FR2723673A1 - DEVICE FOR ACQUIRING AND TRANSMITTING AUDIO OR AUDIO SIGNALS AND METHOD USING THE SAME - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for acquiring and transmitting sound or audio signals and a method using this device. Device characterized in that it is mainly constituted, on the one hand, by a plurality of local recording modules (1), each consisting essentially of circuits (2, 3, 4) for processing and digital conversion of audio signals, large-capacity digital storage circuits (5) and analogue conversion circuits (6, 7) and connection to at least one line of the switched telephone network (8) and, on the other hand, by one or several evaluation and control unit (s) (9), controlling the operation of the various local recording modules (1) and centralizing the data, corresponding to audio signals, coming from them, through the intermediary of the switched telephone network (8).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

  The present invention relates to the field of systems for remote control and data transfer via a communication network, in particular the switched telephone network, and relates to a device for acquiring and transmitting sound signals or audio, for their identification and a method implementing said device. The present invention will find a particularly suitable field of application in the context of the classification of musical titles broadcast or

  played in a plurality of public places, especially in discotheques.

  In order to achieve such a classification, it is currently done by recording the titles broadcast, during a party for example, on a physical medium of the cassette type and by transmission of the latter to an evaluation center which, after identification of the titles recorded on the various media sent by the animators or "disc jockeys" of the various selected places, carries out a regional or national classification of the titles taken into account

  according to the number of broadcast of said titles.

  However, this existing system has many disadvantages,

  particularly in terms of reliability and speed of transmission and processing.

  Indeed, the realization of the recordings as described above requires a human intervention, namely that of the facilitator, necessarily entailing different risks and risks as to the careful execution of all the tasks supposed to be performed by said facilitator . Among these risks, one can cite, for example, the nonconformity of recorded titles with those actually played in selected discotheques (falsification, pre-registration of titles before the evening concerned, etc ...) or a shift of the actual record versus date or times

predetermined or indicated.

  In addition, the shipment of recorded media by post leads to additional malfunctions related to possible strikes,

  deterioration of media, delays in delivery, etc.

  All the aforementioned drawbacks necessarily have a detrimental influence on the reliability and the actual reality of the final classification provided, as well as

  on the editing times of the latter.

  Furthermore, the use of removable media and recording devices with mechanical parts necessarily entails wear to more or

  less long term of these and therefore a tedious maintenance.

  The present invention is intended in particular to mitigate all the

aforementioned drawbacks.

  For this purpose, it relates to a device for acquiring and transmitting sound or audio signals, with a view to their identification, characterized in that it mainly consists, on the one hand, of a plurality of modules of local recordings, each consisting essentially of processing circuits and digital audio signal conversion, high capacity digital storage circuits and analog conversion circuits and connection to at least one line of the switched telephone network and other by one or more evaluation and control units, controlling the operation of the various local recording modules and centralizing the data, corresponding to audio signals originating therefrom,

  this via the switched telephone network.

  Another subject of the invention is an automatic or semi-automatic

  automatic acquisition, transmission and evaluation of sound or audio signals collected, simultaneously or not, at different predetermined locations and implementing the device mentioned above, characterized in that it consists, after configuration and parameterization d at least a part of a set of local recording modules, to be taken and stored, from a predetermined time and duration, simultaneously or not, sound or audio signals produced at various locations corresponding to preselected local recording modules, and subsequently, to transfer said signals stored at the various selected modules to an evaluation and control unit via the switched telephone network, to subsequently identify said recorded audio or audio signals and quantitatively evaluating the total occurrence frequency of each sound signal entity e at the different locations selected through the local recording modules, and finally, to repeat, if necessary, all of the aforementioned operations at regular intervals, for example once a day, by performing each time, a new selection of

  concerned local registration modules.

  The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which

  relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the appended drawing, the single figure schematically shows the structure of a device for acquiring and transmitting

  audio or audio signals according to the invention.

  The latter essentially consists, as shown in said figure, on the one hand, by a plurality of local recording modules 1, each composed essentially of circuits 2, 3, 4 for processing and digital conversion of audio signals, high-capacity digital storage circuits and analog conversion circuits and 6, 7 and connection to at least one line of the switched telephone network 8 and, on the other hand, by one or more unit (s) 9 evaluation and control, controlling the operation of the various local recording modules 1 and centralizing the data, corresponding to audio signals, from them, this by

  through the switched telephone network 8.

  According to a first characteristic of the invention, each local recording module 1 also comprises, on the one hand, a programmable processing unit 10, in particular in the form of a microcontroller or a microprocessor associated with a memory 10 'and a clock circuit 10 ", controlling the operation of all the circuits 2 to 7 and the communications with the central evaluation unit (s) 9 and, on the other hand, a power supply unit 11, associated, where appropriate, with a stand-alone power supply, in order to possibly allow the operation of said local recording module 1 even in the event of a power mains cut-off, in particular to carry out or terminate the transmission of

stored data.

  As also shown in the figure of the appended drawing, the processing circuits and digital audio signal conversion may advantageously consist of a filter circuit 2 connected to an input 12 of audio signals and performing a correction, including a reduction, of the band passing of said audio signal, in a circuit 3 for automatic gain correction and in a set 4 sampler / converter to analog / digital dynamics, whose output digital data sequences are stored successively in the

memory circuits 5.

  In addition, the analog conversion circuit 6, connected to the outputs of the memory or digital storage circuits, consists of a digital / analog converter operating at a frequency much greater than that of the digital conversion circuit 4 of the input audio signals. thus delivering, on the basis of the stored digital data sequences, a compressed audio signal with respect to the digitized audio signal during the acquisition phase. This compression of the signals before their transmission by the switched telephone network 8, for example by a factor of 2 to 5, makes it possible to

  obviously to limit the duration of the transmission and therefore its cost price.

  Finally, the connection circuit 7 consists of a telephone line interface comprising a part 7 'for the transfer of the analog signals delivered by the analog conversion circuit 6 and a part 7' 'including a modulator / demodulator 13 for the exchange of digital information between the processing unit 10 'of the local recording module 1 considered and the evaluation and control unit 9 or units, during the configuration and parameterisation phase of said module 1 by said unit or units ) 9 and at the beginning and end of the transmission phase of the data stored in

  memory 5, corresponding to audio signals taken and stored.

  In order to be able to realize the local recording modules 1 in compact form and resistant to shocks or similar external aggressions, all the circuits 2 to 7 and units 10 and 11 of each local recording module 1 are mounted on a or a plurality of printed circuit boards, disposed in a closed rigid case 14, where appropriate sealed, provided with a power cable 15, a cord 12 'or a connector for the input of the signals audio, including from a disco mixer, a cord 16 or a telephone connector connector and a cord or connector 17 for the bidirectional transmission of digital data for the purpose of configuration and

  of the parameterization of the processing unit 10 of said local recording module 1.

  When the number of local recording modules 1 becomes relatively large, for example in the case of implementation at the national level, and no longer allows the transmission of the signals recorded by the selected modules 1 in the reduced range of the telephone network 8 to a single evaluation unit 9, it may advantageously be provided with several evaluation and control units 9, each connected to a determined group of local recording modules 1 identified individually by their own telephone numbers, said modules of local recording 1 belonging to a given group that may vary or be interchanged, depending on a random or regulated selection, a phase of acquisition and transmission with respect to

the next one.

  Each of the evaluation and control units 9 is preferably in the form of a computer unit provided with a storage memory 18 of very large capacity and associated, on the one hand, with a telephone connection circuit 19 connected in particular to an analog-to-digital converter 19 'and, on the other hand, to a device 20 for converting and reproducing in intelligible sound form the compressed audio signals transmitted from the different local recording modules 1 interrogated, linked to the assessment and control unit 9, to the latter through the switched telephone network 8. These evaluation and control units 9 therefore ensure, on the one hand, the management of the different modules of the control unit. 1 which are respectively attached to them by their configuration by means of various operating parameters (date and time of recording, duration, characteristics of the sampling of the audio or sound signals) and the control of absence of malfunction, on the other hand, the initiative and the control of the communications between modules 1 and units, in particular as regards the transfer of the audio data, and, finally, the storage of the audio signals, corresponding to sound signals, delivered by the various selected modules 1 attached to it and their

  return in identifiable form for analysis and evaluation.

  Each evaluation and control unit 9 may furthermore be provided with data input or programming means (keyboard) as well as display (display) and editing (printer) means of the results.

including evaluation.

  The present invention also relates to an automatic or semi-automatic method for acquiring, transmitting and evaluating audio or audio signals collected simultaneously or not, at different predetermined locations, geographically distant from each other, this method involving implement the device described above and consisting essentially, after configuration and parameterization of at least a portion of a set of local recording modules 1, to take and store, from a moment and for a period predetermined, simultaneously or not, audio or audio signals produced at various locations corresponding to preselected local recording modules 1, then, subsequently, to transfer said signals stored at the various selected modules 1 to an evaluation unit 9 and control via the switched telephone network 8, then to identify the s stored audio or audio signals and quantitatively evaluating the total frequency of occurrence of each entity or separate sound signal sequence at the various locations selected via the local recording modules 1, and, finally, to repeat, if necessary, all of the aforementioned operations at regular intervals, for example once a day, each time performing, in advance, a new selection of local recording modules 1 concerned. According to a feature of the invention, each local recording module 1 is provided with its own telephone number and the initiative of establishing a telephone call between a central evaluation unit and control and a local recording module 1 given is reserved exclusively to said central evaluation unit 9, each communication between the latter and a local recording module 1 starting with a protocol of reciprocal identification and indication of the type communication and the nature of the data to be transmitted (digital data: parameterization of the processing unit 10, programming, control data of the state of the module 1 considered, analog data: audio or audio signals

stored in module 1).

  In order to facilitate their subsequent processing, the audio signals received at the input 12 of each local recording module 1 and coming, for example, from the mixer 21 or from the amplification device of a sound installation of a discotheque, are processed by adjusting their bandwidth and amplitude according to their average energy, then digitized and stored in adapted electronic memories 5, and, finally, at the request of a central unit 9 evaluation and control, extracts of said memories 5, reconverted to analog signals at a higher frequency than that used for their digitization and transmitted in analog form, via the switched telephone network 8 to the central collecting unit 9

corresponding evaluation.

  Furthermore, it has been found that a restricted portion of a sequence or sound entity such as a piece of music, a song or the like

  was sufficient to identify the latter.

  Thus, in order to maximize the effective recording time for a given size or capacity of memory circuits, it can be provided that the sampling and acquisition of audio or sound signals by the local recording modules 1 is done intermittently, for example by successive continuous sequences of about one minute each, interspersed with time intervals of equivalent duration during which no

sampling is not done.

  Thanks to the invention, it is therefore possible to provide a device and a method for the acquisition, transmission and centralized evaluation of sound and audio signals broadcast in a plurality of geographically distant locations, comprising a plurality of autonomous local recording modules 1 and automatic operation after configuration and configuration, either remotely by a central unit 9 evaluation and control, or locally through a connector 17 connected to the processing unit 10 of the module 1 concerned. The result is a device and a reliable process, flexible implementation and not subject to malfunctions related to human intervention,

  wear of mechanical parts or transmission delays.

  The constitution and the mode of operation of various circuits 2 to 7 and units 10 and 11 are known as such to those skilled in the art and it is not

  therefore not necessary to detail them further.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without leaving the domain of

protection of the invention.

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Claims (12)

  1. Device for acquiring and transmitting audible or audio signals, for the purpose of their identification, characterized in that it consists mainly of, on the one hand, by a plurality of local recording modules (1), composed of , each of substantially digital processing and converting circuits (2, 3, 4) of audio signals, high capacity digital storage circuits (5) and analog conversion and connection (6, 7) circuits, least one line of the switched telephone network (8) and, on the other hand, one or more evaluation and control units (9), controlling the operation of the various local (1) and centralizing recording modules (1). the data, corresponding to audio signals, from these, by   via the switched telephone network (8).   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each local recording module (1) also comprises, on the one hand, a programmable processing unit (10), in particular in the form of a microcontroller or a microprocessor associated with a memory (10 ') and a clock circuit (10 "), controlling the operation of all the circuits (2 to 7) and the communications with the unit (s) (s) ) an evaluation unit (9) and, on the other hand, a power supply unit (11) associated, where appropriate, with a   standalone power supply.   3. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that the digital signal processing and conversion circuits consist of a filter circuit (2) connected to an input (12) of audio signals and performing a correction, including a reduction, of the bandwidth of said audio signal in an automatic gain correction circuit (3) and in a high dynamics dynamic analog / digital converter (4) assembly (4), whose output digital data sequences are stored   successively in the memory circuits (5).   4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the analog conversion circuit (6), connected to the outputs of the memory or digital storage circuits (5), consists of a digital-to-analog converter operating at a frequency substantially greater than that of the conversion circuit (4). digital audio input signals, thereby providing, based on the stored digital data sequences, a compressed audio signal with respect to the digitized audio signal during the acquisition phase.   5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that the connection circuit (7) comprises a telephone line interface comprising a portion (7 ') for the transfer of the analog signals delivered by the analog conversion circuit (6) and a portion (7 ") including a modulator / demodulator (13) for the exchange of digital information between the processing unit (10 ') of the respective local recording module (1) and the evaluation and control unit (9), when of the configuration and parameterization phase of said module (1) by said evaluation unit (s) (9) and at the beginning and end of the transmission phase of the data stored in the evaluation circuits.   memory (5) corresponding to the audio signals taken and stored.   6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that all the circuits (2 to 7) and units (10 and 11) of each local recording module (1) are mounted on one or more printed circuit boards, arranged in a rigid housing closed (14), if appropriate sealed, provided with a power cable (15), a cord (12 ') or a connector for the input of the audio signals, especially from a table of mixing a disco, cord (16) or telephone connector connector and cord or connector (17) for bi-directional transmission of digital data for configuration and parameterization of the processing unit (10) of said local recording module (1).   7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that it comprises a plurality of evaluation and control units (9), each connected to a determined group of local recording modules (1) individually identified by their own telephone numbers, said local recording modules (1). ) belonging to a particular group that may vary or be interchanged, according to a random or regulated selection,   one acquisition and transmission phase compared to the next.   8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized in that each evaluation and control unit (9) is in the form of a computer unit provided with a storage memory (18) of very large capacity and associated, on the one hand, with a circuit telephone connection module (19) connected in particular to an analog / digital converter (19 ') and, on the other hand, to a device (20) for converting and reproducing in intelligible sound form compressed audio signals transmitted from the different modules local registration (1) interrogated, related to the unit (9) assessment and control 10- considered, to the latter via the switched telephone network (8). 9. Method, automatic or semi-automatic acquisition, transmission and evaluation of sound or audio signals collected, simultaneously or not, at different predetermined locations and implementing the device   according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it consists,   after configuration and parameterization of at least a part of a set of local recording modules (1), to be taken and stored, from a predetermined time and for a predetermined duration, simultaneously or not, sound signals or audio produced at various locations corresponding to preselected local recording modules (1), and subsequently to transfer said signals stored at the various selected modules (1) to an evaluation and control unit (9) by intermediate of the switched telephone network (8), subsequently identifying said stored audio or audio signals and quantitatively evaluating the total occurrence frequency of each distinct sound signal entity or sequence at the different selected locations via the modules (1), and, finally, to repeat, where appropriate, all the above operations at regular intervals for example once a day, each time carrying out, beforehand, a   new selection of local registration modules (1) concerned.   Method according to claim 9, characterized in that each local recording module (1) is provided with its own telephone number and in that the initiative of establishing a telephone call between a central evaluation and control unit (9) and a local recording module (1) are reserved exclusively for said central evaluation unit (9), each communication between the central evaluation unit (9) and a local recording module (9) ( 1) given starting with a protocol of reciprocal identification and indication of the type of communication and the nature of the data to be transmitted.   11. Method according to any one of claims 9 and 10,   characterized in that the sound or audio signals picked up by each local recording module (1) are processed by adjusting their bandwidth and amplitude according to their average energy, then digitized and stored in electronic memories (5) adapted, and finally, at the request of an evaluation and control central unit (9), extracted from said memories (5), reconverted into analog signals at a frequency higher than that used for their digitization and transmitted in analogue form, via the switched telephone network (8) to the corresponding central evaluation unit (9).   12. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 11,   characterized in that sampling and acquisition of sound or audio signals by the local recording modules (1) is intermittent, for example by successive continuous sequences of about one minute each, interspersed with time intervals. of equivalent duration during which   no sampling is done.