Digital Mixer Protocol Switching for Multi-Device Network Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital mixers are limited in connecting wireless microphone receivers due to fixed communication protocols, restricting the ability to monitor and set parameters for wireless microphones, especially in scenarios where devices from different manufacturers are used, leading to increased time and labor costs for setting up compatible protocols.
Innovation Solution
A digital mixer with a connection section for external devices via a communication network, allowing users to designate a unique network address and communication protocol for each device, establishing a logical connection for data communication, enabling flexible communication between the mixer and external devices like wireless microphone receivers without pre-defined protocol associations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed communication protocol is set at the designing phase of the mixer, then communication between the mixer and compatible external devices can be established, but the mixer can only connect to particular products that are compatible with the fixed protocol, limiting versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The mixer dynamically determines communication protocols based on the connected external device rather than using a fixed protocol. The protocol determination section identifies the communication protocol of the connected device and establishes communication accordingly, allowing the mixer to adapt to different devices (wireless microphone receivers, head amplifiers, etc.) while maintaining reliable communication with each
Solution Approach 2:
The communication protocol parameter is changed based on the connected device. Instead of maintaining a single fixed protocol, the mixer changes the communication protocol to match the connected external device's protocol, enabling versatile device compatibility while ensuring reliable communication through protocol matching
2Ease of operation
If a dedicated communication protocol is fixed for external devices, then control data communication can be performed without particular setting operations, but extensive time and labor are required to accommodate various external devices with different protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The mixer performs automatic protocol determination and communication establishment without requiring manual configuration by the user. When an external device is connected, the protocol determination section automatically identifies the device's communication protocol and establishes communication accordingly, eliminating the need for users to manually set communication parameters and significantly reducing setup time
3Device complexity
If the mixer uses a fixed communication protocol, then communication setup is simple, but it is impossible to connect devices like wireless microphone receivers that use different communication protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The mixer achieves universal compatibility with multiple types of external devices (wireless microphone receivers, head amplifiers, power amplifiers, etc.) by incorporating a protocol determination section that automatically identifies and adapts to different communication protocols. This multi-functional capability allows the mixer to connect to various devices without requiring separate fixed protocols for each device type, maintaining simple operation while expanding connectability
Data Source
AI summary
Mixer and one or more external devices, related to audio signal processing, are interconnected via a communication network, such as a LAN. For a particular one of the external devices for which communication with the mixer via the communication network is to be established, a network address unique to the particular external device and a communication protocol to be used for data communication with the particular external device are designated by entry operation by a user. Logical connection is established such that data communication is performed, in accordance with the designated communication protocol, between the mixer and the particular external device corresponding to the designated network address. Thus, data communication is performed, via the communication network, between the mixer and the particular external device for which the logical connection has been established.