Audio Bridge for Analog-to-IP Page Party Multicast Linking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional page/party systems require extensive and costly cabling due to the need for a single line per channel, which increases installation costs and complexity, especially over long distances, and lack efficient integration with both analog and IP-based systems.
Innovation Solution
An audio bridge unit that connects analog page/party stations to IP-based stations using an analog telephone interface, Ethernet interface, memory device with configuration data, and processor device to process and convert analog audio signals into digital signals for multicast transmission, allowing for efficient communication between legacy and VoIP systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional page/party systems use a single line per channel with parallel wiring, then each station can communicate independently, but cabling costs and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between the legacy analog page/party system and the IP-based system. The gateway converts analog audio signals to digital IP packets and routes them through the network infrastructure, eliminating the need for direct point-to-point cabling between all stations while maintaining communication independence through protocol translation and virtual routing
2Ease of operation
If page/party stations are wired in parallel with single line per channel, then direct communication is achieved, but installation costs increase especially over long distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical cabling system with an electronic/IP-based communication system. Instead of running physical audio cables between stations, the system uses network infrastructure (switches, routers) and digital packet switching to transmit voice communications, dramatically reducing installation costs and complexity while maintaining direct communication capabilities through virtual circuit establishment
3Stability of the object's composition
If legacy analog systems are used, then existing infrastructure is maintained, but integration with IP-based systems is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device serves multiple functions: it acts as an analog-to-digital converter, a protocol translator, a network router, and a system integrator. This multi-functional device enables the legacy analog system to interoperate with modern IP-based systems, providing both backward compatibility and forward integration capabilities in a single platform
Data Source
AI summary
An audio bridge unit is provided for connecting a conventional analog page/party station in an analog page/party system to IP-based page/party stations that employ multicast Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to support page/party communications between analog page/party stations and the VoIP page/party stations. The audio bridge unit converts page and/or party audio line(s) to multicast channel(s). The audio bridge unit analog interfaces for its respective page and/or party lines, and each analog interface is assigned to an independent multicast channel on which it will transmit and receive full duplex audio between an analog page/party station and one or more IP-based page/party stations. The audio bridge unit provides the ability to configure the multicast group, port and Time to Live (TTL) setting for each of the analog channels associated with the page and/or party lines.