also connected to the output level display 6. The output level display 6 can display the level status of the output signal of the audio output switcher 3 in real time, so that users can easily observe the real-time output signal status.

[0043] Please see Figure 11 , Figure 12 In one embodiment, the channel hot backup computer playback controller further includes a switching controller 7. The input terminal of the switching controller 7 is connected to the output terminal of the audio signal comparator 4, and the output terminal of the switching controller 7 is connected to the control terminal of the audio output switcher 3. The switching controller 7 is used to receive the automatic switching command output by the audio signal comparator 4 and transmit it to the control terminal of the audio output switcher 3. At the same time, the switching controller 7 is provided with an output switching button 71 for controlling the output channel of the audio output switcher 3. The output switching button 71 can add a manual switching function on the basis of the original automatic switching function, allowing the user to freely select the output channel. When automatic switching and manual switching occur simultaneously, the switching command of the manual switching output takes priority, ensuring that if the automatic switching may misjudge or not meet the user's expectations, the user can correct it in time through manual operation, ensuring that the audio output is as the user wishes.

[0044] Please see Figure 11 In one embodiment, the playback progress controller 2 is provided with an input cascading interface 23 for connecting to a higher-level playback progress controller 2 and an output cascading interface 24 for connecting to a lower-level playback controller. Through the input cascading interface 23 and the output cascading interface 24, the playback progress controller 2 can be cascaded and expanded, breaking through the limitation of a single controller on the number of computers it can control, and meeting the needs of larger-scale events requiring simultaneous control of multiple computers. For example, one hot-standby playback controller can simultaneously control four computers to play music, and two hot-standby playback controllers cascaded together can simultaneously control eight computers to play music.

[0045] In one embodiment, the computer interface 11 is a USB interface, and the hub 12 is a USB hub. The USB interface integrates control and audio output functions, allowing users to transmit control signals and output audio signals between the computer and the playback controller using only a single USB cable. This avoids the cumbersome connection of using multiple different types of interfaces and cables, greatly simplifying the system connection method and improving connection efficiency and reliability. The USB hub, as the hub connecting the computer interface 11, the playback progress controller 2, and the audio decoder / distributor 13, can distribute the digital audio signals transmitted from the computer interface 11 to the audio decoder / distributor 13 for decoding, and distribute the control signals output from the playback progress controller 2 to the computer interface 11, which then transmits them to the computer, ensuring normal signal transmission and processing.

[0046] It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make improvements or modifications based on the above description, and all such improvements and modifications should fall within the protection scope of the appended claims.

[0047] The present utility model patent has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the implementation of the present utility model patent is not limited to the above-described manner. Any improvements made by adopting the inventive concept and technical solution of the present utility model patent, or the direct application of the inventive concept and technical solution of the present utility model patent to other occasions without modification, are all within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A multi-channel hot-backup computer playback controller, characterized in that, The device includes multiple computer audio channels, a playback progress controller, an audio output switcher, an audio signal comparator, and an audio output interface. The computer audio channels include a computer interface for connecting to a computer, a hub, and an audio decoder / distributor. The hub is connected to the computer interface, the input terminal of the audio decoder / distributor, and the output terminal of the playback progress controller. The output terminal of the audio decoder / distributor is connected to the input terminal of the audio output switcher and the input terminal of the audio signal comparator. The output terminal of the audio signal comparator is connected to the control terminal of the audio output switcher, and the output terminal of the audio output switcher is connected to the audio output interface.

2. The multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller according to claim 1, characterized in that, The audio decoder-distributor includes an audio decoder and a signal distributor. The input of the audio decoder is connected to the hub, and the output of the audio decoder is connected to the input of the signal distributor. The first and second outputs of the signal distributor are respectively connected to the input of the audio output switcher and the input of the audio signal comparator.

3. The multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller according to claim 2, characterized in that, The computer audio channel also includes an input level display, and the third output of the signal distributor is connected to the input level display.

4. The multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an output level display, and the output terminal of the audio output switch is also connected to the output level display.

5. The multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a switching controller, the input of which is connected to the output of the audio signal comparator, and the output of which is connected to the control terminal of the audio output switcher.

6. The multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller according to claim 5, characterized in that, The switching controller is equipped with output switching buttons for controlling the output channels of the audio output switcher.

7. The multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller according to claim 1, characterized in that, The playback progress controller is equipped with multiple playback control buttons and control knobs.

8. The multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller according to claim 7, characterized in that, The playback control buttons are mechanical buttons, and the control knob is an electronic encoder.

9. The multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller according to claim 1, characterized in that, The playback progress controller is equipped with an input cascade interface for connecting to a higher-level playback progress controller and an output cascade interface for connecting to a lower-level playback controller.

10. The multi-channel hot backup computer playback controller according to claim 1, characterized in that, The computer interface is a USB interface, and the hub is a USB hub.

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