Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM USING WIRELESS MOBILE COMMUNICATION
DEVICES
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to public address systems, and
more
particularly to a public address system using wireless mobile communication
devices as
microphones.
Background
[0002] When an audience member wishes to speak (e.g. in order to ask a
question of a
presenter in a large conference room/auditorium), the audience member usual
raises
his/her hand in an effort to attract the attention of a moderator/master of
ceremonies. Upon
being recognized by the moderator/master of ceremonies, the audience member
then
normally has to wait for a wireless microphone to be passed to him/her by a
conference
assistant who must deliver the wireless microphone, either directly or hand-to-
hand by
several other audience members, and thereafter retrieve it in like fashion.
This process is
inefficient in that the moderator/master of ceremonies may accidentally
overlook the
audience member, and time delays are introduced while the audience member
waits to
receive the cordless microphone.
Summary
[0003] According to an aspect of this specification, there is provided a
public address
system, comprising at least one wireless mobile communication device; a sound
system,
and a back-end system having an interface for exchanging connection
information and
requests with the at least one wireless mobile communication device and in
response
sending a connection authorization message to the at least one wireless mobile
communication device for enabling access to the sound system and transmission
of
wireless audio signals thereto for broadcast.
[0004] According to another aspect, there is provided a wireless mobile
communication
device, comprising: a microphone, a wireless microphone application for
converting audio
signals to wireless signals, and at least one communications subsystem for
sending a
request message responsive to one of either activation of a URL link or
launching of the
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wireless microphone application, receiving a connection authorization message,
and in
response transmitting the wireless signals for broadcast.
[0005] According to a further aspect of this specification, there is provided
a back-end
system for use in a public address system, comprising: an antenna, a computer
that
includes a data interface and application software for exchanging connection
information
and requests with a plurality of mobile communication devices via the antenna
and in
response arbitrating between the requests and sending a connection
authorization message
to one of the wireless mobile communication devices to enable access to the
public
address system and receiving and converting wireless signals from the one
wireless
mobile communication device to audio signals, and an audio interface for
transmitting the
audio signals to at least one speaker.
[0006] According to yet another aspect of this specification, there is
provided a method of
operating a public address system, comprising receiving at least one request
message for
access to the public address system, processing the request message for
arbitrating
between the request message and any other pending request message to access
the public
address system, and in response sending a connection authorization message to
enable
access to the public address system, and receiving wireless audio signals and
transmitting
said audio signals to the public address system.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an illustrative public address system
using wireless
mobile communication devices as microphones, in accordance with the present
disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 is block diagram illustrating a wireless mobile communication
device in
accordance with the present disclosure;
[0009] FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B, are flow diagrams illustrating a method carried out
by a
wireless mobile communication device and a back-end system of the public
address
system, in accordance with the present disclosure; and
[0010] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an alternative public address system using
wireless
mobile communication devices as microphones, in accordance with the present
disclosure.
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Description of Preferred Embodiments
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative public address system 100 using wireless
mobile
communication devices 110, 110', 110", etc., as microphones. The public
address system
100 may be configured to operate in a large conference room or auditorium
environment,
or other public or private venue.
[0012] Wireless mobile communication devices 110, 110', 110" communicate with
a
service provider 120 via a cellular network 130 to exchange voice and data.
The service
provider 120 communicates via the Internet 140 to exchange voice and data with
at least
one messaging server 150 under control of a messaging infrastructure 160, in a
well
known manner.
[0013] The public address system 100 includes a back-end system 170 which, in
the
illustrated embodiment, includes an interface for communicating with the
messaging
server 150, as described in greater detail below, and an interface connected
to an antenna
180 for wireless communication with mobile communication devices 110, 110',
110"
using any of a plurality of well known wireless protocols, such as Wi-Fi or
BluetoothTM
(BluetoothTm is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.), etc..
Wirelessly transmitted
voice signals are transmitted from back-end system 170 to a sound system 190
for
amplification and broadcast over at least one loudspeaker 195.
[0014] Back-end system 170 preferably comprises a computer, such as a PC or
server that
includes application software for wireless communication with mobile
communication
devices 110, 110', 110", using BluetoothTM, Wi-Fi, or other suitable wireless
protocol.
The system 170 preferably also includes an audio interface having an analog
audio output
to the sound system 190.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating some of the components of the
wireless
mobile communication devices 110, 110', 110", etc. In the embodiment depicted
in FIG.
2, wireless mobile communication device 110 includes a communication subsystem
200
for wireless two-way data and voice communication with the cellular network
130.
Communication subsystem 200 may include one or more receivers, transmitters,
antennas,
signal processors and other components associated with wireless
communications. The
particular design of the communication subsystem 200 depends on the network in
which
the wireless mobile communication device 110 is intended to operate. The
concepts
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herein may be applicable to a variety of wireless mobile communication
devices, such as
two-way pagers, cellular telephones, etc.
[0016] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, network access is associated with a
subscriber
or user of the wireless mobile communication device 110 via a memory module
202,
which may be a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card for use in a GSM network
or a
Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card for use in a Universal Mobile
Telecommunication System (UNITS). The SIM card is inserted in or connected to
an
interface 204 of the wireless mobile communication device 110 to operate in
conjunction
with a wireless network. Alternatively, the wireless mobile communication
device 110
may have an integrated identity module for use with systems such as Code
Division
Multiple Access (CDMA) systems.
[0017] The wireless mobile communication device 110 also includes a battery
interface
206 for receiving at least one rechargeable battery 208. The battery 208
provides electrical
power to at least some of the electrical circuitry in the wireless mobile
communication
device 110, and the battery interface 206 provides a mechanical and electrical
connection
for the battery 208.
[0018] The wireless mobile communication device 110 includes a microprocessor
210
which controls the overall operation of the wireless mobile communication
device 110.
Communication functions, including at least data and voice communications, are
performed through the communication subsystem 200, as discussed above. The
microprocessor 210 also interacts with additional device subsystems such as a
display 212,
flash memory 214, a random access memory (RAM) 216, auxiliary input/output
(I/O)
subsystems 218, a data port such as serial port 220, keypad 222, speaker 224,
microphone
226, a short-range (i.e. near field) communications subsystem 228, and any
other device
subsystems generally designated as 230. The microprocessor may further
interact with
other components, which for simplicity are not shown in FIG. 2.
[0019] The microprocessor 210, in addition to its operating system functions,
enables
execution of software applications on the wireless mobile communication device
110.
Software, which may include operating system software or application software,
may be
stored in flash memory 214, RAM 216 or any other memory element. As will be
discussed below, according to an exemplary embodiment, application software is
provided
to permit the wireless mobile communication device 110 to function as a
wireless
microphone in the public address system 100 of FIG. 1.
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[0020] A predetermined set of applications that control basic device
operations, including
data and voice communication applications, will normally be installed on the
wireless
mobile communication device 110 during or after manufacture. The wireless
mobile
communication device 110 may include a personal information manager (PIM)
application
5 having the ability to organize and manage data items relating to a user such
as, but not
limited to, instant messaging, email, calendar events, voice mails,
appointments, and task
items.
[0021] In a data communication mode, a received data signal representing
information
such as a text message, an email message, a media file to be transferred, or
Web page
download will be processed by the communication subsystem 200 and input to the
microprocessor 210, which will further process the signal. In response to the
received data
signal, the microprocessor 210 may generate output for display on the display
212.
[0022] For voice communications, the wireless mobile communication device 110
may
receive one or more signals associated with a voice communication, such as an
indication
of the identity of a calling party. In response to the received data signal,
the
microprocessor 210 may generate output for display on display 212 and/or the
speaker
224.
[0023] In addition, as discussed briefly above, a short-range communications
subsystem
228 is provided for communication between the wireless mobile communication
device
110 and different systems or devices, which need not necessarily be similar
devices. For
example, the short-range communications subsystem 228 may include an infrared
device
and associated circuits and components, or a wireless bus protocol compliant
communication mechanism such as a BluetoothTM communication module to provide
for
communication with similarly-enabled systems and devices. In another
embodiment, the
short-range communications subsystem 228 may be a wireless networking
communications subsystem, conforming to IEEE 802.11 standards such as one or
more of
802.1l b, 802.11 g, or 802.11 In.
[0024] In an embodiment discussed in greater detail below, the short-range
communications subsystem 228 permits wireless communication with the public
address
system 100 via antenna 180 using any of the foregoing well known wireless
protocols to
transmit voice signals that are then sent to sound system 190 for broadcast
over the
loudspeaker 195. The choice of wireless protocol may depend on the size of
auditorium/hall/conference room in which the meeting is to take place. For
example, a
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person of skill in the art will appreciate that phone-class BluetoothTM
communications
may be used for distances of about 10 meters between the wireless mobile
communication
devices 110, 110', 110" and the public address system 100, whereas WiFi
provides a
range of about 100 meters.
[0025] In another embodiment discussed below in connection with FIG. 4, the
short-range
communications subsystem 228 may also communicate with an RFID/NFC (radio
frequency identification/near field communication) or similar tag to identify
an audience
member and associate the audience member with a particular seat (or other
location) in
order to permit the audience member to speak or initiate questions under
control of back-
end system 170.
[0026] The wireless mobile communication devices 110, 110', 110" may include
one or
more circuit boards (not shown) that implement the components described above.
This
disclosure is not limited to any particular electronic component or software
module or any
combination thereof.
[0027] In operation, according to the embodiment of FIGS 1, 2 and 3 and 3A, a
master of
ceremonies (MC) issues an SMS/email/calendar appointment invitation (step 300)
to the
wireless mobile communication devices 110, 110', 110", etc. of a plurality of
invited
participants. Preferably, the invitation includes a link (e.g. URL) to a web
site that
provides information on how to connect to the public address system at the
designated
time and place of the appointment (i.e. meeting).
[0028] When an invited participant wishes to ask a question, make a comment or
otherwise speak, he/she either clicks on the link in the invitation displayed
on his/her
wireless mobile communication device 110, 110', 110", etc. or launches an
application on
the wireless mobile communication device (step 305), which causes the device
110, 110',
110" to send a request message to back-end system 170 via the cellular network
130,
Internet 140 and messaging server 150 under control of messaging
infrastructure 160 (step
310). The request message is processed by the back-end system 170 (step 315),
either
automatically or under control of the MC, to arbitrate between the user
request and any
other pending user requests to access the public address system 100 via their
wireless
mobile communication devices 110, 110', 110", etc. In one embodiment, the back-
end
system 170 may send a confirmation message to the wireless mobile
communication
device 110, 110', 110", for displaying a message via display 212 to indicate
that the
user's request is pending.
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[0029] Once the moderator/master of ceremonies (or automatic
arbitration/selection
program) determines that the request to speak should be granted, back-end
system 170
transmits a connection authorization message (step 320) to the user's wireless
mobile
communication device 110, 110', 110" via messaging server 150 under control of
messaging infrastructure 160, Internet 140 and the cellular network 130, to
enable access
to the public address system 100 via antenna 180. In response to receiving the
authorization message (step 325), the wireless mobile communication device
110, 110',
110" launches its wireless microphone application from flash memory 214, RAM
216,
etc., and communicates with the public address system 100 via antenna 180
(step 330) to
transmit voice signals that are then sent to sound system 190 for broadcast
over the
loudspeaker 195. The wireless microphone application functions in a manner
similar to
well known hands-free applications for mobile GPS units, and can either be pre-
loaded on
the wireless mobile communication device 110, 110', 110", manually downloaded
from
service provider 120 (or other web application provider), or automatically
downloaded
from the back-end system 170 along with the connection data during step 320
or,
according to one embodiment discussed below in connection with FIG. 4, the
wireless
microphone application may be downloaded from an RFID/NFC device to the
wireless
mobile communication device 110, 110', 110". In one embodiment, the wireless
microphone application may enforce frequency damping to avoid feedback from
loudspeaker 195.
[0030] Security of the voice channel between wireless mobile communication
devices
110, 110', 110" and the public address system 100 may provided using
conventional
protocols. For example, Wi-Fi utilizes WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) while
BluetoothTM
may include a security layer on top of the communications channel, as is well
known in
the art.
[0031] Turning to the alternative embodiment of FIG. 4, whose operation is set
forth in
FIGS. 3 and 3B, before the meeting is scheduled to take place, an NFC-enabled
device is used to
program individual RFID/NFC tags 400, 400', 400", etc. with password
information to enable
either BluetoothTm pairing or Wi-Fi authentication to the public address
system 100.
[0032] During the meeting, when a participant wishes to ask a question, make a
comment
or otherwise speak, he/she either `taps' (i.e. touches) his/her wireless
mobile
communication device 110, 110', 110", etc. on the RFID/NFC tag 400, 400',
400", etc.
which causes the tag to transmit connection information (step 300') for
connecting to the
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public address system 100 (i.e. type, encryption keys, PIN, seat number,
etc.). As
discussed above, in one embodiment, the wireless microphone application is
also
downloaded from the RFID/NFC tags 400, 400', 400", etc. to wireless mobile
communication devices 110, 110', 110", etc.
[0033] RFID/NFC tags 400, 400', 400", etc. are integrated electronic chips and
antennae.
Normally, the RFID/NFC tags are passive and battery-less and are powered by an
electromagnetic excitation field from the short range (near field)
communications
component 228 of the mobile communication device. However, active, battery-
powered
tags may also be utilized.
[0034] In response to downloading the connection information, the wireless
mobile
communication device 110, 110', 110", etc. launches an application (step 305),
which
causes the device 110, 110', 110" to wirelessly send a request message to back-
end
system 170 via one of either antenna 180 or the cellular network 130, Internet
140 and
messaging server 150 under control of messaging infrastructure 160 (step 310).
The
request message is processed by the back-end system 170 (step 315), either
automatically
or under control of the MC, to arbitrate between the user request and any
other pending
user requests to access the public address system 100 via their wireless
mobile
communication devices 110, 110', 110", etc.
[0035] Once the moderator/master of ceremonies (or automatic
arbitration/selection
program) determines that the request to speak should be granted, back-end
system 170
sends a connection authorization message (step 320) to the user's wireless
mobile
communication device 110, 110', 110" to enable access to the public address
system 100
via antenna 180. In response to receiving the authorization message 320 (step
325), the
wireless mobile communication device 110, 110', 110" launches its wireless
microphone
application from flash memory 214, RAM 216, etc., and communicates with the
public
address system 100 via antenna 180 (step 330) to transmit voice signals that
are then sent
to sound system 190 for broadcast over the loudspeaker 195, as discussed above
in
connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0036] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a difference between
the
embodiments of FIGS. I and 4 is that in the embodiment of FIG. 4
connection/authentication information is received from the RFID/NFC tags 400,
400', 400", etc.
(step 300') instead of being downloaded following user selection of a link in
an email/SMS
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invitation and sending of the invitation before the meeting (step 300), as in
the embodiment of
FIG. 1.
[0037] The embodiments set forth above are for illustration, and although one
or more
particular embodiments of the system and method have been described herein,
changes
and modifications may be made thereto. For example, although transmission of
the
connection authorization message (step 320) from back-end system 170 to the
user's
wireless mobile communication device 110, 110', 110" is described in the
embodiments
of FIGS. 1 and 4 as occurring via messaging server 150 under control of
messaging
infrastructure 160, Internet 140 and the cellular network 130, it is
contemplated that the
connection authorization message can be transmitted from back-end system 170
to the
user's wireless mobile communication device 110, 110', 110" via antenna 180.
All such
changes are believed to be within the scope of this disclosure in its broadest
aspects and as
set forth in the following claims.
