U.S. patent application number 15/831114 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-20 for system and method for a redundant real-time wireless receiver network.
The applicant listed for this patent is Line 6, Inc.. Invention is credited to Guy Coker, James Purcell, Marcus Ryle.
Application Number | 20180367927 15/831114 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55761506 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180367927 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ryle; Marcus ; et
al. |
December 20, 2018 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A REDUNDANT REAL-TIME WIRELESS RECEIVER
NETWORK
Abstract
Embodiments relate to a system and a method for a redundant
real-time wireless receiver network. A Remote Digital Antenna
Digital Receiver ("RDADR") is coupled to multiple Remote Digital
Antenna ("RDAs"). The RDADR and the multiple RDAs are coupled via a
digital bus. The multiple RDAs attempt to receive one or more
digital signals from a transmitter. If the one or more digital
signals are received without an error by one of the multiple RDAs,
the RDA that received the one or more error-free digital signals
sends the digital signals to the RDADR using the digital bus. The
redundant real-time wireless receiver network provides a reliable
and fault tolerant system to deliver digital audio signals in
real-time.
Inventors: |
Ryle; Marcus; (Westlake
Village, CA) ; Coker; Guy; (Rocklin, CA) ;
Purcell; James; (Rosevill, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Line 6, Inc. |
Calabasas |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
55761506 |
Appl. No.: |
15/831114 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14523346 |
Oct 24, 2014 |
9838809 |
|
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15831114 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 2420/07 20130101;
H04R 2420/01 20130101; H04R 2227/003 20130101; H04R 27/00 20130101;
H04R 2420/09 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04R 27/00 20060101
H04R027/00 |
Claims
1. A system for a real-time wireless receiver network, the system
comprising: a Remote Digital Antenna Digital Receiver ("RDADR")
including a processor; a first Remote Digital Antenna ("RDA")
including a processor, at least one receiver, and at least one
antenna; and a second RDA including a processor, at least one
receiver, and at least one antenna; wherein the RDADR, the first
RDA, and the second RDA are coupled to each other via a digital
bus; wherein the first RDA and the second RDA attempt to receive
one or more digital signals from a transmitter, and, if the one or
more digital signals are received without an error by one of the
first RDA or the second RDA, the RDA that received the one or more
error-free digital signals sends the one or more error-free digital
signals to the RDADR using the digital bus.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/523,346, filed Oct. 24, 2014, which is
herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] During a recording or live performance, musicians and
singers often desire the freedom of being able to have their
musical instrument or voice audio signals being connected to
recording or amplification devices without the encumbrance of an
electrical cable.
[0003] Analog wireless systems that transmit audio signals over
radio frequencies have existed for many decades and have been a
viable solution but they include many limitations. Analog
transmission systems for audio signals typically have limited
bandwidth and dynamic range. The analog transmission system also is
susceptible to unwanted radio interference being heard through the
audio system. With an analog system, as the radio frequency
degrades, or interference occurs, the audio quality degrades.
[0004] Radio signals, whether for analog or digital audio systems,
fade over distance and are susceptible to fades from reflections
that can cause the radio signal to be of an insufficient level at a
receiver's antenna. Professional wireless systems often utilize a
space diversity design, in which two antennas are used, either with
a switch to a single receiver or to two independent receivers, in
order to improve the likelihood that at least one of the antennas
or receivers will pick up the radio signal adequately. Further
spatial diversity can be achieved by separating the two antennas
further, which can be achieved with remote antennas connected via a
coaxial cable of sufficient quality so as to not degrade the RF
signal being picked up by the remote antennas.
[0005] In typical digital wireless systems, once the radio signal
has degraded to a level in which the digital data is unreadable,
the audio signal must be muted. If using an existing digital
protocol such as Wi-Fi, the receiver can request the retransmission
of the digital audio data. Unfortunately, latency (e.g., delay
time) is introduced to allow time for the retransmission. In many
cases, the latency associated with the wireless transmission of
digital audio can be easily tolerated. For example, digitally
transmitting audio that is being played from a recording can
contain latency in the tens of milliseconds without being obvious
to the listener.
[0006] On the other hand, performers of live music can tolerate
only very low latency (e.g., 5 milliseconds or less) before the
latency can negatively affect the performance and interaction of
musicians. As a result, present techniques for the retransmission
of digital audio are not a viable solution because of the amount of
time required for retransmission. Unfortunately, as commonly occurs
when the RF signal of the digital audio is not properly received in
real time, whether it is out of range or due to interference, some
portion of the digital audio signal is lost.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is an illustration of one exemplary system for
wireless transmission of digital audio signals.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one exemplary system for
wireless transmission of digital audio signals.
[0009] FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary venue where one
embodiment of a system for a real-time wireless receiver network is
used for the wireless transmission of digital audio signals.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
system for a real-time wireless receiver network.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of one
embodiment of a system for a real-time wireless receiver network
that includes one embodiment of a Remote Digital Antenna
(hereinafter "RDA") and one embodiment of a Remote Digital Antenna
Digital Receiver (hereinafter "RDADR").
[0012] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of one
embodiment of a system for a real-time wireless receiver network
that includes one embodiment of an RDA with varying designs for
achieving spatial diversity and one embodiment of an RDADR.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of one
embodiment of a system for a real-time wireless receiver network
that includes multiple RDAs that receive digital audio signals on a
specified channel.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of one
embodiment of a system for a real-time wireless receiver network
that includes multiple RDAs that receive digital audio signals on
two specified channels.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of one
embodiment of a system for a real-time wireless receiver network
that includes multiple RDAs that receive digital audio signals on
multiple specified channels and provide the corresponding digital
audio signals to multiple RDADRs.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of one
embodiment of a system for a real-time wireless receiver network
that includes multiple RDAs that receive digital audio signals on
multiple specified channels and provide the digital audio signals
to an audio output device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] In the following description, the various embodiments of a
system and method for a redundant real-time wireless receiver
network will be described in detail. However, such details are
included to facilitate understanding of a system and method for a
redundant real-time wireless receiver network and to describe
exemplary embodiments for implementing a system and method for a
redundant real-time wireless receiver network. Such details should
not be used to limit a system and method for a redundant real-time
wireless receiver network to the particular embodiments described
because other variations and embodiments are possible while staying
within the scope of a system and method for a redundant real-time
wireless receiver network. Furthermore, although numerous details
are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of a
system and method for a redundant real-time wireless receiver
network, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these
specific details are not required in order to practice a system and
method for a redundant real-time wireless receiver network. In
other instances, details such as, well-known methods, types of
data, protocols, procedures, components, processes, interfaces,
electrical structures, circuits, etc. are not described in detail,
or are shown in block diagram form, in order not to obscure a
system and method for a redundant real-time wireless receiver
network. Furthermore, aspects of a system and method for a
redundant real-time wireless receiver network will be described in
particular embodiments but may be implemented in hardware,
software, firmware, middleware, or a combination thereof.
[0018] In the following description, certain terminology is used to
describe features of the invention. For example, a "component," or
"computing device," or "client device, or "computer" includes
hardware and/or software module(s) that are configured to perform
one or more functions.
[0019] Further, a "processor" is logic that processes information.
Examples of a processor include a central processing unit (CPU),
microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC),
a digital signal processor (DSP), a micro-controller, a finite
state machine, a field programming gate array (FPGA), combinatorial
logic, etc.
[0020] A "module" or "software module" is executable code such as
an operating system, an application, an applet, or a routine.
Modules may be stored in any type of memory, namely suitable
storage medium such as a programmable electronic circuit, a
semiconductor memory device, a volatile memory (e.g., random access
memory, etc.), a non-volatile memory (e.g., read-only memory, flash
memory, etc.), a floppy diskette, an optical disk (e.g., compact
disk or digital versatile disc "DVD"), a hard drive disk, tape, or
any kind of interconnect (defined below).
[0021] A "connector," "interconnect," or "link" is generally
defined as an information-carrying medium that establishes a
communication pathway. Examples of the medium include a physical
medium (e.g., electrical cable, electrical fiber, optical fiber,
bus traces, etc.) or a wireless medium (e.g., air in combination
with wireless signaling technology).
[0022] "Information" or "data stream" is defined as data, address,
control, or any combination thereof. For transmission, information
may be transmitted as a message, namely a collection of bits in a
predetermined format. One particular type of message is a frame
including a header and a payload, each having a predetermined
number of bits of information.
[0023] Embodiments relate to a system and a method for a real-time
wireless receiver network. In one embodiment, a plurality of RDAs
is coupled to a Remote Digital Antenna Digital Receiver ("RDADR")
via a digital bus. In this embodiment, the RDADR includes a
processor and the multitude of RDAs includes a first Remote Digital
Antenna ("RDA") that includes a processor and a second RDA that
includes a processor. In this embodiment, the first RDA, the second
RDA, and all the other RDAs from the multitude of RDAs attempt to
receive one or more digital signals from a transmitter. If the one
or more digital signals are received without an error (hereinafter
"the one or more error-free digital signals") by the first RDA, the
second RDA, or any other RDA from the multitude of RDAs, then the
RDA that received the one or more error-free digital signals sends
the one or more error-free digital signals to the RDADR using the
digital bus. Additional features and/or advantages are provided in
the description of embodiments provided herein.
[0024] With reference now to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is an illustration of
one exemplary system 100 for the wireless transmission of digital
audio signals that is presently utilized.
[0025] System 100 may include an audio source, a digital receiver
with internal or attached antennas, and an audio output device.
Each of the structures, features, and/or characteristics of system
100 are described in more detail below.
[0026] In system 100, an audio source, such as musical instrument
103 and/or microphone 101, that can generate an analog audio signal
and/or a digital audio signal may be coupled to a transmitter (not
shown). It should be appreciated that the audio source is not
limited to musical instrument 103 and/or microphone 101. The audio
source can be a musical instrument, a microphone, and/or any device
that is used to generate analog audio signals and/or digital audio
signals as is known in the art. Furthermore, it should be
appreciated that musical instrument 103 may be a guitar, a piano, a
keyboard, a bass, and/or any musical instrument known in the
art.
[0027] Typically, musical instrument 103 and/or microphone 101 is
coupled to the transmitter via a wired connector (analog or
digital), such as an electric cable or other cable that is known in
the art. Additionally, musical instrument 103 and/or microphone 101
may have the transmitter directly attached or built into musical
instrument 103 and/or microphone 101. Musical instrument 103 and/or
microphone 101 can be used to generate one or more analog digital
audio signals and/or digital audio signals that are processed by
the transmitter (not shown) into one or more digital audio signals
115. The transmitter (not shown) can transmit the one or more
digital audio signals 115 to digital receiver 109, which has
antennas 111 and 113. Antennas 111 and 113 can be attached to
digital receiver 109, or alternatively, antennas 111-113 can be
built into digital receiver 109 so as to give the facade of digital
receiver 109 being one device without any antennas.
[0028] The one or more digital audio signals 115 received by
digital receiver 109 can be processed, by digital receiver 109,
back into the one or more analog audio signals that were generated
by musical instrument 103 and/or microphone 101. In addition,
digital receiver 109 can send the one or more digital audio signals
115 and/or the one or more analog digital audio signals that were
generated by the audio source to an audio output device.
[0029] The audio output device can be a play-back device (e.g., an
amplifier or a public address system with speakers 117) and/or a
computer 107 for storage 105. It should be appreciated that the
audio output device is not limited to a play-back device, a public
address system, and/or a computer. The audio device can be a
play-back device, a computer, an analog mixer, a digital mixer,
recording equipment, and/or any audio output device known in the
art.
[0030] With additional reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a block
diagram of one exemplary system 299 for the wireless transmission
of digital audio signals that is presently utilized. System 299 of
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustration of system 100 of FIG. 1 that
is described above.
[0031] System 299 of FIG. 2 includes audio source 202, digital
transmitter 222, digital receiver 220, audio output device 230, and
one or more digital audio signals 233. Each of the features,
structures, and/or characteristics of system 299 are described in
more detail below.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, audio source 202 can be a musical
instrument, a microphone, and/or any other device that can generate
analog and/or digital audio signals as is known in the art. Audio
source 202 can generate one or more analog audio signals and/or one
or more digital audio signals that can be sent to digital
transmitter 222, which is coupled to audio source 202.
[0033] Digital transmitter 222 may include an input device 204, an
analog to digital converter ("ADC") 206, a processor 208, a radio
frequency ("RF") transmitter 210, and an antenna 212. Digital
transmitter 222 may be coupled to audio source 202. More
specifically, digital transmitter 222 may be coupled to audio
source 202 via input device 204. Input device 204 can be an analog
and/or a digital input device 204.
[0034] Digital transmitter 222 may optionally include an analog to
digital converter ("ADC") 206 that is coupled to the input device
204 and to a processor 208. The one or more audio signals generated
by audio source 202 that are received by digital transmitter 222
can be processed into one or more digital audio signals 233. It
should be appreciated that ADC 206 may or may not be utilized
dependent upon the type of audio source 202. In a first example,
audio source 202 may be a digital musical instrument and/or digital
microphone that generates one or more digital audio signals. In
this first example, the digital musical instrument and/or digital
microphone may be directly coupled by digital input device 204 to
processor 208. In a second example, audio source 202 may be an
analog musical instrument and/or analog microphone that generates
one or more analog digital audio signals. In this second example,
the analog musical instrument and/or analog microphone may be
connected via analog input device 204 to ADC 206 such that the one
or more analog audio signals are converted by ADC 206 into one or
more digital audio signals for processing by processor 208.
[0035] Digital transmitter 222 may include a button selectable by a
user to indicate whether or not an analog or digital musical
instrument or microphone is being utilized to turn on or off ADC
206. Alternatively, digital transmitter 222 may simply determine,
via input device 204, whether a digital or analog signal is being
utilized and select or deselect ADC 206.
[0036] In either event, processor 208 may be utilized to process
one or more digital audio signals 233 that may be sent to Radio
Frequency ("RF") transmitter 210, which is coupled to processor 208
and antenna 212. RF transmitter 210 may utilize antenna 212 to
transmit the one or more digital audio signals 233 to digital
receiver 220. Digital receiver 220 includes RF receiver #1 216, RF
receiver #2 218, processor 224, digital to analog converter ("DAC")
226, and output device 228, each of which are described below.
[0037] RF receiver #1 216 and RF receiver #2 218 may use antenna
214 and antenna 231, respectively, to receive the one or more
digital signals 233 from digital transmitter 210. It should be
appreciated that two RF receivers and two antennas are used by
system 299 to increase the likelihood that the one or more digital
audio signals 233 are received without any errors ("one or more
error-free digital audio signals"). It should also be appreciated
that more than two RF receivers and/or more than two antennas may
be used by system 299, to increase the likelihood that the one or
more digital audio signals are received without any errors.
[0038] If the one or more error-free digital signals 233 are
received by RF receiver #1 216 and/or RF receiver #2 218, the one
or more error-free digital signals 233 can be sent to processor
224, which is coupled to RF receiver #1 216 and/or RF receiver #2
218. Processor 224 can decode the one or more error-free digital
signals 233.
[0039] Digital receiver 220 may optionally include a DAC 226
coupled to processor 224 to convert the one or more error-free
digital signals 233 that were processed by processor 224 into one
or more analog audio signals.
[0040] It should be noted that DAC 226 may or may not be utilized
dependent upon the type of audio source 202 and/or audio output
device 230. In a first example, audio source 202 may be a digital
musical instrument and/or digital microphone that generates a
digital audio signal without any conversion from an analog audio.
In a second example, audio source 202 may be an analog musical
instrument and/or analog microphone, which would necessitate
converting the transmitted digital audio signal back into an analog
audio signal by DAC 226. In this second example, audio output
device 230, which is coupled to digital receiver 220, may only be
able to process analog audio signals. In this second example, the
one or more error-free digital signals 233 that are processed by
processor 224 will be sent to DAC 226 for conversion into one or
more analog audio signals.
[0041] Digital receiver 220 may include a button selectable by a
user to indicate whether or not an audio source and/or an audio
output device is analog or digital, so that digital receiver 220
can turn on or off DAC 226. Alternatively, digital receiver 220 may
simply determine whether a digital or analog signal is needed and
select or deselect DAC 226.
[0042] In either event, the error-free digital audio signals 233
can be sent from processor 224 and/or DAC 226 to output device 228
of digital receiver 220, which may send the error-free digital
audio signals 233 to audio output device 230. Audio output device
230 is coupled to digital receiver 220. Audio output device 230 can
be one or more amplifiers, recording devices, recording equipment,
mixers, computers, stereos, and/or other audio output devices that
are well known in the art.
[0043] Radio signals, whether for analog or digital audio systems,
fade over distance and are susceptible to fades from reflections
that can cause the radio signal to be of insufficient level at a
receiver's antenna. Current professional wireless systems
previously described, such as system 100 of FIGS. 1 and system 299
of FIG. 2, often utilize a space diversity design, in which two or
more antennas are used, either with a switch to a single receiver
or to two or more independent receivers, in order to improve the
likelihood that at least one of the antennas and/or receivers will
pick up the radio signal adequately. Further, spatial diversity can
be improved by separating the two antennas further. This may be
accomplished with remote antennas connected via one or more coaxial
cables of sufficient quality so as not to degrade the RF signal
being picked up by the remote antennas. Unfortunately, there is
often a low likelihood that one or more of the transmitted radio
signals will be picked up adequately by current designs, which
results in situations where the RF signal of the digital audio is
not properly received in real time, either because the RF signal is
out of range or because of interference, and thus at least some
portion of the digital audio signal is lost and/or distorted by
errors.
[0044] FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary venue 300 where
one embodiment of a system for a real-time wireless receiver
network is used for the wireless transmission of digital audio
signals.
[0045] As shown in venue 300 of FIG. 3, the system for a real-time
wireless receiver network may comprise: Remote Digital Antenna
("RDA") 307, RDA 309, RDA 311, RDA 313, RDA 315, RDA 317, RDA
Digital Receiver ("RDADR") 305, one or more audio sources that are
used by performer 301 to generate one or more audio signals, one or
more transmitters (not shown) to transmit the generated audio
signal(s), a mixer 325, and at least one audio output device
303.
[0046] Performer 301 may use one or more audio sources, such as,
but not limited to a microphone and/or a musical instrument, to
communicate with audience 319 in venue 300. In one embodiment, the
audio source(s) used by performer 301 generates one or more audio
signals. In one embodiment, the one or more audio signals are
converted into one or more digital audio signals by a transmitter,
which transmits the one or more digital audio signals to Remote
Digital Antenna ("RDA") 307, RDA 309, RDA 311, RDA 313, RDA 315,
and/or RDA 317.
[0047] RDAs, such as RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA 311, RDA 313, RDA 315,
and/or RDA 317, comprise at least one antenna and at least one
radio frequency ("RF") receiver that enables each of those RDAs to
receive one or more digital audio signals from a transmitter. For
example, RDA 307 includes any number of RF receivers, that could be
denoted by a variable such as "M" and each RF receiver of "M" RF
receivers has any number of antennas, that could be denoted by a
variable such as "N." Additional details about an RDA comprising at
least one antenna and at least one RF receiver may be found in
FIGS. 4-10, each of which is described below.
[0048] RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA 311, RDA 313, RDA 315, and/or RDA 317
may be coupled to each other and to RDADR 305 in a series
configuration, a point-to-point configuration, a bus configuration,
a star configuration, a ring configuration, a mesh configuration, a
tree configuration, a daisy chain configuration and/or a hybrid
configuration via digital bus 321.
[0049] Digital bus 321 may be synchronous or asynchronous. In one
embodiment, digital bus 321 may be a bi-directional or
uni-directional digital bus that comprises any wired digital
methodology known in the art. For a first example, the digital bus
can a bidirectional bus that is made from a wired digital
methodology such as a twisted-pair transmission line. For a second
example, the digital bus 321 may be standardized to conform with
Category 6 cables ("CAT 6 cables") and/or Category 6a cables ("CAT
6a cables"), both of which have been standardized by the
Telecommunications Industry Association ("TIA").
[0050] In one embodiment, RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA 311, RDA 313, RDA
315, and/or RDA 317 may be connected, via digital bus 321, to RDA
Digital Receiver ("RDADR") 305. RDADR 305 may be a base unit that
processes and/or decodes one or more digital signals received from
the RDAs. In one embodiment, RDADR 305 may provide power and/or
user commands to each of RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA 311, RDA 313, RDA
315, and/or RDA 317. In one embodiment, RDADR 305, may contain at
least one antenna and/or at least one RF receiver, and can use the
at least one antenna and/or at least one RF receiver to attempt to
receive one or more error-free digital audio signals from a
transmitter if the RDAs, such as RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA 311, RDA
313, RDA 315, and/or RDA 317, are unable to receive error-free
versions of the digital audio signals.
[0051] In one embodiment, each RDA, such as each of RDA 307, RDA
309, RDA 311, RDA 313, RDA 315, and/or RDA 317, may be connected
via its output and its input to digital bus 321. This enables each
of the RDAs to be connected in a redundant network. It should be
appreciated that although only six RDAs are shown in FIG. 3, the
number of RDAs can be greater than or less than six RDAs. In other
words, any number of RDAs may be utilized.
[0052] In one embodiment, each of RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA 311, RDA
313, RDA 315, and/or RDA 317 attempts to receive one or more radio
frequency ("RF") digital audio signal(s) from one or more specified
radio frequencies, e.g., one or more specified channels. As used
herein, a "specified channel" and its variations refer to one or
more wireless channels that have been specifically reserved for the
transmission of one or more signals by a transmitter and/or for the
receiving of one or more signals by an RDA so that the RDA can
receive digital audio signals, via its one or more receivers, using
the specifically reserved channel(s). In one embodiment, the one or
more specified channels are used by the transmitter(s) to transmit
the one or more digital audio signals.
[0053] In one embodiment, if one or more of RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA
311, RDA 313, RDA 315, and/or RDA 317 receives the one or more
digital audio signals without any errors or distortions, e.g., the
one or more error-free digital audio signals, then the one or more
RDAs of RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA 311, RDA 313, RDA 315, and/or RDA 317
that received the error-free digital audio signal(s) outputs the
error-free digital audio signal(s) onto the digital bus 321 so that
the other RDAs obtain the signal(s) and so that at least one of the
RDAs provides the signal(s) to RDADR 305.
[0054] In one embodiment, if one or more of RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA
311, RDA 313, RDA 315, and/or RDA 317 is not able to receive the
error-free digital audio signal(s), then the one or more RDAs of
RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA 311, RDA 313, RDA 315, and/or RDA 317 that
did not receive the error-free digital audio signal(s) will instead
pass the error-free digital audio signal(s) received on its digital
bus input through to its digital bus output onto digital bus
321.
[0055] In one embodiment, if one or more of RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA
311, RDA 313, RDA 315, and/or RDA 317 receives the one or more
digital audio signals with errors, interference, and/or
distortions, e.g., one or more error-filled digital audio signals,
then the one or more RDAs of RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA 311, RDA 313,
RDA 315, and/or RDA 317 that received the one or more error-filled
digital audio signals will instead pass the error-free digital
audio signal(s) received on its digital bus input through to its
digital bus output onto digital bus 321. In this way, a number of
RDA units, such as, but not limited to RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA 311,
RDA 313, RDA 315, and/or RDA 317, can be coupled to each other
using one or more configurations as described above in FIG. 3, so
that the RDADR 305 will always receive the error-free digital audio
signal(s) as long as at least one of the RDA units is able to
receive the digital audio signal(s) correctly.
[0056] One benefit of the previously described real-time wireless
receiver network that is used in venue 300 of FIG. 3, is that one
or more RDA units could be dispersed over a large area, effectively
increasing the range of a wireless audio source to as large an area
as desired based solely on the number of redundant RDA units
deployed. As in the previously described example, six RDAs 307,
309, 311, 313, 315, and 317 are deployed over venue 300, which
could be a large stadium or performance hall. It should be
appreciated that any suitable number of RDAs may be deployed in a
venue, such as venue 300.
[0057] In one embodiment, each RDA deployed in venue 300 may
attempt to pass good digital audio data on in both directions of
the digital bus, e.g., the good digital audio data can be passed
using the inputs and/or the outputs of the RDAs onto the digital
bus. This means that the digital bus may operate as a bidirectional
bus so that all RDAs and/or RDADRs that are connected via the
digital bus to any other RDA that received the good audio data can
receive the error-free digital audio signal(s).
[0058] The previously described system used in venue 300 of FIG. 3
ensures that the only time in which there is not good audio data
and/or error-free digital audio signal(s) on the digital bus is
when none of the connected RDAs assigned to a specific wireless
channel are able to receive good audio data and/or error-free
digital audio signal(s) (e.g., when the transmitter is off). In
this example, one or more of RDAs 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, and/or
317 flags the digital audio signal(s) that could not be received as
bad digital audio signal(s) and notifies a base unit or a receiving
unit, such as the RDAs 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317 and/or RDADR
305, of the bad digital audio signal(s), so that the base unit or
the receiving unit mutes any specified channels associated with the
bad digital audio data. As used herein, "muting a specified
channel" and its variations refers to enabling an RDA or an RDADR
to output silent audio signals in place of digital audio that have
been flagged as bad digital audio signal(s) because none of one or
more RDAs and/or RDADRs assigned to a specific wireless channel
were able to receive good audio data and/or error-free digital
audio signal(s) on that specified channel.
[0059] In one embodiment, each RDA, such as each of RDAs 307, 309,
311, 313, 315, and/or 317, that is connected via a digital bus,
such as the digital bus 321, is configured to receive digital
signal(s) using a specified channel (not shown) and to pass the
error-free digital signal(s) that were received via the specified
channel onto the digital bus.
[0060] In one embodiment, each RDA, such as each of RDAs 307, 309,
311, 313, 315, and/or 317, is configured to pass the data its
receivers received onto a digital bus, such as digital bus 321. In
this embodiment each RDA is also configured to pass on data (i.e.,
the error-free digital signal(s)) that was received via the other
specified channels that were assigned to the other RDAs and passed
onto digital bus 321 by these other RDAs. In other words, each RDA,
such as each of RDAs 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, and/or 317, passes on
all data on the digital bus, such as digital bus 321, from any
additional wireless channels that the RDA was not to be assigned
to, so that all digital data that was received via all the
specified channels are available on every node, to every RDA,
and/or to every RDADR in a system that is used in a venue, such the
system that is used in venue 300. For example, if RDA 307 receives
error-free digital signal(s) via a wireless channel 1 (not shown),
RDA 309 receives error-free digital signal(s) via a wireless
channel 2 (not shown), RDA 311 receives error-free digital
signal(s) via a wireless channel 3 (not shown), RDA 313 receives
error-free digital signal(s) via a wireless channel 4 (not shown),
RDA 315 receives error-free digital signal(s) via a wireless
channel 5 (not shown), and RDA 317 receives error-free digital
signal(s) via wireless channel 6 (not shown), then each of RDAs
307, 309, 311, 313, 315, and/or 317 will pass the error-free
digital signal(s) that it received via its specified channel onto
digital bus 321. In this example, each of RDAs 307, 309, 311, 313,
315, and/or 317 will also pass on the error-free digital signal(s)
on digital bus 321 that were received by the other RDAs via the
other specified channels that the RDA was not assigned. In this
way, each of the six RDAs of FIG. 3 receive error-free digital
signals via a different channel, and all six RDAs of FIG. 3 allow
all error-free data received using the six different channels to
pass through their inputs and/or outputs (via digital bus 321) so
that all data received using all 6 channels is available to each of
RDA 307, RDA 309, RDA 311, RDA 313, RDA 315, RDA 317 and/or RDADR
305, even though the one or more receivers of each of RDAs 307,
309, 311, 313, 315, and/or 317 can only receive data via one
specified channel.
[0061] In one embodiment, RDADR 305 is coupled, via an optional
analog/digital bus 323, to a mixer 325 and/or one or more audio
output devices 303. RDADR 305 processes and/or decodes the one or
more error-free digital signals and sends the processed and/or
decoded signals to the mixer 325 and/or the one or more audio
output devices 303. For example, each of the audio output devices
303 may be a play-back device that receives audio signals that are
processed by the mixer 325. The audio output devices 303 may also
be a play-back device, a computer, a piece of recording equipment,
a mixer, and/or any other type of audio output device known in the
art. The at least one mixer 325 may be a digital mixer, an analog
mixer, and/or any other type of mixer known in the art. It will be
appreciated that more than one mixer 325 may be used in the system
that is used in venue 300.
[0062] The analog/digital bus 323 that couples RDADR 305 to the
mixer 325 and/or the audio output devices 303 may be a
bidirectional bus, a uni-directional bus, and/or any other bus
known in the art. Furthermore, analog/digital bus 323 can be an
asynchronous bus or a synchronous bus. In one embodiment,
analog/digital bus 323 can be a bus that is configured to send
analog and/or digital data back and forth between two or more
components, such as RDADR 305, mixer 325, and/or one or more audio
output devices 303. In one embodiment, analog/digital bus 323 is a
digital bus that is configured to send digital data back and forth
between RDADR 305, mixer 325, and/or one or more audio output
devices 303. In one embodiment, analog/digital bus 323 is an analog
bus that is configured to send analog data back and forth between
RDADR 305, mixer 325, and/or one or more audio output devices 303.
In one embodiment, the decision of whether analog/digital bus 323
is a digital bus or an analog bus is based on whether RDADR 305,
mixer 325, and/or one or more audio output devices 303 is designed
to process digital data or analog data.
[0063] In one embodiment, analog/digital bus 323 is not used to
couple RDADR 305 to mixer 325 and/or one or more audio output
devices 303. In this embodiment, RDADR 305 is coupled to mixer 325
and/or audio output devices 303 via any other analog/digital
coupling technology known in the art. In this embodiment, the
decision of whether the analog/digital coupling technology
transfers digital data or analog data is based on whether RDADR
305, mixer 325, and/or one or more audio output devices 303 is
designed to process digital data or analog data.
[0064] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
system 400 for a real-time wireless receiver network. System 400
provides more details about an embodiment of a system for a
real-time wireless receiver network that is used for the wireless
transmission of digital audio signals, such as the system that is
described above in FIG. 3.
[0065] System 400 may comprise audio source 401, digital
transmitter 403, RDA #1 405, RDA #2 407, RDA #N 409, RDADR 411,
audio output device 413, storage device 415, and digital bus 429.
Each feature, structure, and/or characteristic of system 400 is
discussed below.
[0066] Digital transmitter 403 may include input device 427, ADC
417, processor 419, RF transmitter 421, and antenna 423. RDA #1 405
may be similar to RDAs 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, and/or 317 that are
described above with reference to FIG. 3. In one embodiment, RDA #1
405 may be coupled to RDA #2 407 and a predetermined number of
other RDAs denoted by the number "N," so that the last RDA is RDA
#N 409 using a series configuration, a point-to-point
configuration, a bus configuration, a star configuration, a ring
configuration, a mesh configuration, a tree configuration, a daisy
chain configuration and/or a hybrid configuration. RDA #N 409 may
be coupled to RDADR 411. RDADR 411 may be similar to RDADR 305 that
is described above with reference to FIG. 3. In one embodiment,
digital bus 429 is used to couple RDADR 411, RDA #1 405, RDA #2
407, and the predetermined number of other RDAs denoted by the
number "N," so that the last RDA is RDA #N 409. Digital bus 429 may
be similar to or the same as digital bus 321 that is described
above in FIG. 3. For example, digital bus 429 enables RDADR 411,
and each of the RDAs between RDA #1 405, RDA #2 407, and RDA #N 409
to transmit/receive digital signals bi-directionally to/from each
other.
[0067] RDADR 411 may be coupled to audio output device 413, which
is similar to one or more of the audio output devices that are
described above with reference to FIG. 3. RDADR 411 may also be
coupled to storage device 415. Further, storage device 415 may be
coupled to the audio output device 413. In one embodiment, storage
device 415 may be used to store one or more error-free digital
signals 425 that are provided to the audio output device 413. In
one embodiment, storage device 415 may be used to store one or more
error-free digital signals 425 that have been processed and/or
decoded by RDADR 411. In one embodiment, an optional bus 430 is
used to couple RDADR 411 to audio output device and/or storage
device 415. Optional bus 430 may be similar to or the same as bus
323 that is described above in FIG. 3.
[0068] In one embodiment, optional bus 430 is not used to couple
RDADR 411 to audio output device 413 and/or storage device 415. In
this embodiment, RDADR 411 is coupled to audio output device 413
and/or storage device 415 via any other analog/digital coupling
technology known in the art. In this embodiment, the decision of
whether the analog/digital coupling technology transfers digital
data or analog data is based on whether RDADR 411, audio output
device 413, and/or storage device 415 are designed to process
digital data or analog data.
[0069] Storage device 415 may be any sort of storage medium that is
known in the art. For example, storage device 415 can be persistent
storage, storage that temporarily stores the audio signal(s),
floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, magnetic-optical disks,
read-only memories (ROMs), RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic cards,
optical cards, and/or any type of media suitable for storing analog
and/or digital audio signals, processed audio signals, and/or
decoded audio signals.
[0070] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of one
embodiment of a system 500 for a real-time wireless receiver
network that includes one embodiment of Remote Digital Antenna
("RDA") 501 and one embodiment of a RDA digital receiver ("RDADR")
503.
[0071] The portion of system 500 described below provides more
details about embodiments of RDAs and RDADRs of systems, such as
the RDAs and RDADRs of the systems previously described in FIGS. 3
to 4 above. This portion of system 500 includes RDA 501, one or
more RDAs 505, RDADR 503, audio output device 535, storage device
537, digital bus 539, digital bus 541, analog bus 543, and one or
more digital audio signals 507. Each feature, structure, and/or
characteristic of this portion of system 500 is described in detail
below.
[0072] As shown in FIG. 5, RDA 501, one or more RDAs 505, and RDADR
503 are coupled to each other via a digital bus 539. Digital bus
539 may be a bidirectional bus, a uni-directional bus, or any bus
that is known in the art. Furthermore, digital bus 539 can be an
asynchronous bus or a synchronous bus.
[0073] In one embodiment, RDA 501, one or more RDAs 505, and RDADR
503 are coupled to each other via digital bus 539 in a series
configuration, a point-to-point configuration, a bus configuration,
a star configuration, a ring configuration, a mesh configuration, a
tree configuration, a daisy chain configuration and/or a hybrid
configuration. In one embodiment, a redundant topology utilizing
digital bus 539 can be used to couple RDA 501, one or more RDAs
505, and RDADR 503 to each other in at least one of a series
configuration, a point-to-point configuration, a bus configuration,
a star configuration, a ring configuration, a mesh configuration, a
tree configuration, a daisy chain configuration or a hybrid
configuration. In this embodiment, the redundant topology provides
cable redundancy to system 500 so that if a coupling (i.e., one or
more cables of digital bus 539) that is used to couple RDA 501, one
or more RDAs 505, and RDADR 503 to each other fails, data can still
be transferred via other couplings of the redundant topology. In
other words, any one cable in the loop can fail and the system will
still function. For example, if a coupling of digital bus 539 that
couples RDADR 503 directly with RDAs 505 fails, then data that
needs to be sent between RDADR 503 and RDAs 505 can still be sent
via a coupling of digital bus 539 that couples RDADR 503 with RDA
501, as well as, via a coupling of digital bus 539 that couples RDA
501 with RDAs 505.
[0074] System 500 also includes digital bus 541. Digital bus 541
can be a bus that is configured to send digital data back and forth
between two or more components, such as RDADR 503, storage device
537, and/or audio output device 535. In one embodiment, digital bus
541 is digital bus that is configured to send digital data back and
forth between RDADR 503, storage device 537, and/or audio output
device 535.
[0075] System 500 can optionally include analog bus 543. Analog bus
543 can be a bus that is configured to send analog data back and
forth between RDADR 503, storage device 537, and/or audio output
device 535. In one embodiment, the decision of whether to include
analog bus 541 in system 500 is based on whether audio output
device 535 is designed to process digital data or analog data
and/or whether storage device 537 is designed to store digital data
or analog data.
[0076] Each of digital bus 541 and optional analog bus 543 can be a
bidirectional bus, a uni-directional bus, or any other type of bus
that is known in the art. Further, each of digital bus 541 and
analog bus 543 can be a synchronous bus or an asynchronous bus. In
one embodiment, digital bus 541 is used to couple audio output
device 535 and/or storage device 537 with processor 527 of RDADR
503. In one embodiment, analog bus 543 is used to couple audio
output device 535 and/or storage device 537 with DAC 533 of RDADR
503.
[0077] In one embodiment, RDA 501 of FIG. 5 comprises processor
525, RF receiver #1 521, RF receiver #2 523, antenna 509, antenna
511, antenna 513, antenna 515, switch #1 517, and switch #2 519. In
one embodiment, antenna 509, antenna 511, antenna 513, and antenna
515 work together with switch #1 517, and switch #2 519 to achieve
spatial diversity so as to improve the likelihood that one or more
digital audio signals 507 are received by RDA 501 without any
errors or distortions. In one embodiment, antennae 509, 511, 513,
and 515 receive signals 507 via one or more specified channels.
Given that the use of antennas with switches to receive one or more
error-free digital audio signals is well known in the art, the
operations of antenna 509, antenna 511, antenna 513, antenna 515,
switch #1 517, and switch #2 519 will not be discussed in
detail.
[0078] In one embodiment, RDA 501 includes RF receiver #1 521 and
RF receiver #2 523 that work with switch #1 517, and switch #2 519,
respectively, to receive one or more error-free signals 507. In one
embodiment, unlike previous implementations, the error-free signals
507 being output and/or provided by RDA 501 are not raw analog RF
signal(s). This means that, in one embodiment, RDA 501 includes RF
receiver #1 521 and RF receiver #2 523 to enable it to receive the
one or more error-free signals 507 in their digital format and to
enable it to provide the digital versions of the error-free audio
signal(s) onto digital bus 539.
[0079] In one embodiment, RF receiver #1 521 and/or RF receiver #2
523 provide the received error-free signal(s) 507 to processor 525
of RDA 501. In one embodiment, processor 525 processes and/or
decodes the one or more error-free signals 507. Processor 525
processes and/or decodes the one or more error-free signals 507 to
determine if the signal(s) are error-free. In particular, processor
525 processes and/or decodes the one or more error-free signals 507
to determine the number and/or severity of errors in the
signal(s).
[0080] In one embodiment, after processing and/or decoding the one
or more error-free signals 507, processor 525 outputs the one or
more error-free signals 507 onto digital bus 539, so that the one
or more error-free signals 507 are available to one or more RDAs
505 and/or RDADR 503. If RDA 501 is unable to receive the one or
more error-free digital signals 507 using RF receiver #1 521 and/or
RF receiver #2 523, then RDA 501, via processor 525, attempts to
obtain the error-free digital signal(s) from one or more other RDAs
505 using digital bus 539.
[0081] In this embodiment, RDA 501 has an increased likelihood of
receiving the error-free signal(s) 507 because RDA 501 can receive
the one or more error-free signals 507 from RF receiver #1 521, RF
receiver #2 523, and/or RDAs 505.
[0082] In one embodiment, digital bus 539 is used by RDA 501 and/or
RDAs 505 to provide the one or more error-free signals 507 to RDADR
503. RDADR 503 includes a processor 527, and a digital to analog
converter ("DAC") 533, which are described below.
[0083] In one embodiment, processor 527 of RDADR 503 comprises a
user command module 529 and a power supply module 531. User command
module 529 is included in RDADR 503 to enable a user to provide at
least one user command to RDADR 503 that is sent to RDA 501 and/or
RDAs 505, via digital bus 539. For example, at least one user
command includes information about the digital audio signal(s) 507
that are to be transmitted, information about at least one
specified channel that will be used to transmit the digital
signal(s) 507, information related to setting up one or more
parameters of RDA 501 and/or RDAs 505, information related to
decoding, processing, and/or reporting of non-audio data received
from the transmitter, information related to diagnostic data about
the one or more signals 507, and information related to a predicted
form of the one or more error-free signals 507. In one embodiment,
diagnostic data includes radio strength, error rate, and/or any
other characteristics of digital audio signals that are known in
the art.
[0084] In one embodiment, power supply module 531 of processor 527
is used by RDADR 503 to provide power to RDA 501 and/or RDAs 505
via digital bus 539. In one embodiment, one or more inputs of RDA
501 and/or RDAs 505 are coupled to RDADR 503 using a digital bus
539 that has been standardized to CAT 6 cable and/or the CAT 6a
cable specifications, as described above. Using a digital bus 539
that conforms to the CAT 6 cable and/or the CAT 6a cable
specifications simplifies setup and cable selection for embodiments
of a system for a real-time wireless receiver network that is used
for the wireless transmission of digital audio signals. Given that
provision of power to devices using a CAT 6 cable and/or a CAT 6a
cable is well known, it is not discussed in detail.
[0085] In one embodiment, processor 527 of RDADR 503 processes
and/or decodes the one or more error-free signals 507. In one
embodiment, processor 527 processes and/or decodes the error-free
digital signals 507 to combine non-audio data with the error-free
digital audio signal(s) or to perform a user pre-defined function
that is included in a user command. In one embodiment, the
processed or unprocessed error-free signal(s) 507 are provided by
processor 527 to a DAC 533 for further processing to convert the
error-free signal(s) 507 from their digital forms into analog
forms. In one embodiment, RDADR 503 provides the unprocessed or
processed error-free digital audio signal(s) to audio output device
535. Audio output devices have been previously described. In one
embodiment, audio output device 535 may provide the unprocessed or
processed error-free digital audio signal(s) to storage device 537
for storage.
[0086] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of one
embodiment of a system 600 for a real-time wireless receiver
network that includes one embodiment of Remote Digital Antenna
("RDA") with varying forms of achieving spatial diversity and one
embodiment of a digital receiver.
[0087] System 600 of FIG. 6 is a modification of system 500 of FIG.
5 that is described above. Some of features, structures, and/or
characteristics of system 500 of FIG. 5 described above can be
similar to or the same as some of the corresponding features,
structures, or characteristics of system 600 of FIG. 6, and as a
result, are identified with the same reference numerals. For the
sake of brevity, only the differences between system 600 and system
500 will be described in the discussion relating to FIG. 6.
[0088] One difference between system 600 and system 500 relates to
the varying designs of spatial diversity that can be used to
improve the likelihood that RDA 501 receives the error-free digital
signals 507 from a transmitter. In one embodiment of system 600,
spatial diversity is achieved by using varying designs of antennas
with each of RF receiver #1 521 and RF receiver #2 523. In one
embodiment, RF receiver #1 521 retains the same design that was
described above in FIG. 500, with the only difference being that
details have been added to show some inner structures of switch #1
517. In one embodiment, RF receiver #2 523 has a design that was
not described by FIG. 500. In this embodiment, RF receiver #2 523
is connected to a single antenna 601.
[0089] FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of one
embodiment of a system 700 for a real-time wireless receiver
network that includes multiple RDAs that receive digital audio
signals on a specified channel. The portion of system 700 described
below provides more details about embodiments of RDAs and RDADRs of
systems, such as the RDAs and RDADRs of the systems described above
with regard to FIGS. 3 to 6. Some features, structures, and/or
characteristics of the portion of system 700 that is described
below can be similar or the same as some of the corresponding
features, structures, or characteristics of the systems of FIGS. 3
to 6 that were described above. For the sake of brevity, only the
differences between system 700 and the systems of FIGS. 3 to 6 will
be described in the discussion relating to FIG. 700.
[0090] This portion of system 700 includes multiple RDAs. As shown
in FIG. 7, this portion of system 700 includes RDA #1 701, RDA #2
703, RDADR 705, audio output device 707, digital bus 711, digital
bus 713, analog bus 714, and one or more digital audio signals 709.
In one embodiment of system 700 and as described above in system
300 of FIG. 3, multiple RDAs attempt to receive one or more digital
audio signals from one or more specified radio frequencies, e.g.,
one or more specified channels. The one or more specified channels
are used by the transmitter to transmit the one or more digital
audio signals. For example, there may be two RDAs 701 and 703 that
are configured to attempt to receive the one or more digital audio
signals 709 from a transmitter (not shown) on a specified channel
that is designated as "CH 1." Furthermore, this embodiment of
system 700 includes a RDADR 705 that is also assigned to the
specified channel "CH 1" and to the two RDAs 701 and 703 so that
only the one or more error-free digital audio signals 709 that are
obtained on the specified channel "CH 1" are processed and/or
decoded by RDADR 705 and then sent to audio output device 707.
[0091] It should be appreciated that even though only two RDAs are
shown in this embodiment of system 700, more or less than two RDAs
can be used in one or more embodiments of system 700. It should
also be appreciated that even though only one specified channel is
shown in this embodiment of system 700, more than one specified
channel can be used in one or more embodiments of system 700.
Furthermore, it should be appreciated that even though only one
RDADR is shown in this embodiment of system 700, more than one
RDADR can be used in one or more embodiments of system 700. It
should be appreciated that even though only one audio output device
is shown in this embodiment of system 700, more than one audio
output device can be used in one or more embodiments of system
700.
[0092] As shown in FIG. 7, RDA #1 701, RDA #2 703, and RDADR 705
are coupled to each other via a digital bus 711. In one embodiment,
digital bus 711 is similar to the digital bus 539 that is described
above with reference to FIG. 5. System 700 also includes digital
bus 713 that is used to couple RDADR 705 to audio output device
707. In one embodiment, digital bus 713 is similar to digital bus
541 that is described above with reference to FIG. 5. Moreover,
system 700 includes analog bus 714 that is also used to couple
RDADR 705 to audio output device 707. In one embodiment, analog bus
714 is similar to analog bus 543 that is described above with
reference to FIG. 5.
[0093] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of one
embodiment of a system 800 for a real-time wireless receiver
network that includes multiple RDAs that receive digital audio
signals on two specified channels. The portion of system 800
described below provides more details about embodiments of RDAs and
RDADRs of systems, such as the RDAs and RDADRs of the systems
described above with regard to FIGS. 3 to 7. Some features,
structures, and/or characteristics of the portion of system 800
that is described below can be similar or the same as some of the
corresponding features, structures, or characteristics of the
systems of FIGS. 3 to 7 that were described above. For the sake of
brevity, only the differences between system 800 and the systems of
FIGS. 3 to 7 will be described in the discussion relating to FIG.
800.
[0094] In one embodiment of system 800 of FIG. 8, this portion of
system 800 includes RDA #1 801, RDA #2 803, RDA #3 805, RDA #4 807,
RDADR #1 811, RDADR #2 813, audio output device #1 815, audio
output device #2 817, digital bus 819, analog/digital bus 821,
analog/digital bus 823, and one or more digital audio signals
809.
[0095] System 800 may be similar to the system 700 of FIG. 7 that
is described above with regard to FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 8, RDA
#1 801, RDA #2 803, RDA #3 805, RDA #4 807, RDADR #1 811, and RDADR
#2 813 are coupled to each other via a digital bus 819. In one
embodiment, digital bus 819 is similar to the digital bus 539 that
is described above with reference to FIG. 5. System 800 also
includes analog/digital bus 821 that is used to couple RDADR #1 811
to audio output device #1 815. In one embodiment, analog/digital
bus 821 is similar to digital bus 541 and/or analog bus 543 that
are each described above with reference to FIG. 5. Furthermore,
system 800 includes analog/digital bus 823 that is used to couple
RDADR #2 813 to audio output device #2 817. In one embodiment,
analog/digital bus 823 is similar to digital bus 541 and/or analog
bus 543 that are each described above with reference to FIG. 5.
[0096] In system 800, there are four RDAs 801, 803, 805, and 807
that are configured to attempt to receive the one or more digital
audio signals 809 from a transmitter (not shown) on two specified
channels that are designated as "CH 1" and "CH 2," respectively. In
one embodiment, RDA #1 801, and RDA #3 805 are assigned to receive
one or more digital audio signals on specified channel "CH 1,"
while RDA #2 803 and RDA #4 807 are assigned to receive one or more
digital audio signals on specified channel "CH 2." In one
embodiment, the signals on "CH 1" and "CH 2" can be generated by
different audio sources (not shown) as described above with
reference to FIG. 3.
[0097] One embodiment of system 800 includes two RDADRs 811 and 813
that are assigned to specified channel "CH 1" and specified channel
"CH 2," respectively. In one embodiment, RDADRs 811 is assigned to
RDA #1 801, RDA #3 805, and/or specified channel channel "CH 1" so
that only those digital audio signal(s) that are assigned to
specified channel channel "CH 1" are processed and/or decoded by
RDADR 811 and then sent to audio output device 815. In one
embodiment, RDADRs 813 is assigned to RDA #2 803, RDA #4 807,
and/or specified channel "CH 2" so that only those digital audio
signal(s) that are assigned to specified channel "CH 2" are
processed and/or decoded by RDADR 813 and then sent to audio output
device 817.
[0098] In one embodiment, each RDA, such as each of RDAs 801, 803,
805, and/or 807, is configured to pass the data its receivers
received onto a digital bus, such as digital bus 819. In this
embodiment, each RDA is also configured to pass on data (i.e., the
error-free digital signal(s)) that was received via the other
specified channels that were assigned to the other RDAs and passed
onto digital bus 819 by these other RDAs. Thus, each RDA, such as
each of RDAs 801, 803, 805, and/or 807, passes on all data on the
digital bus, such as digital bus 819, from any additional wireless
channels that the RDA was not to be assigned to, so that all
digital data that was received via all the specified channels, such
as channels CH 1 and CH 2, is available on every node, to every
RDA, and/or to every RDADR in a system, such system 800. In other
words, each of RDA #1 801, RDA #2 803, RDA #3 805, RDA #4 807,
RDADR #1 811, RDADR #2 813 provides all data obtained from its
specified channel onto digital bus 819, which in turn provides data
from all channels bidirectionally to each of RDA #1 801, RDA #2
803, RDA #3 805, RDA #4 807, RDADR #1 811, RDADR #2 813. This
enables system 800 to work without the need for retransmission of
the signals in the event of an interference.
[0099] FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of one
embodiment of a system 900 for a real-time wireless receiver
network that includes multiple RDAs that receive digital audio
signals on multiple specified channels and provide the
corresponding digital audio signals to multiple receivers.
[0100] The portion of system 900 described below provides more
details about embodiments of RDAs and RDADRs of systems, such as
the RDAs and RDADRs of the systems described above in FIGS. 3 to 8.
Some features, structures, and/or characteristics of the portion of
system 900 that are described below can be similar or the same as
some of the corresponding features, structures, or characteristics
of the systems of FIGS. 3 to 8 that were described above. For the
sake of brevity, only the differences between system 900 and the
systems of FIGS. 3 to 10 will be described in the discussion
relating to FIG. 900.
[0101] System 900 is similar to system 800 of FIG. 8, which is
described above. In one embodiment, system 900 includes different
types of RDAs. For a first example, RDA #1 901 and RDA #2 903 are
each assigned to specified channel "CH 1" and "CH 2," respectively.
For a second example, multi-RDA 905 is assigned to specified
channels "CH 3," "CH 4," "CH 5," and "CH 6." As used herein, a
"multi-RDA" refers to two or more RDAs that are housed on the same
device. For the sake of brevity, it is to be appreciated that the
remaining RDAs are evident from FIG. 9.
[0102] System 900 of FIG. 9 also includes different types of
RDADRs. For an example, RDADR 917 is assigned to one specified
channel "CH 1," while RDADR 911 is assigned to multiple specified
channels "CH5," "CH 6," "CH 7," and "CH 8." In this example, any
digital audio signals 909 that are assigned to those channels and
received by at least one of the RDAs of system 900 are processed
and/or decoded by RDADR 911 and sent to one or more of audio
devices 935, 937, 939, and 941. In one embodiment, processors of
RDADRs 911, 913, 917, and 95915 are used to determine which of the
audio devices of system 900 are to receive one or more digital
audio signals 909. For the sake of brevity, it is to be appreciated
that the remaining RDADRs are evident from FIG. 9.
[0103] System 900 also includes digital bus 951 that couples each
of the RDAs, multi-RDAs, and RDADRs of system 900 to one another.
For example, digital bus 951 couples the RDAs, multi-RDAs, and
RDADRs of system 900 using a daisy chain configuration and the
single loop of the daisy configuration creates redundancy so that
if any one cable of digital bus 951 fails or is removed, then
system 900 can still work due to the bidirectional manner in which
digital data is passed via the digital bus 951 to each of the RDAs,
multi-RDAs, and RDADRs of system 900. In one embodiment, digital
bus 951 is similar to the digital bus 819 that is described above
in FIG. 8.
[0104] Further, system 900 includes analog/digital buses 953, 954,
955, 956, 957, 958, 959, 960, 961, and 962 that are each used to
couple RDADRs 917, 95915, 913, and 911 to audio output devices 949,
947, 945, 943, 941, 939, 937, 935, 927 and 933. In one embodiment,
each of analog/digital buses 953, 954, 955, 956, 957, 958, 959,
960, 961, and 962 is similar to analog/digital bus 821 that is
described above in FIG. 8.
[0105] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a portion of one
embodiment of a system 1000 for a real-time wireless receiver
network that includes multiple RDAs that receive digital audio
signals on multiple specified channels and provide the digital
audio signals to a single audio output device. The portion of
system 1000 described below provides more details about embodiments
of systems, such as the systems described above in FIGS. 3 to
9.
[0106] In one embodiment of system 1000 of FIG. 10, this portion of
system 1000 includes different types of RDAs that have been
assigned to at least one specified channel. Given that the systems
of FIGS. 3 to 9 have provided most of the descriptions related to
RDAs and their assignment to one or more specified channels, that
description will be omitted in the discussion of FIG. 10.
[0107] Some features, structures, and/or characteristics of system
1000 of FIG. 10 can be similar or the same as some of the
corresponding features, structures, or characteristics of the
systems of FIGS. 3 to 9 that were described above. For the sake of
brevity, only the differences between system 1000 and the systems
of FIGS. 3 to 9 will be described in the discussion relating to
FIG. 1000.
[0108] One difference between system 1000 and the systems of FIGS.
3 to 9 relates to the audio output device of system 1000. In one
embodiment, configurations of a system for a real-time wireless
receiver network, such as system 1000, could exist where there is
no direct analog audio output. In one embodiment, the digital bus,
such as the digital bus 1021, could be connected directly into an
interface on an audio output device, such as audio output device
1001. In one embodiment, audio output device 1001 uses the
error-free digital audio signals provided via digital bus 1021
directly in its digital form. In one embodiment, an audio output
device, such as audio output device 1001, could be a digital mixer,
a computer, and/or any other type of an audio output device that is
well known in the art and that can process and/or decode digital
audio signals in their digital form. One embodiment of system 1000
shows that there is no need for a separate RDADR, such as the
optional RDADR 1023, if the desired audio output is a digital audio
output and thus, one embodiment of a system for a real-time
wireless receiver network can be reduced in cost and size.
[0109] In one embodiment of system 1000, device 1001 and optional
RDADR 1023 share tasks of processing and/or decoding the error-free
digital signals based on whether the desired audio output is an
analog audio output or a digital audio output. In one embodiment,
the audio output device 1001 can include one or more modules that
enable device 1001 to determine whether the desired audio output is
an analog audio output or a digital audio output. If the desired
audio output is a digital output, then device 1001 processes and
decodes the received error-free digital signals with or without the
use of RDADR 1023. In one embodiment, device 1001 turns off RDADR
1023 in response to device 1001 determining that the desired audio
output is a digital audio output, and processes the error-free
digital signals without the use of RDADR 1023. In one embodiment,
device 1001 can share the processing and/or decoding of the
error-free digital signals with RDADR 1023 so that the output is
provided much faster than when device 1001 performs the tasks
without RDADR 1023.
[0110] In one embodiment, if device 1001 determines that the
desired audio output is an analog output, then device 1001 directs
the received error-free digital signals to RDADR 1023 which
processes the error-free digital audio signals into an analog audio
output. In this embodiment, RDADR 1023 is similar to the one or
more of RDADRs 911, 913, 915, and 917 that are described above in
FIG. 9, and thus can process the digital audio signals as digital
data or convert the processed digital data into analog data that is
played back on device 1001. In this embodiment, system 1000 uses
one or more processors of RDADR 1023 to process digital data into
analog output, even though system 1000 does not include a set of
buses that are capable of providing analog data back and forth
between the RDAs 1003, 1005, 1007, 1009, 1011, 1013, 1015, 1017
and/or device 1001. Thus, one embodiment of system 1000 for a
real-time wireless receiver network can be reduced in cost and
size.
[0111] In one embodiment, an audio output device, such as device
1001, could be an analog/digital mixer, a computer, and/or any
other type of an audio output device that is well known in the art
and that can process and/or decode digital audio signals in their
analog forms and/or digital forms.
[0112] While a system and method for a redundant real-time wireless
receiver network and its various functional components have been
described in particular embodiments, it should be appreciated the
embodiments of a system and method for a redundant real-time
wireless receiver network can be implemented in hardware, software,
firmware, middleware or a combination thereof and utilized in
systems, subsystems, components, or sub-components thereof.
[0113] When implemented in software or firmware, the elements of a
system and method for a redundant real-time wireless receiver
network are the instructions/code segments to perform the necessary
tasks. The program or code segments can be stored in a machine
readable medium, such as a processor readable medium or a computer
program product, or transmitted by a computer data signal embodied
in a carrier wave, or a signal modulated by a carrier, over a
transmission medium or communication link. The machine-readable
medium or processor-readable medium may include any medium that can
store or transfer information in a form readable and executable by
a machine (e.g. a processor, a computer, etc.). Examples of the
machine/processor-readable medium include an electronic circuit, a
semiconductor memory device, a ROM, a flash memory, an erasable
programmable ROM (EPROM), a floppy diskette, a compact disk CD-ROM,
an optical disk, a hard disk, a fiber optic medium, a radio
frequency (RF) link, etc. The computer data signal may include any
signal that can propagate over a transmission medium such as
electronic network channels, optical fibers, air, electromagnetic,
RF links, etc. The code segments may be downloaded via computer
networks such as the Internet, Intranet, etc.
[0114] While a system and method for a redundant real-time wireless
receiver network has been described with reference to illustrative
embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a
limiting sense. Various modifications of the illustrative
embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the system and method
for a redundant real-time wireless receiver network, which are
apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the system and
method for a redundant real-time wireless receiver network pertains
are deemed to lie within the spirit and scope of the system and
method for a redundant real-time wireless receiver network.
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