Method for controlling a wireless multichannel audio system, and wireless multichannel audio system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring a wireless multichannel audio system (100), wherein the system (100) comprises at least two mobile devices (300), each for transmitting and / or receiving audio data in the form of at least one audio stream, and at least one base station (400), wherein: the mobile devices (300) and the base station (400) wirelessly exchange audio data in a time-division multiple access (TDMA) method; this wireless transmission is performed on the basis of repeating frames (SF); each frame (SF) comprises a number (A) of time slots (SL); each mobile device (300) transmits or receives audio data of an audio stream in at least one time slot (SL) at least once per frame (SF); each audio stream transmitted in the frame (SF) occupies a number (T) of the time slots (SL) of the frame (SF); the base station (400) transmits control data (201) to the mobile devices (300) for controlling the wireless transmission. The at least two mobile devices (300) are paired with the base station (400) and then each communicate via an encrypted wireless transmission via their respective audio links using the corresponding audio link parameters. A first operating mode is set, in which the wireless multi-channel audio system (100) is being configured. A second operating mode is set, in which the mobile devices (300) involved are put into an idle mode with reduced energy consumption. The base station (400) puts the mobile devices (300) into the idle mode by means of the control data (201). The mobile devices (300) leave the idle mode at predefined intervals or at at least one predefined time and communicate with the base station via the wireless transmission in order to end or maintain the idle mode. A third operating mode is set, in which the mobile devices (300) exchange audio data with the base station (400) via the wireless transmission.

Description

[0001] Method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system and wireless multi-channel audio system

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system and a wireless multi-channel audio system.

[0003] Wireless multi-channel audio systems are known from ETSI EN 300422. This type of audio system uses multiple channels for audio transmission. Multiple wireless transmitters (e.g., wireless microphones) and multiple wireless receivers (e.g., in-ear monitoring units) can communicate simultaneously with a base station.

[0004] The German Patent and Trademark Office has searched the following document in the priority-substantiating German patent application: US 2023 / 0 078 451 A1 .

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless multi-channel audio system which enables an extended battery life of the wireless transmitters or wireless receivers.

[0006] This object is achieved by a method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system according to claim 1 and by a wireless multi-channel audio system according to claim 10.

[0007] Thus, a method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system is provided. The multi-channel audio system comprises at least one mobile device for transmitting and / or receiving audio data in the form of at least one audio stream and at least one base station. The mobile device and the base station exchange audio data in the form of an audio stream using Time Division Multiplex Access (TDMA). This wireless transmission occurs on the basis of repeating frames. Each frame has a number A of time slots. Each mobile device transmits or receives audio data of an audio stream at least once per frame in at least one time slot. Each audio stream transmitted in the frame occupies a portion of the time slots. A wireless audio link, over which the audio stream is transmitted, exists between each of the mobile devices and the base station.At least one mobile device is paired with the base station and can then communicate via an encrypted wireless transmission over their respective audio links with the corresponding audio link parameters. The base station transmits control data and / or parameters for the audio link to the mobile devices to control the respective wireless transmission.

[0008] The wireless multi-channel system can be operated in several modes. In the first mode, the system is set up or configured. Here, the respective mobile devices can be selected and paired with the base station. Once the setup is complete, normal operation (third mode) or a second mode (idle mode, sleep mode) can be activated, in which the mobile devices that are not currently in use are put into a sleep mode with reduced energy consumption. It is also possible to switch from normal operation to sleep mode. The operating modes can be controlled from the base station. The base station can put the mobile devices into sleep mode using control data transmitted over the wireless transmission links, and can also exit the sleep mode of the mobile devices using the control data.

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, the first and third operating modes can be identical. Optionally, the audio links can be configured in the third operating mode. The operating state of the mobile devices can be identical in the first and third operating modes.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the mobile device only transmits and receives to a limited extent in the second operating mode. Here, the mobile device can stop transmitting and / or receiving in idle mode. The mobile device only leaves idle mode at specific times and activates its transceiver. It receives information from the base station via the control time slot as to whether idle mode should be maintained. If idle mode needs to be ended, the mobile device communicates with the base station via the wireless transmission link as usual. If idle mode should not be ended yet, the mobile device repeats the active phase (the transceiver is activated and checks, for example, the control data transmitted via the control time slot) after a certain time and checks whether the base station has initiated a switch to normal operation.This allows the mobile device to save considerable energy in the second operating mode, ensuring it has sufficient power for normal operation, for example, during long productions. Alternatively, the mobile device can activate its transceiver at specific times and send a request to the base station asking whether sleep mode should be maintained. The base station can respond in the next control time slot. In other words, the mobile device can behave passively and only check at specific times whether the base station has activated the mobile device via the control time slot. In the other case, the mobile device actively sends a request to the base station asking whether activation should occur.

[0011] According to one aspect, in the second operating mode, the mobile device can exit the sleep mode at predetermined time intervals or at least at a predetermined time and receive control data from the base station for terminating or maintaining the sleep mode.

[0012] According to one aspect, when exiting sleep mode, the mobile device transmits an activation request to the base station in a control time slot and the base station responds in a control time slot.

[0013] According to one aspect, the control time slot can be used to transmit a time from the base station when the mobile device should leave the second operating mode.

[0014] According to one aspect, the mobile device is wakeable from sleep mode by user access, wherein the woken mobile device transmits a request to the base station that it wishes to leave sleep mode or directly leaves sleep mode and switches to normal operation (third mode).

[0015] According to one aspect, the predefined time intervals can be set by the user uniformly for all mobile devices or individually for each mobile device.

[0016] According to one example, the wireless multi-channel audio system represents a wireless microphone system, e.g., for a music concert with multiple musicians and multiple wireless microphones for singers and / or musical instruments. The system is configured during a sound check (first operating mode). The mobile devices (microphones, in-ear monitor unit, etc.) are selected and paired with the base station to enable encrypted transmission. The base station transmits the transmission parameters as control data to the mobile devices, which then transmit and / or receive accordingly. According to one aspect of the present invention, the wireless transmission takes place in the frequency ranges 470 - 698 MHz (UHF) or 1350 - 1525 MHz (1 G4).

[0017] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the mobile devices can be wireless transmitters or wireless receivers. The wireless transmitters can be configured as wireless microphones, and the wireless receivers can be configured as in-ear monitoring units.

[0018] Pairing between the base station and the mobile devices is accomplished by the base station sending a control time slot on an RF channel, the mobile device or wireless audio monitoring unit searching for an RF signal, detecting the RF signal on the RF channel and reading the control time slot, sending an identifier of the mobile device or wireless audio monitoring unit on the RF channel to the base station, and confirming the identifier of the mobile device or wireless audio monitoring unit.

[0019] To enable encrypted communication between the base station and the mobile devices or the monitoring unit, a symmetric key can be used. The key exchange (e.g., during the pairing process) between the base station and the mobile devices can be performed using a public / private key method.

[0020] The encrypted transmission can be based on a session identifier. Therefore, there is no point-to-point encryption, but only session encryption with a session key, for example, to enable multicasting.

[0021] The mobile devices can be designed as wireless microphones, e.g. handheld microphones, wireless stereo microphones or wireless instrument microphones, as wireless receivers (e.g. in-ear monitoring units) or as wireless transmitters / receivers (e.g. in-ear monitoring units with a microphone connection).

[0022] Further embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0023] Advantages and embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a wireless multi-channel audio system,

[0024] Fig. 2 shows a representation of time slots of different wireless transmitters which are received by the wireless receiver, and

[0025] Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of a method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system.

[0026] Wireless multi-channel audio systems (WMAS) are known, for example, from ETSI EN 300422. Several mobile devices, such as several microphones or several in-ear monitoring units, can be used simultaneously with a base station.

[0027] When multiple audio transmitters (e.g., a handheld microphone or other microphones) simultaneously transmit audio signals to a base station, and the base station transmits a second audio signal to an in-ear monitoring unit, a bodypack, or a beltpack, the microphones do not transmit simultaneously. Instead, subscriber access is achieved using a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) system with a repeating frame containing a number of time slots per RF channel. For example, 128 time slots per frame can be allocated for the transmission of audio streams. Additional time slots can be allocated for control data. This allows up to 128 mobile devices to communicate with the base station.

[0028] The TDMA method ensures multiple access to a wireless audio transmission through the temporal sequencing of multiple participants. The minimum latency of the audio data is determined by the largest separation between two consecutive time slots.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a wireless multi-channel audio system. The wireless multi-channel audio system WMAS 100 is based, for example, on ETSI EN 300422 and comprises a base station 400, at least one antenna 200, and a plurality of mobile devices 300, e.g., at least one handheld microphone (mobile transmitter) 310, optionally at least one multi-channel microphone (mobile transmitter) 320, optionally a first bodypack or beltpack (mobile receiver) 330 with an output for in-ear monitoring, optionally a combined second bodypack or beltpack (mobile receiver) 350 with an input for microphone signals and an output for in-ear monitoring. Thus, the number of mobile transmitters 310, 320 or mobile receivers 330, 340, 350 in the wireless multi-channel audio system 100 can vary. In the wireless multi-channel audio system 100, the base station 400 is connected to an antenna 200 via a cable 202 and provides an RF channel.Optionally, additional antennas can be connected to the base station 400, which can provide additional RF channels. The antenna 200 can have an RF transmitter ("radiohead"), so that digital signals are transmitted via the cable 202, which are converted into analog RF signals in the radiohead.

[0030] A control console 500 connected to the base station 400 can provide a user interface 510, via which an operator can enter configuration and control commands for the base station 400. Optionally, the base station 400 can be coupled to a mixing console 600. Using the mixing console 600, the audio signals from the respective wireless audio transmitters (e.g., microphones) can be mixed into an overall audio signal. Information and / or parameters of the transmission from the mobile devices 300 can be displayed on the user interface 510 (e.g., a display or touchpad). Using the user interface 510, the user can access the system's control (e.g., initiate pairing with a mobile device, activate or deactivate a mobile device, etc.).

[0031] The control data 201 may include control and / or status information that is exchanged between the mobile devices 300 and the base station 400. In addition to the control information or control data, further data may be exchanged as part of the control data 201. The control data may, for example, be transmitted in a control time slot.

[0032] The wireless multi-channel system 100 can be operated in several operating modes. In a first operating mode, the system 100 is set up or configured. Here, the respective mobile devices 300 can be selected and paired with the base station 400. Once the set-up is complete and normal operation (third operating mode) has not yet begun, a second operating mode (sleep mode) can be activated, in which the mobile devices 300 that are not currently in operation are placed in a sleep mode with reduced energy consumption. The operating modes can be controlled by the base station 400 or the control console 500. The base station 400 can place the mobile devices 300 into sleep mode using the control data transmitted over the wireless transmission links and can, in turn, end the sleep mode of the mobile devices 300 using the control data.The base station 400 can thus serve as a (central) control unit for controlling the operating modes. This allows the user to select the respective operating modes using the base station 400. As an alternative to the base station 400, the control console 500 can also be used to control the operating modes.

[0033] In the second operating mode, the mobile device 300 can only transmit and receive to a limited extent in order to reduce its energy consumption. In particular, the mobile device 300 can stop transmitting and / or receiving in sleep mode. Only at specific times does the mobile device 300 activate its transceiver and can check whether the base station is initiating a termination of sleep mode or actively send a request to the base station 400 as to whether sleep mode should be maintained. The base station 400 can respond in the next control time slot. If sleep mode should be terminated, the mobile device 300 returns to normal operation and communicates with the base station 400 via the wireless transmission link as usual.If sleep mode should not be ended yet, the mobile device 300 repeats the activation of the transmitter / receiver and checks whether the base station has initiated an end to sleep mode or sends the request after predefined time intervals (e.g., every 10 minutes, every 20 minutes, or every 30 minutes). The user can set the length of the time intervals, for example, in the user interface 510. When setting the length of the time intervals, the user takes into account that, for a given waiting time, on the one hand, the energy savings in sleep mode are greater the longer the specified time intervals are, because the mobile device 300 queries the base station less frequently during the waiting period whether it should exit sleep mode. On the other hand, the response time of the mobile device 300 also becomes longer. The user can therefore adapt the specified time intervals to the respective production.In one embodiment of the method, the time interval between mobile device requests to the base station is set uniformly for all mobile devices in a production run. In an alternative embodiment, the time intervals are set individually for each mobile device.

[0034] Alternatively, the mobile device 300 can also exit sleep mode through an interaction on the mobile device. To do so, it can notify the base station 400 that it wishes to exit sleep mode.

[0035] Alternatively, a time can also be transmitted using the control time slot when the mobile device 300 is to exit the second operating mode. This can be advantageous if, for example, the start of normal operation of the system 100 (e.g., the start of an event) is known. Thus, the mobile device 300 can save considerable energy in the second operating mode, ensuring that it still has sufficient energy for normal operation.

[0036] Despite careful preparation by a user, it may happen that a mobile device 300 is still in sleep mode when normal operation is already required. In this case, the user of the mobile device 300 can optionally force the mobile device 300 to exit sleep mode, for example, by pressing an input element on the mobile device. The input element can be, for example, a button or a jog dial.

[0037] According to one example, the wireless multi-channel audio system represents a wireless microphone system, e.g., for a music concert with multiple musicians and multiple wireless microphones for singers and / or musical instruments. The system is configured during a sound check (first operating mode). Mobile devices 300 (microphones, in-ear monitor unit, etc.) are selected and paired with base station 400 to enable encrypted transmission. Base station 400 transmits the transmission parameters to mobile devices 300, which then transmit and / or receive according to the configured transmission parameters.

[0038] For example, if a frame has 128 TDMA time slots, one time slot can be reserved for every 16 time slots. This time slot can be used for control data such as synchronization information and control and status signals.

[0039] The audio transmission can be encrypted. Base station 400 can provide a synchronization signal, manage connected or paired devices, and allocate the corresponding communication resources. Base station 400 can generate audio signals from the received audio signals from the wireless transmitters, which can represent a mix of the audio signals from the wireless transmitters. These audio signals can then represent an in-ear monitoring audio signal.

[0040] The mobile devices 300, 310 - 350 can register with the base station 400 to enable communication with the base station 400. The mobile devices 310 - 350 can optionally initiate the transmission of audio data if they have previously detected a base station 400 with which they are to communicate. This may require the mobile devices to be "paired" with the base station. Pairing can take place in several steps. First, the operator decides at which frequency the base station will provide the RF channel. Optionally, the base station is configured to identify other transmitters in the permitted frequency band, allowing the operator to select the frequency for the RF channel so that interference from other transmitters is avoided as much as possible. The base station transmits a control time slot within a frame on the RF channel.The control timeslot contains a unique ID for the base station. After the pairing process has been initiated on the mobile devices, for example by pressing a button, the mobile device searches for an RF signal, finds the base station's RF channel, and reads the control timeslot. In another control timeslot, the mobile device then sends its own unique ID to the base station, where it is displayed as a device ready for pairing. The base station operator confirms that the mobile device has been found, and the base station saves the mobile device's unique ID. The mobile device receives confirmation from the base station in the next control timeslot and, in turn, saves the base station's unique ID.

[0041] Optionally, the control software operator can complete the pairing process by verifying the mobile device's PIN code. Only after pairing are the mobile devices ready to transmit a signal. Typically, a sound engineer pairs the mobile devices with the base station before a production, preventing unpaired devices from "listening in" at a later time. Furthermore, the base station cannot process signals from unpaired devices.

[0042] According to one aspect, the mobile devices 310 - 350 can also optionally communicate with each other and exchange data.

[0043] The wireless multi-channel audio system 100 can, for example, have a number of microphones, namely a handheld microphone 310, a multi-channel or stereo microphone 320, and mobile receiving devices 330, 340, 350. The mobile receiving devices 330-350 can have an output for a so-called in-ear monitoring, which allows a wearer to receive an audio channel or audio stream. The mobile receiving device 350 can additionally be equipped with a microphone input for a clip-on microphone or lavalier microphone. The user of the mobile receiving device 350 is thus able to simultaneously receive one audio channel or audio stream and transmit another audio channel or audio stream. The microphones 310, 320 and mobile receiving devices 330-350 are collectively referred to below as mobile devices.In other applications, more or fewer mobile devices may be integrated into the wireless multi-channel audio system 100 than shown in Fig. 1.

[0044] The microphone 310 can send first audio data 311 in the form of an audio stream to the base station 400. The second microphone 320 can send second audio data 321 in the form of an audio stream to the base station 400. The mobile device 350 (bodypack or beltpack) can send third audio data 351 in the form of an audio stream to the base station 400 (via the antenna 200). The mobile devices 330 and 340 can receive audio data 331, 341 in the form of an audio stream from the base station 400.

[0045] The base unit 400 can transmit control data 201 to the respective mobile devices, e.g., transmitter / receivers 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, via the antenna 200. The control data 201 can be used by the mobile devices 310-350 to set wireless transmission parameters. Using the control data 201, the base station 400 can specify transmission parameters, such as a transmission frequency, a time slot in the transmission frame, a transmission power, etc., for the mobile devices 300. The base station 400 can thus control the transmission from the mobile devices to the base station 400 and from the base station 400 to the mobile devices 300.

[0046] Optionally, a frame can have 128 TDMA time slots for audio transmission and 8 time slots for control signals, so that a frame has, for example, 136 time slots.

[0047] Alternatively, the control data can also be transmitted in those time slots that are not reserved and are therefore free. In this case, no separate time slots are reserved for the transmission of the control data; instead, the control data is transmitted depending on the availability of free time slots.

[0048] Communication from base station 400 to mobile devices 340, 350 can occur in a multicast, and communication from mobile devices 310, 320 to base station 400 can occur in a unicast. Control console 500 can be connected to base station 400 and can have a user interface (UI) by means of which the user can enter configuration and / or control commands for base station 400.

[0049] The (handheld) microphone 310 can wirelessly transmit audio data as the first audio data 311 in the form of an audio stream as a unidirectional radio transmission to the base station 400. This transmission 311 can be carried out in a unicast. The audio transmission can be carried out in the form of mono microphone data.

[0050] The microphone 320 can transmit audio signals 321 as an audio stream in the form of a unidirectional radio transmission. Stereo or multi-channel microphone data can be transmitted in a unicast. The first and / or second bodypacks 330, 340 (mobile receiving units) can receive a unidirectional radio transmission (audio data 331, 341) from the base station 400. This radio transmission can include, for example, in-ear monitoring data. The audio data 331, 341 can include audio data 321, 311 from the two microphones 310, 320 and, optionally, additional audio data. This data can be transmitted as a unicast or multicast from the base station 400. The bodypack or beltpack 350 (receiving unit) can communicate with the base unit 400 in the form of a bidirectional radio transmission. The microphone data that the bodypack or beltpack has received via the microphone input is transmitted to the base station 400, for example, as unicast or multicast.In-ear monitoring data is transmitted from the base station 400 as unicast or multicast.

[0051] The audio data from the respective audio data transmitters (microphones 310, 320) can be transmitted using a TDMA method. The TDMA method ensures multiple access to a wireless audio transmission through the temporal sequencing of multiple participants. For low-latency transmission, for example, a deterministic and equidistant grid of time slots per audio stream can be used. The minimum latency of a stream is determined by the largest distance between two consecutive time slots assigned to it.

[0052] The wireless multi-channel audio system 100 can have a channel bandwidth of 6 MHz, 8 MHz, or 10 MHz. Audio transmission can occur in the frequency ranges 470–698 MHz (UHF) or 1350–1525 MHz (1 G4), particularly in the following frequency bands: TV-UHF (470–608 MHz); TV-UHF China (470–510 MHz and 630–698 MHz); L-band CEPT (1350–1400 MHz); L-band USA (1435–1525 MHz). Participants access the transmission channels using Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA). Optionally, the number of participants can be up to, for example, 128 independent audio streams per broadband channel. The modulation method can be Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) in combination with various subcarrier modulation or coding methods. Audio encoding can be performed using various methods and sampling rates, as well as mixed mode. For example, sampling rates of 48 kHz or 96 kHz can be used.Audio coding can be performed using the OPUS method, the ADPCM method, the PCM method, or other suitable coding methods (e.g., LC3, SBC). Synchronization of the TDMA frame and the carrier offset estimation (CFO estimation) can be ensured using synchronization patterns. A basic TDMA frame can be divided into 1 / 2, 1 / 4, 1 / 8, or 1 / 16 access intervals.

[0053] The audio transmission method can be used for any TDMA audio transmission, in particular a transmission from a base station to a receiver of audio signals from at least two audio channels can take place. An example of such a wireless multi-channel audio system is in-ear monitor systems, wherein the base station or a mixing console mixes an audio signal based on several audio channels and then transmits this signal wirelessly to in-ear monitoring units.

[0054] The base station must therefore have audio data with multiple (at least two) audio channels. These audio channels can come from an external source or from wireless microphones in the multi-channel audio system.

[0055] Bodypacks can output a stereo signal at the audio output.

[0056] Each receiver of the audio samples can check whether the audio samples contained in the frame are intended for it or not. The base station can transmit the information about which time slot is intended for a mobile device in advance in the control data. This can be particularly important in a multi-channel audio system, for example, when more than two audio channels are transmitted.

[0057] For each TDMA resource (i.e., for each stream, frame, or time slot) in the audio transmission system, the RF modulation used for wireless transmission can be specified. Examples of RF modulation are Q-PSK or QAM 64. While Q-PSK modulation allows for greater robustness against interference and greater directivity, QAM 64 modulation enables higher data rates. The total available data rate for a stream is then determined by the RF modulation used and the number of time slots provided in a frame. In other words, the transmission parameters can be configured for each audio stream.

[0058] The audio data transmitted in a stream can be transmitted uncompressed or compressed. The required data rate for uncompressed transmission is determined by the sample rate (e.g., 48 kHz, 96 kHz) and the resolution (e.g., 16 bits). Audio codecs can be used to reduce the data rate. An audio codec can be configured using parameters to increase audio quality at the expense of data rate, or conversely, to decrease the data rate at the expense of audio quality. When using audio codecs, it is important to ensure that they have a processing latency. This latency can be, for example, 10 ms.

[0059] The TDMA resources used also affect the power consumption of the mobile devices and the base station. The more TDMA resources required for a stream (transmit / receive), the higher the power consumption. The use of an audio codec can also lead to an increase in power consumption.

[0060] For example, with an efficient OPUS codec, good audio quality can be achieved at a data rate of approximately 80 kbit / s. In wireless transmission, this data rate can be achieved if 8 of, say, 128 TDMA slots are used with a low modulation (e.g., BPSK). This would also be advantageous in terms of robust modulation at a long range. Alternatively, this data rate of 90 kbit / s can be achieved if one of 128 time slots in a frame is used with a high modulation (e.g., QAM 64). Such a stream would have high modulation at a short range and higher latency. The advantage, however, is that the lower resource requirements for this stream can lead to the unused TDMA resources being used for another channel.

[0061] To meet data protection requirements, communication between the mobile devices and the base station can be encrypted with a symmetric key. The key exchange (e.g. during the pairing process) between the base station and the mobile devices takes place using a public / private key method. Fig. 2 shows a representation of time slots from various wireless transmitters, which are received by the wireless receiver. In the TDMA method, each audio transmitter is assigned a time slot in a frame. In Fig. 2, eight time slots SL1 - SL8 are provided per frame SF as an example. However, this is only an example for illustration purposes. This means that eight time slots SL1 - SL8 can be transmitted per frame. The time slots SL1 - SL8 are repeated in each frame SF.

[0062] In this example, there are three streams S1, S2, and S3. Each stream is assigned a wireless audio transmitter. Furthermore, the frame SF may contain unused time slots SO. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the first stream S1 requires 2 / 8 of the resources, stream S2 requires 4 / 8, and stream S3 requires 1 / 8.

[0063] The first stream S1 occupies time slots SL4 and SL8. The first, third, fifth, and seventh time slots SL1, SL3, SL5, and SL7 are occupied by the second stream S2. The third stream S3 occupies time slot SL2. The sixth time slot SL6 is unused.

[0064] Fig. 3 shows a flow diagram of a method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system. In step S1, the audio system 100 is configured. Here, the audio system can be in a configuration mode (first mode). For this purpose, the mobile devices are activated and paired with the base station. In step S2, a line check or sound check can be performed. Subsequently, the mobile devices 300, or just some of them, can be put into sleep mode (second mode) in step S4. In step S4, a mobile device can send a request to the base station 400 to determine whether the mobile device should be activated or switch to normal operation. If this is not the case, the mobile device 300 remains in sleep mode and waits a specified period of time before sending another request.In step S5, the mobile device 300 exits sleep mode, switches to normal operating mode, and communicates with the base station as usual. This means that the audio system may be in a third operating mode (step S6). Optionally, the first and third operating modes may represent normal operation. List of reference symbols.

[0065] 100 wireless multi-channel audio system

[0066] 200 antenna

[0067] 201 Control data 202 Cable

[0068] 203 Audio Link Parameters

[0069] 300 mobile devices

[0070] 310 handheld microphone (mobile transmitter)

[0071] 311 first audio data 320 multi-channel microphone (mobile transmitter)

[0072] 321 second audio data

[0073] 330 first bodypack or beltpack (mobile receiver)

[0074] 331 audio data

[0075] 340 second bodypack or beltpack (mobile receiver) 341 audio data

[0076] 350 mobile receiver

[0077] 351 third audio data

[0078] 400 Base Station Control Console User Interface Mixer

Claims

Claims 1. A method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system (100), wherein the system (100) comprises at least one mobile device (300), each for transmitting and / or receiving audio data in the form of at least one audio stream in an audio link, and at least one base station (400), wherein the mobile device (300) and the base station (400) exchange audio data wirelessly using a Time Division Multiplex Access (TDMA) method, wherein this wireless transmission is based on repeating frames (SF), wherein each frame (SF) has a number (A) of time slots (SL), wherein each mobile device (300) transmits or receives audio data of an audio stream at least once per frame (SF) in at least one time slot (SL) in the respective audio link, wherein each audio stream transmitted in the frame (SF) occupies a portion (T) of the time slots (SL) of the frame (SF),wherein the base station (400) transmits control data (201) to the mobile device (300) for controlling the wireless transmission, wherein the mobile device (300) is paired with the base station (400) and then each communicates via an encrypted wireless transmission via their respective audio links with the corresponding audio link parameters, comprising the steps of: Setting a first operating mode in which a configuration of the wireless multi-channel audio system (100) takes place, Setting a second operating mode in which the participating mobile devices (300) are put into a sleep mode with reduced energy consumption, wherein the base station (400) puts the mobile devices (300) into sleep mode by means of the control data (201), wherein the mobile devices (300) leave the sleep mode at predetermined time intervals or at least at a predetermined time and communicate with the base station (400) via the wireless transmission to terminate or maintain the sleep mode, and Setting a third operating mode in which the mobile devices (300) exchange audio data with the base station (400) via wireless transmission.

2. A method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device (300) in the second operating mode leaves the sleep mode at predetermined time intervals or at least at a predetermined time and receives control data from the base station for terminating or maintaining the sleep mode.

3. A method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the mobile devices (300) transmit an activation request to the base station (400) in a control time slot upon leaving the idle mode and the base station (400) responds in a control time slot.

4. A method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system (100) according to claim 1, wherein a time is transmitted by the base station (400) by means of the control time slot when the mobile device (300) should leave the second operating mode.

5. A method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the mobile device (300) is wakeable from sleep mode by user access, wherein the woken mobile device (300) transmits a request to the base station (400) that it wishes to leave sleep mode or leaves sleep mode and enters normal operation.

6. A method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the predetermined time intervals can be set by the user uniformly for all mobile devices (300) or individually for each mobile device (300).

7. A method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the audio link parameters comprise a transmission frequency and / or an indication of which of the time slots belong to the selected audio link in order to determine the position of the audio data of the selected audio link.

8. A method for monitoring a wireless multi-channel audio system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the wireless transmission occurs in frequency bands 470 MHz - 698 MHz or 1350 - 1525 MHz.

9. A method for controlling a wireless multi-channel audio system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the mobile devices (300) are wireless transmitters and / or wireless receivers, The wireless transmitters are designed as wireless microphones and the wireless receivers as in-ear monitoring units.

10. A wireless multi-channel audio system (100), comprising at least one mobile device (300), each for transmitting and / or receiving audio data in the form of at least one audio stream in an audio link, at least one base station (400), and wherein the mobile device (300) and the base station (400) are configured to exchange audio data wirelessly using a TDMA method, wherein the wireless transmission is based on repeating frames, each frame having a number (A) of time slots, wherein the mobile device (300) transmits or receives audio data of an audio stream in at least one time slot at least once per frame, each audio stream transmitted in the frame occupying a portion (T) of the time slots of the frame, wherein the base station (400) is configured to transmit control data to the mobile devices for controlling the wireless transmission, wherein the base station (400) is configured to: set a first operating mode,in which a configuration of the wireless multi-channel audio system (100) is carried out, a second operating mode is set in which the participating mobile devices (300) are placed in a sleep mode with reduced energy consumption, wherein the base station (400) places the mobile devices (300) in sleep mode by means of the control data (201), wherein the mobile devices (300) leave sleep mode at predetermined intervals or at least at a predetermined time and communicate with the base station via the wireless transmission to terminate or maintain sleep mode, and a third operating mode is set in which the mobile devices (300) exchange audio data with the base station (400) via the wireless transmission.

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