IP speaker system
An IP speaker system is disclosed that includes an IP speaker connected to one or more external speakers. The IP speaker comprises a CPU that provides an audio stream (directly or through an audio codec) to a plurality of amplifiers, including an amplifier for driving an internal driver of the IP speaker and one or more amplifiers for driving the external driver(s) of the external speaker(s). In some embodiments, the external speaker(s) are connected in series to the output of the IP speaker, in which case a single amplifier located in the IP speaker is used to drive the external driver(s) of the external speaker(s). In other embodiments, the external speaker(s) are connected in parallel to the output of the IP speaker, in which case each of the external speaker(s) includes a local amplifier for driving the external driver. Preferably, the CPU supervises the external speaker(s) so as to detect any speaker failure, disconnection, short or other change in operational status.
1 . An Internet Protocol (IP) speaker system, comprising:
an IP speaker comprising a central processing unit (CPU); and
one or more external speakers connected to an output of the IP speaker, wherein each of the external speakers comprises a supervision circuit configured to maintain a predetermined circuit parameter, and wherein the CPU of the IP speaker is configured to determine an equivalent circuit parameter for all of the supervision circuits connected to the CPU and use the equivalent circuit parameter to detect the quantity of the external speakers connected to the output of the IP speaker.
2 . The IP speaker system of claim 1 , wherein the external speakers are connected in series to the output of the IP speaker.
3 . The IP speaker system of claim 1 , wherein the external speakers are connected in parallel to the output of the IP speaker.
4 . The IP speaker system of claim 1 , wherein the CPU is configured to detect a change in the quantity of the external speakers connected to the output of the IP speaker when the equivalent circuit parameter is less than or greater than a previous equivalent circuit parameter.
5 . The IP speaker system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined circuit parameter comprises one of a current draw, a resistance, a capacitance, and an impedance.
6 . The IP speaker system of claim 1 , wherein the IP speaker is connected to the external speakers via a serial bus, and wherein the CPU is configured to detect the quantity of the external speakers connected to the output of the IP speaker via two-way digital communication on the serial bus.
7 . The IP speaker system of claim 1 , wherein the CPU is configured to use the quantity of the external speakers connected to the output of the IP speaker to detect a change in an operational status of at least one of the external speakers.
8 . The IP speaker system of claim 7 , wherein the change in the operational status of the at least one of the external speakers comprises one of a speaker failure, a disconnection, and a short.
9 . The IP speaker system of claim 7 , wherein the CPU is configured to disable the external speakers upon detection of the change in the operational status of the at least one of the external speakers.
10 . An Internet Protocol (IP) speaker system, comprising:
an IP speaker comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a microphone, and an internal driver, wherein the microphone is configured to detect an ambient level of noise and wherein the CPU is configured to independently drive the internal driver through a first amplifier and one or more external drivers through a second amplifier and further configured to adjust an amount of audio power provided to each of the internal driver and the one or more external drivers in response to the detected level of ambient noise; and
one or more external speakers connected to an output of the IP speaker, wherein each of the external speakers comprises one of the external drivers.
11 . The IP speaker system of claim 10 , wherein the external speakers are connected in series to the output of the IP speaker.
12 . The IP speaker system of claim 10 , wherein the external speakers are connected in parallel to the output of the IP speaker.
13 . The IP speaker system of claim 10 , wherein the IP speaker is configured to simultaneously provide a first audio stream to the internal driver and a second audio stream to the one or more external drivers.
14 . The IP speaker system of claim 13 , wherein the CPU is configured to equalize the amount of audio power provided to each of the internal driver and the one or more external drivers.
15 . The IP speaker system of claim 13 , wherein an audio delay between the first audio stream provided to the internal driver and the second audio stream provided to the external drivers is less than one microsecond.
16 . The IP speaker of claim 10 , wherein the IP speaker is configured to provide an audio stream exclusively to the internal driver.
17 . The IP speaker of claim 10 , wherein the IP speaker is configured to provide an audio stream exclusively to the external drivers.
18 . The IP speaker system of claim 10 , wherein the CPU is configured to mute the IP speaker during detection of the level of ambient noise.
19 . The IP speaker system of claim 10 , wherein the CPU is configured to provide an audio stream to one or both of the internal driver and the one or more external drivers.
20 . The IP speaker system of claim 19 , wherein the audio stream is generated from a file stored in a memory of the CPU.
21 . The IP speaker system of claim 19 , wherein the audio stream is transmitted over a network cable for receipt by the IP speaker.
22 . The IP speaker system of claim 19 , wherein the audio stream is received from a local audio source.
23 . The IP speaker system of claim 22 , wherein the local audio source comprises a microphone.
24 . The IP speaker system of claim 22 , wherein the local audio source comprises a headset with a microphone, and wherein the IP speaker comprises a transceiver configured to enable two-way communication with the headset with the microphone.
25 . The IP speaker system of claim 24 , wherein the CPU is configured to mute the external speakers during the two-way communication between the IP speaker and the headset with the microphone.
26 . The IP speaker of claim 10 , wherein the IP speaker and the external speakers each comprise a light emitting diode (LED) that is activated to indicate operation in an active mode.
27 . An Internet Protocol (IP) speaker system, comprising:
an IP speaker comprising a central processing unit (CPU) and an internal driver, wherein the CPU is configured to receive an input audio stream and provide an output audio stream to each of the internal driver and one or more external drivers; and
one or more external speakers connected to an output of the IP speaker, wherein each of the external speakers comprises one of the external drivers;
wherein the CPU is configured to (a) evaluate the input audio stream to predict a power consumption by the IP speaker and the one or more external speakers and (b) attenuate the output audio stream if the predicted power consumption exceeds a predetermined power level.
28 . The IP speaker system of claim 27 , wherein the external speakers are connected in series to the output of the IP speaker.
29 . The IP speaker system of claim 27 , wherein the external speakers are connected in parallel to the output of the IP speaker.
30 . The IP speaker system of claim 27 , wherein the audio stream signal comprises a plurality of packets, and wherein the CPU is configured to evaluate the input audio stream on a packet-by-packet basis to predict the power consumption of the IP speaker and the one or more external speakers.