Conference circuit for encoded digital audio
US6697342B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 24, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2213/13389
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A conference system is provided for connection in a digital audio signal transmission system (50), for receiving N encoded audio signals from N conferees, wherein N is a positive integer greater than or equal to three. The system comprises a decoding system (90, 91, 92) for decoding the N audio signals, a selection system (100, 130) for selecting one from the N decoded audio signals, and means for switching (160) the selected encoded audio signal from an input stage (80, 81, 82) of the conference circuit to an output (161) of the conference circuit, for transmission at least to the N−1 conferees from whom the selected audio signal did not originate. This arrangement enables the audio from one conferee to be provided as the conference signal, without undergoing decoding and subsequent re-encoding. A decision is made as to whether one signal is appropriate or whether multiple audio signals should be combined.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.