IP Library Granted Patent US 12,627,760
Granted Patent B2
US 12,627,760 · App. 18/431,172 · Granted May 12, 2026

Semi-global muting

Inventors: Elias Koutikas (Oxford, CT); Rajeshkumar Govindaraj (Milford, CT)
Assignee: IPC Systems, Inc.
H04M3/564G06F3/165H04M3/568H04M2203/5045
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,627,760
App. No.
18/431,172
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure is directed towards a semi-global mute system and method. In one example, a method for muting communication devices includes receiving a message indicating the semi-global mute switch has been activated. The method further includes upon receiving the message: preventing a co-located communication device from receiving the audio signals transmitted from the first audio communication device, permitting the first audio communication device to transmit signals to the remote communication device, and permitting the first audio communication device and the co-located communication device to receive audio signals transmitted from the remote communication device.

Claims (43)

1 . A method for muting communication devices, comprising:

receiving, from a first audio communication device having a semi-global mute switch, a message indicating the semi-global mute switch has been activated, the first audio communication device being in communication with a co-located communication device and a remote communication device, wherein a receive port of the co-located communication device for receiving audio signals and a receive port of the first audio communication device for receiving the audio signals are (i) disconnected from a speaker bridge and (ii) connected to a trunk bridge; and

upon receiving the message:

receiving, by the speaker bridge, the audio signals from the first audio communication device;

forwarding, through the speaker bridge, the audio signals to the remote communication device,

receiving, by the trunk bridge, second audio signals from the remote communication device, and

forwarding, through the trunk bridge, the second audio signals to the receive port of the first audio communication device and the receive port of the co-located communication device;

wherein the audio signals are received through a first talk path corresponding to the first audio communication device, the audio signals are forwarded to the remote communication device through a network bridge, and the second audio signals are received through a first receive path connected to the network bridge.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the co-located communication device and the first audio communication device are in acoustic proximity.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first audio communication device and the co-located communication device are in a media management zone.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the remote communication device is external to the media management zone, and the remote communication device is in communication with the media management zone using the network bridge.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the message indicating the semi-global mute switch has been activated further indicates the co-located communication device outputs received audio through one or more speakers.

6 . A system for selectively muting communication devices, the system comprising:

a first audio communication device including a semi-global mute switch and a receive port;

a co-located communication device including a receive port, wherein the co-located communication device is located within the same audible area as the first audio communication device;

a remote communication device;

one or more media managers including:

a speaker bridge disconnected from the receive port of the co-located communication device and the first receive port of the first audio communication device;

a trunk bridge connected to the receive port of the co-located communication device and the first receive port of the first audio communication device;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory devices coupled to the one or more processors and storing data instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive, from the first audio communication device, a message indicating the semi-global mute switch has been activated, the first audio communication device being in communication with the co-located communication device and the remote communication device;

upon reception of the message:

receive, by the speaker bridge of the one or more media managers, audio signals from the first audio communication device;

forward, through the speaker bridge, the audio signals to the remote communication device,

receive, by the trunk bridge, second audio signals from the remote communication device, and

forward, through the trunk bridge, the second audio signals from the remote communication device to the receive port of the first audio communication device and the receive port of the co-located communication device;

wherein the audio signals are received through a first talk path corresponding to the first audio communication device, the audio signals are forwarded to the remote communication device through a network bridge, and the second audio signals are received through a first receive path connected to the network bridge.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the co-located communication device and the first audio communication device are in acoustic proximity.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first audio communication device and the co-located communication device are in a media management zone.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the remote communication device is external to the media management zone, and the remote communication device is in communication with the media management zone using the network bridge.

10 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the message indicating the semi-global mute switch has been activated further indicates the co-located communication device outputs received audio through one or more speakers.

11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon one or more sequences of instructions for causing one or more processors to perform:

receiving, from a first audio communication device having a semi-global mute switch, a message indicating the semi-global mute switch has been activated, the first audio communication device being in communication with a co-located communication device and a remote communication device, wherein a receive port of the co-located communication device for receiving audio signals and a receive port of the first audio communication device for receiving the audio signals are (i) disconnected from a speaker bridge and (ii) connected to a trunk bridge; and

upon receiving the message:

receiving, by the speaker bridge, the audio signals from the first audio communication device;

forwarding, through the speaker bridge, the audio signals to the remote communication device,

receiving, by the trunk bridge, second audio signals from the remote communication device, and

forwarding, through the trunk bridge, the second audio signals to the receive port of the first audio communication device and the receive port of the co-located communication device;

wherein the audio signals are received through a first talk path corresponding to the first audio communication device, the audio signals are forwarded to the remote communication device through a network bridge, and the second audio signals are received through a first receive path connected to the network bridge.

12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the co-located communication device and the first audio communication device are in acoustic proximity.

13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the first audio communication device and the co-located communication device are in a media management zone.

14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the remote communication device is external to the media management zone, and the remote communication device is in communication with the media management zone using the network bridge.

Assignments (2)
FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2026
From: IPC SYSTEMS, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075090/0164 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2024
From: KOUTIKAS, ELIAS; GOVINDARAJ, RAJESHKUMAR
To: IPC SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066428/0148 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250254241A1 · Aug 7, 2025
References Cited (20)
US 7209763B2 · Martin et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7317791B2 · Carlson · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7904056B2 · Speranza · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7983199B1 · Nguyen et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8126129B1 · McGuire · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 8767942B2 · Elliott · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20050076128A1 · Tsai · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050094792A1 · Berthoud et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20070291918A1 · Diethorn · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20090098898A1 · Patterson · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20110085655A1 · Elliott · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20150195411A1 · Krack et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20180048768A1 · Spittle et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20210195325A1 · Edry · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220398064A1 · Desai et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220400023A1 · Agrawal et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
EP 3257236B1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
EP 4192031 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
WO 2023021390 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
PCT International Search Report and Written Opinion in Application PCT/US2025/013991, mailed Apr. 23, 2025, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]