Integrated Network Audio Device for Enterprise Setup Simplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current audio product installations in enterprise environments require multiple devices from different manufacturers, leading to complexity in setup and integration, particularly in managing audio signals and microphone functions across various sub-systems.
Innovation Solution
An integrated device that combines audio functions, microphone detection, and other sensor functions, capable of receiving audio data, determining its location based on direction and amplitude, modifying the data for output via a loudspeaker, and outputting the modified data, all within a network device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices from different manufacturers are used for audio installation, then functional requirements can be met, but system complexity and integration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple previously separate audio system components (loudspeaker, microphone, amplifier, controller, DSP) into a single integrated network device. This consolidation maintains all necessary audio functions while eliminating the complexity of integrating multiple devices from different manufacturers, as the integrated device uses a unified control architecture and single manufacturer ecosystem.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated network device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a loudspeaker for audio output, a microphone for audio input, an amplifier for signal boosting, a controller for system management, and a DSP unit for signal processing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated devices while maintaining comprehensive audio capabilities.
2Reliability
If multiple separate devices are used for audio control, then specific functions can be optimized, but setup and integration time increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging all audio control functions into a single network device, the patent eliminates the time-consuming process of configuring and integrating multiple separate devices. The unified architecture allows for streamlined setup procedures while maintaining optimized audio processing capabilities through integrated DSP and amplifier circuits.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are installed at different locations, then coverage is improved, but coordination and synchronization become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables deployment of multiple identical integrated network devices at different physical locations, each providing local audio coverage. Since all devices are identical and use the same communication protocols, they can be coordinated centrally through the network without the complexity of interfacing different device types, achieving both wide coverage and easy coordination.
Data Source
AI summary
An example method of operation may include receiving audio data at one or more microphones disposed in a corresponding plurality of network devices, identifying amplitude values of the audio data at each of the plurality of network devices, and each of the amplitude values identified at each of the plurality of network devices are different from each other of the amplitude values, determining at each of the plurality of network devices a location of the audio data based on a direction and amplitude of the received audio data, modifying the audio data for output via a plurality of loudspeakers disposed in each of the plurality of network device, and outputting, via the plurality of loudspeakers, the modified audio data, and each loudspeaker outputs different versions of the modified audio data.