GB2540604A

GB2540604A - Communication systems

Info

Publication number: GB2540604A
Application number: GB1512984.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sivatharman Parameswaran
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-07-23
Filing date: 2015-07-23
Publication date: 2017-01-25
Also published as: GB201512984D0

Abstract

An arrangement comprising a single audio space and within the audio space a plurality of PANs (personal area networks), each PAN comprising a hub and a plurality of personal audio sets that interconnect for communication by way of such hub, each said PAN having a differentiating feature (which may itself comprise a plurality of different sub-features) able to be used to differentiate the PANs so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another in said single audio space. Aspects of the invention include the feature may be that each PAN has only a short operating reach and that the PANs are in that regard spaced apart by a distance greater than the sum of operating reaches of neighbouring PANs or that said PANs operate on different respective transmission characteristics such that radio-transmitted audio signals from one of said PANs will not be received by another, and may comprise a choice of such characteristics. May be used where conversation among a group can be interfered with by ambient sound, e.g. where there is no physical/structural barrier between speakers and listeners, e.g. by sound from another such group. Such groups may be at respective tables in a restaurant.

Description

TITLE: COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to communication systems.

BACKGROUND

It frequently occurs that there are several groups of people, for example groups at different tables in a restaurant, where the conversation of one group will be interfered with by the sound of the (more or less distinct) conversation within one or more of the other groups because of their audio proximity. For example in a restaurant it often becomes difficult to speak to other people at the same table because of the ambient noise, particularly conversations going on at nearby tables. Again, it may happen that the people in an only group in a room may have difficulty in conversing with one another because of the sound of ambient conversation or other noise, for example a tour group in a gallery at a museum, e.g. interacting with a guide. In either case, the people are in what may be termed a single audio space, where a conversation among a group can be interfered with by ambient sound , e.g. a space within which direct voice communication/interference would be possible, e.g. where there is no physical/structural barrier between speakers and listeners.

THE INVENTION

The present inventor has realised that this difficulty can be greatly ameliorated by providing apparatus to enable people in a group in the same audio space (e.g. at one table) to speak to, or otherwise communicate by sound with, each other in such a way that each can hear what the others have to say while overpowering or substantially drowning out ambient noise in the same audio space.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a personal area network (PAN) comprising a hub and at least two personal audio sets arranged to be interconnected with one another concurrently and directly via the hub in a single audio space. Usually, there will be at least three such personal audio sets, or at least connection means for connecting at least one further such personal audio set into the network in such an arrangement.

The term "concurrently" is used rather than "simultaneously", being broader than the latter, since the interconnections may operate by time division multiplexing (TDM) which effectively is substantially simultaneous so far as the user is concerned, though not precisely so technically. A personal audio set is a set comprising a microphone and at least one earpiece, for personal use, for example a headset or a telephone-type handset. Usually, this can be held in the hand and/or worn. It may be possible with advancing technology to provide both the microphone and earpiece in a single sound transducer. The network may have a so-called noise-cancellation (or noise-reduction) feature, e.g. personal audio set may have this as currently found with the earpieces of some headsets. Such noise-cancellation/reduction feature of the network may also include what is termed in the art "echo-cancellation" to reduce or cancel out the echo-like effect that may occur when the microphone of one person at the same table within the same network might pick up the voice of the person sitting next to him/her thereby giving rise to echo in the system, i.e. when first and second personal audio sets are in communication and the microphone of a nearby third personal audio set receives an audio signal directly through the air from the speaker of the first set and transmits this electrically to the listener of the second set, with a slight delay occasioned by the transmission through the air between the first and third sets. The circuitry to deal with this may be in the hub and/or in the receiving set.

Also, there will be effectively what may be termed "lip synchronism" between one user speaking and another person hearing that speech. Lip synchronism in embodiments of the present invention will be better than in traditional networks. Lack of lip synchronism is due to signal processing between one personal audio set and another that it is communicating with. This is mainly due to processing in the hub. In the case of the present embodiments, we cannot say that we will have no delay in processing at all, for there will still be a slight lag of audio when compared to direct visualization by the listener of the lip movement of the speaker, but the delay will not be noticeable due to the present embodiments being of a system utilizing a local hub rather than an external exchange. This can therefore have substantially zero lack of lip synchronisation, i.e. substantially perfect lip synchronisation.

Embodiments of the invention may comprise a network comprising any one or more of the following further features: • connection means for connecting at least one further such personal audio set into the network in such an arrangement. • at least three of said personal audio sets. • a said personal audio set comprises a so-called noise-cancellation or noise-reduction feature. • the hub and audio sets are arranged to be in radio-communication with one another for the transmission of audio signals therebetween. (The hub and audio sets can be in wired communication with one another but it is preferred to have them in non-wired communication, e.g. wireless/radio communication, or possibly in optical (e.g. infra-red) or ultrasonic communication.) • a differentiating feature suitable to differentiate it from a similar network so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in a single audio space. • said feature comprises that each network has only a short operating reach [preferably] said reach being less than 3 m, (more preferably less than 2 m). • said feature comprises a choice of transmission characteristics that will allow the network to operate on different such transmission characteristics from those of a similar network such that radio-transmitted audio signals from one of the networks will not be received by the other. • said hub and audio sets have reset means to reset any of said characteristics for that network. • all of said reset means of the network are adapted to be reset by a common card or other key. • said hub and audio sets of the network comprise Bluetooth™ transmitters and receivers, being herein called a Bluetooth™ hub and Bluetooth™ audio sets, and said feature comprises a characteristic by which a Bluetooth™ transmitter in the hub and receiver in the audio set appertain specifically to one another and/or vice versa. • said Bluetooth™ hub of the network comprises at least one connector suitable to receive a subsidiary Bluetooth™ hub to interconnect with at least one further Bluetooth™ audio set to be in the network.

The inventor has further realised that such an apparatus should effectively be provided separately for each group without interfering with, e.g. causing crosstalk with, the communication within any of the other groups.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a communication system comprising a plurality of personal area networks, each as described above embodying the invention, the system comprising a feature (which may itself comprise a plurality of different sub-features) to differentiate the networks so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another in a single audio space.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a communication system comprising a plurality of personal area networks, each comprising a hub and at least two personal audio sets arranged to be interconnected with one another concurrently and directly via the hub, the system comprising a feature (which may itself comprise a plurality of different sub-features) to differentiate the networks so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another in a single audio space.

Embodiments of the invention may comprise a communication system comprising any one or more of the following further features: • each said network comprises at least three personal audio sets arranged to be interconnected with one another concurrently and directly via the hub. • the networks are located at respective tables in a single audio space. • the hub and audio sets are arranged to be in radio-communication with one another for the transmission of audio signals therebetween. (The hub and audio sets can be in wired communication with one another but it is preferred to have them in non-wired communication, e.g. wireless/radio communication, or possibly in optical (e.g. infra-red) or ultrasonic communication.) • said feature comprises that each network has only a short operating reach, preferably said reach being less than 3 m, more preferably less than 2 m. In embodiments, this reach will usually be less than (preferably one quarter of or one sixth of) the longest horizontal diameter of the single audio space in which all of them are located (so that at least two or three such networks can fit within that diameter). The reach may also be defined in terms of table length (or diameter of a roundtable), being substantially half that length plus a suitable distance beyond (e.g. substantially half a metre) in order to reach the personal audio set of an (average) person sitting at the table. • the networks are located in a single audio space and spaced apart by a distance greater than the sum of operating reaches of neighbouring said networks. • said feature comprises that the networks operate on different respective transmission characteristics such that radio-transmitted audio signals from one of the networks will not be received by another. Within the term "respective transmission characteristics", there may be a plurality of such characteristics for each network, differing from one said audio set to another, and all of them differing from the characteristics of another said network, e.g. when using Bluetooth™. • said characteristics comprise different respective channels. • said characteristics comprise different respective radio frequencies. • said characteristics comprise different respective radio signal codings. • said hub and audio sets of a said network have reset means to reset any of said characteristics for that network, e.g. channel coding. • all of said reset means of a network are adapted to be reset by a common card or other key. Preferably, this key is particular to that network on that occasion and different from the keys for other said networks/occasions. • said hub and audio sets of a said network comprise Bluetooth™ transmitters and receivers, being herein called a Bluetooth™ hub and Bluetooth™ audio sets, and in which said feature comprises a characteristic by which a Bluetooth™ transmitter in the hub and receiver in the audio set appertain specifically to one another and/or vice versa. • said Bluetooth™ hub of a network comprises at least one connector suitable to receive a subsidiary Bluetooth™ hub to interconnect with at least one further Bluetooth™ audio set to be in that network. • said Bluetooth™ hub of a network comprises at least one connector to which is connected a subsidiary Bluetooth™ hub adapted to connect with at least one further Bluetooth™ audio set of that network. • the audio sets comprise earpieces or headsets of so-called noise-cancellation kind.

Besides a microphone, as usual.

It is to be noted that the audio sets do not communicate with each other set-to-set but communicate with each other only and directly via their hub. On the other hand the audio sets do not need to communicate with each other via an external exchange, only via the local hub. Also, it would be possible in theory for a hub to be combined with one of the headsets but it would then still have to serve (possibly two but usually) at least three headsets.

In a simple and straightforward embodiment, which is probably the most versatile, the inventor provides at each table or other group location a personal area network comprising a hub and a plurality of personal audio sets (one for each person at the table) arranged to be interconnected with one another concurrently and directly via the hub. The system comprises a feature (which may itself comprise a plurality of different sub-features) to differentiate the networks so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another in a single audio space.

In a more sophisticated embodiment, the respective hubs for two or more such networks, at respective tables, may effectively be combined into a common hub, saving only that the common hub is set up to interconnect the audio sets of the network of one table and to interconnect the audio sets of the network of another table without either network interfering with the other in a single audio space. Thus a said hub serves as a network node and the common hub provides a plurality of network nodes.

Within such a personal area network there may be provided a facility to enable a subgroup of some only of the plurality of personal audio headsets to be interconnected via the hub, shortterm or long-term, or more than one such subgroup independently of the others, e.g. by selector means, e.g. for operation by one or more users of the network, e.g. at one or several locations for the whole network or e.g. comprising respective selectors for use by respective users, e.g. attached to their individual personal audio sets. For example, two people might want to talk together in privacy for a while. Again, for example, a predetermined subgroup may wish to be extracted from the plurality in order to be able to talk together in privacy for a short time. Such a predetermination may be made by an ad hoc selection, or by preselection.

It will often be convenient for e.g. a restaurateur or other installer to be able to purchase separately the apparatus for an additional such network, or even purchase separately a relevant hub or personal audio set; and according to further aspects of the invention, there may be provided: • A network adapted for use in a system embodying the invention, and comprising a differentiating feature suitable to differentiate it from a similar network so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in a single audio space. • A hub adapted for use in a network or system embodying the invention, and comprising a feature suitable for it to operate in a said network and differentiate this from a similar network so that these networks can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in a single audio space. • A personal audio set adapted for use in a network or system embodying the invention, and comprising a feature suitable for it to operate in a said network and differentiate this from a similar network so that these networks can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in a single audio space. • A key adapted for use in a system or network embodying the invention, comprising means to set a said characteristic.

The apparatus (network, hub and/or personal audio sets) can be made available in different qualities, e.g. for a low end of the market e.g. for restaurant use at e.g. E50-E100 per network and e.g. for a high end e.g. for conference or committee room use at e.g. E500-E1000 per network.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of setting up a network embodying the invention, including the step of setting said differentiating feature.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of setting up a system embodying the invention, comprising the steps of setting up a plurality of networks each embodying the invention, including the step of setting said differentiating feature for each network so that these networks can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in a single audio space. Preferably, the method includes the step of setting up the networks in a single audio space.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of using a system embodying the invention, in which the hub and audio sets of one said network are used for audio communication therebetween without interference with or from audio communication within another said network. The term "audio communication" will usually have reference to communication of sound between two users, the sound being superimposed upon a carrier, e.g. radio waves, optical waves or ultrasonic waves, at substantially higher than audio frequencies, as described above, which may be transmitted in the form of radiation, and therefore via a non-tangible connection, or may be e.g. transmitted by a tangible connector, e.g. a waveguide or wire.

It will be noted that the invention may be used to reduce noise pollution and hence provide a benefit to the environment. The actual reason for noise pollution reduction though is due to the fact that by using embodiments of the invention at every table in an environment like e.g. a restaurant or food court, the individuals do not have to shout in order to overpower the noise coming from the conversations from the other tables. Using these embodiments, the individuals will not have to speak loudly and thereby they can reduce the total noise collectively in the restaurant/food court. Thus, the noise pollution reduction is not simply what arises technically from the noise-cancellation, but is enhanced as a psychological result due to employing noise-cancellation e.g. earpieces.

In a preferred embodiment, the voice signal from a participant will be received by the central signal processing unit hub via its Bluetooth receiver and will be fed to the Bluetooth transmitters corresponding to the other participants. This transmission will be received by the headsets of the other participants. The headsets/hubs could have noise and echo cancellation techniques that will enhance the quality of the received signal, making the communication easier. The usage of noise and echo cancellation techniques will enhance the output, but they are not mandatory for the system to work.

Further, the use of personal audio sets allows the possibility to add in external content, e.g. wallpaper music and/or announcements. The hub and/or one or more of the personal audio sets then preferably has/have means to switch on or off, or alter the volume of (or otherwise modified), such external content.

Possible applications of the invention are to a restaurant, a food court, a museum, an open-plan office, a committee room, and a conference hall, e.g. where it might be desirable to have several committees or conferences going on at the same time in the same audio space.

Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. lisa block schematic diagram of an audio set in the form of a headset embodying invention, shown as an enlarged detail of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a key embodying invention, shown as an enlarged detail of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 3 is a block schematic diagram of a system embodying the invention and comprising a plurality of networks embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, identical references in the same Figure or different Figures refer to the same item or items that are identical or similar or have similar functions, and references with the same first two (or three) digits refer to items that are identical or similar or have similar (or related) functions.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, personal area network (PAN) 10 comprises a hub 12 and at least two personal audio sets 14 (141, 142) arranged to be interconnected with one another concurrently and directly via the hub 12 in a single audio space 16. The network 10, and more particularly the hub 12 thereof, comprises connection means 18 for connecting at least one further such personal audio set 143 into the network 10 in such an arrangement, so that, preferably, the network 10 comprises at least three of said personal audio sets 14. A said personal audio set 14, Fig. 1, comprises earpieces 13 , microphone 15 and a so-called noise-cancellation or noise-reduction feature 20. Examples of such features 20 are known in the art. Each headset is worn and used by a different person 17 sitting at a table 34. In the network 10, the hub 12 and audio sets 14 are arranged to be in radio-communication 22 with one another for the transmission of audio signals therebetween. The network 101 comprises a differentiating feature 24 suitable to differentiate it from a similar network 102 so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in the single audio space 16. Said differentiating feature 24 comprises the feature that each network 10 has only a short operating reach 25, in this embodiment said reach being less than 2 m. Said differentiating feature 24 also comprises a choice of transmission characteristics 241 that will allow the network 101 to operate on different such transmission characteristics 2411 from transmission characteristics 2412 of a similar network 102 such that radio-transmitted audio signals 22 from the one network 101 will not be received by the other network 102.

Said hub 12 and audio sets 14 have reset means 26 to reset any of said for that network 101. All of said reset means 26 of the network 101 are adapted to be set or reset by a common card or other key 28, Fig. 2, which may have mechanical means, e.g. wards 281, a magnetic/coded swipe stripe 282 and/or contactless means 283 to set/reset characteristics 241. The hubs 12 and audio sets 14 may be identified for communications for this purpose by each having a media access control address (MAC address) The resetting facility means that the headsets 14 and hubs 12 are not permanently tied to one another but can be interchanged to form different networks 10 on different occasions.

Said hub 12 and audio sets 14 of the network 10 comprise Bluetooth™ transmitters and receivers (not shown separately since these are known in the art), being herein called a Bluetooth™ hub 12 and Bluetooth™ audio sets 14, and said feature 24 comprises a characteristic 241 by which a Bluetooth™ transmitter in the hub 12 and receiver in the audio set 14 appertain specifically to one another and/or vice versa. The network 14 comprises at least one connector 18 suitable to receive a subsidiary Bluetooth™ hub 121 to interconnect with at least one further Bluetooth™ audio set 143 for this to be in the network 14.

The communication system 32 comprises the plurality of personal area networks 10 (101,102 ...). The system 32 comprises the differentiating feature 24 to differentiate the networks 101, 102 ... so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another in the single audio space 16. The networks 10 are located at respective tables 34 in the single audio space 16. The reach 25 is less than one quarter of the longest horizontal diameter 258 of the single audio space 16 in which all of them are located. Also, the networks 14 are spaced apart a distance 259 greater than the sum of operating reaches 25 (251, 252) of neighbouring said networks 14.

In various embodiments, said characteristics 241, 242 ... comprise different respective channels and/or different respective radio frequencies and/or different respective radio signal codings.

Said Bluetooth™ hub 12 of at least one of the networks 10 comprises at least one connector 18 to which is connected a subsidiary Bluetooth™ hub 121 adapted to connect with at least one further Bluetooth™ audio set 143 of that network 10.

When the arrangement is set up in e.g. the eatery 16 of a restaurant, a network 10 is placed on each table 34 and each of the hub 12 and audio sets 14 of the network 10 are set to a common characteristic 241, e.g. a TDM coding or a set of these, by means of a common key 28 for that table 34. If more customers are at that table 34, then additional subsidiary hubs can 121 be added to hub 12, and all of them set by means of common key 28 for that table 34. Each customer dons a headset 14. The customers at that table 341 are then able to speak to each other via the headsets 14, substantially without any audio interference from any neighbouring table 342, or interfering with conversation at table 342, and also reducing, minimising or drowning out the effect of ambient noise.

Although each hub 12 is shown at the centre of its table 34, in other embodiments the hub 12 can be mobile, e.g. together with the whole network 14.

It will be seen that the embodiments provide: • A network 10 adapted for use in a system 32, and comprising a differentiating feature 24 suitable to differentiate it from a similar network 10 so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in the single audio space 16. • A hub 12 adapted for use in a network 10 or system 32, and comprising a feature 24 suitable for it to operate in a said network 101 and differentiate this from a similar network 102 so that these networks 101, 102 can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in the single audio space 16. • A personal audio set adapted for use in a network 10 or system 32, and comprising a feature 24 suitable for it to operate in a said network 101 and differentiate this from a similar network 102 so that these networks 101,102 can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in the single audio space 16. • A key 28 adapted for use in a system 32 or network 10, comprising means 281, 282, 283 to set a said characteristic 241, 242 etc. • A method of setting up a network 10, including the step of setting said differentiating feature 24. • A method of setting up a system 32, comprising the steps of setting up a plurality of networks 10, including the step of setting said differentiating feature 24 for each network 10 so that these networks 10 can be set up in the single audio space 16 and used concurrently without interfering with one another when in the single audio space 16. • A method of using a system 32, in which the hub 12 and audio sets 14 of one said network 10 are used for audio communication between those audio sets 14 without interference with or from audio communication within another said network 10.

Many variations of the invention and embodiments herein described will be apparent to people skilled in the art. For example, features of the different embodiments disclosed herein may be omitted, selected, combined or exchanged in order to form further embodiments. Again, where a preference or particularisation is stated, there is implicit the possibility of its negative, i.e. a case in which that preference or particularisation is absent. The invention is considered to extend to any new and inventive embodiments formed by said variations, further embodiments and cases.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A personal area network (PAN) comprising a hub and at least two personal audio sets arranged to be interconnected with one another concurrently and directly via the hub in a single audio space.

2. A network as claimed in claim 1, comprising connection means for connecting at least one further such personal audio set into the network in such an arrangement.

3. A network as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising at least three of said personal audio sets.

4. A network as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a said personal audio set comprises a so-called noise-cancellation or noise-reduction feature.

5. A network as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the hub and audio sets are arranged to be in radio-communication with one another for the transmission of audio signals therebetween.

6. A network as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a differentiating feature suitable to differentiate it from a similar network so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in a single audio space.

7. A network as claimed in claim 6, in which said feature comprises that each network has only a short operating reach said reach being less than 3 m.

8. A network as claimed in claim 6, in which said feature comprises a choice of transmission characteristics that will allow the network to operate on different such transmission characteristics from those of a similar network such that radio-transmitted audio signals from one of the networks will not be received by the other.

9. A network as claimed in claim 8, in which said hub and audio sets have reset means to reset any of said characteristics for that network.

10. A network as claimed in claim 9, in which all of said reset means of the network are adapted to be reset by a common card or other key.

11. A network as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 10, in which said hub and audio sets of the network comprise Bluetooth™ transmitters and receivers, being herein called a Bluetooth™ hub and Bluetooth™ audio sets, and in which said feature comprises a characteristic by which a Bluetooth™ transmitter in the hub and receiver in the audio set appertain specifically to one another and/or vice versa.

12. A network as claimed in claim 11, in which said Bluetooth™ hub of the network comprises at least one connector suitable to receive a subsidiary Bluetooth™ hub to interconnect with at least one further Bluetooth™ audio set to be in the network.

13. A communication system comprising a plurality of personal area networks, each as claimed in any preceding claim, the system comprising a feature (which may itself comprise a plurality of different sub-features) to differentiate the networks so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another in a single audio space.

14. A communication system comprising a plurality of personal area networks, each comprising a hub and at least two personal audio sets arranged to be interconnected with one another concurrently and directly via the hub, the system comprising a feature (which may itself comprise a plurality of different sub-features) to differentiate the networks so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another in a single audio space.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, in which each said network comprises at least three personal audio sets arranged to be interconnected with one another concurrently and directly via the hub.

16. A system as claimed in claim 14 or 15, in which the networks are located at respective tables in a single audio space.

17. A system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, in which the hub and audio sets are arranged to be in radio-communication with one another for the transmission of audio signals therebetween.

18. A system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17, in which said feature comprises that each network has only a short operating reach, said reach being less than 3 m.

19. A system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 18, in which the networks are located in a single audio space and spaced apart by a distance greater than the sum of operating reaches of neighbouring said networks.

20. A system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 19, in which said feature comprises that the networks operate on different respective transmission characteristics such that radio-transmitted audio signals from one of the networks will not be received by another.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20, in which said characteristics comprise different respective channels.

22. A system as claimed in claim 20 or 21, in which said characteristics comprise different respective radio frequencies.

23. A system as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22, in which said characteristics comprise different respective radio signal codings.

24. A system as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23, in which said hub and audio sets of a said network have reset means to reset any of said characteristics for that network.

25. A method of using an arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, in which said audio sets of one said PAN are used for audio communication therebetween without interference with or from audio communication within another said PAN.

25. A system as claimed in claim 23, in which all of said reset means of a network are adapted to be reset by a common card or other key.

26. A system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 25, in which said hub and audio sets of a said network comprise Bluetooth™ transmitters and receivers, being herein called a Bluetooth™ hub and Bluetooth™ audio sets, and in which said feature comprises a characteristic by which a Bluetooth™ transmitter in the hub and receiver in the audio set appertain specifically to one another and/or vice versa.

27. A system as claimed in claim 26, in which said Bluetooth™ hub of a network comprises at least one connector suitable to receive a subsidiary Bluetooth™ hub to interconnect with at least one further Bluetooth™ audio set to be in that network.

28. A system as claimed in claim 26, in which said Bluetooth™ hub of a network comprises at least one connector to which is connected a subsidiary Bluetooth™ hub adapted to connect with at least one further Bluetooth™ audio set of that network.

29. A system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 28, in which the audio sets comprise earpieces or headsets of so-called noise-cancellation kind.

30. A communication system comprising a plurality of interpersonal networks, and substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with or without reference to the accompanying drawings.

31. A network adapted for use in a system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 30, and comprising a differentiating feature suitable to differentiate it from a similar network so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in a single audio space.

32. A hub adapted for use in a network or system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 31, and comprising a feature suitable for it to operate in a said network and differentiate this from a similar network so that these networks can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in a single audio space.

33. A personal audio set adapted for use in a network or system as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 31, and comprising a feature suitable for it to operate in a said network and differentiate this from a similar network so that these networks can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in a single audio space.

34. A key adapted for use in a system or network as claimed in claim 10 or 20, or in any claim appendant directly or indirectly to claim 10 or 20, comprising means to set a said characteristic.

35. A method of setting up a network as claimed in claim 6 or 14, or in any claim appendant directly or indirectly to claim 6 or 14, including the step of setting said differentiating feature.

36. A method of setting up a system as claimed in claim 13 or 14, or in any claim appendant directly or indirectly to claim 13 or 14, comprising the steps of setting up a plurality of networks each as claimed in claim 6, or in any claim appendant directly or indirectly to claim 6, or in claim 31, including the step of setting said differentiating feature for each network so that these networks can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in a single audio space.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36, including the step of setting up the networks in a single audio space.

38. A method of using a system as claimed in claim 13 or 14, or in any claim appendant directly or indirectly to claim 13 or 14, in which the hub and audio sets of one said network are used for audio communication therebetween without interference with or from audio communication within another said network. CLAIMS

1. An arrangement comprising a single audio space and within the audio space a plurality of PANs (personal area networks), each PAN comprising a hub and a plurality of personal audio sets that interconnect for communication by way of such hub, each said PAN having a differentiating feature (which may itself comprise a plurality of different sub-features) able to be used to differentiate the PANs so that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another in said single audio space.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which the PANs are so constructed and arranged as to be so differentiated.

3. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a said PAN comprises connection means for connecting at least one further such personal audio set into that PAN.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each said PAN comprises at least three of said audio sets.

5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said feature comprises that each said PAN has only a short operating reach and that the PANs are in that regard spaced apart by a distance greater than the sum of operating reaches of neighbouring said PANs to ensure there is substantially no interference between them.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, in which said reach for each said PAN is less than 3 m.

7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the hub and audio sets are arranged to be in radio-communication with one another for the transmission of audio signals therebetween.

8. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said feature comprises that said PANs operate on different respective transmission characteristics such that radio-transmitted audio signals from one of said PANs will not be received by another.

9. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said characteristics comprise different respective channels, radio frequencies and/or radio signal codings.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8 or 9, adapted for said feature to comprise a choice of transmission characteristics that will allow the PAN to operate on different such transmission characteristics from those of another said PAN such that radio-transmitted audio signals from one of said PANs will not be received by said other PAN.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 10, in which said hub and audio sets in a said PAN comprise reset means to reset any of said characteristics for that PAN.

12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11, in which all of the reset means of a said PAN are adapted to be reset by a common card or other key.

13. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12, in which said hub and said audio sets of each PAN comprise adaptive frequency-hopping spread spectrum (AFH) transmitter and receiver means (e.g. as used in Bluetoothu systems), and said feature comprises a said characteristic by which an AFH transmitter of the hub and AFH receiver of a said audio set of that PAN appertain specifically to one another and/or vice versa.

14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13, in which said hub of said that PAN comprises at least one connector suitable to receive a subsidiary AFH hub to interconnect with at least one further AFH audio set to be in the PAN.

15. An arrangement as claimed in claim 14, in which said that PAN comprises said subsidiary AFH hub.

16. An arrangement as claimed in claim 15, in which said that PAN comprises said further AFH audio set adapted to interconnect with said subsidiary AFH hub.

17. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the PANs are located at respective tables in a single audio space.

18. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the audio sets comprise earpieces or headsets of so-called noise-cancellation or noise-reduction kind.

19. An arrangement comprising a single audio space and within the audio space a plurality of PANs (personal area networks), with respective differentiating features for differentiating them from one another, and substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

20. An arrangement comprising a single audio space and within the audio space a plurality of PANs (personal area networks), with respective differentiating features for differentiating them from one another, and substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A plurality of PAN s, adapted for use in an arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, each comprising a hub and a plurality of personal audio sets that interconnect for communication by way of such hub, each said PAN having a differentiating feature arranged to differentiate it from each other said PAN, the plurality being constructed and arranged such that they can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when located in a single audio space.

22. A method of setting up a PAN of an arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, including the step of setting said differentiating feature.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, including the step of setting said differentiating feature for each said PAN so that these PANs can be used concurrently without interfering with one another when in a single audio space.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, including the step of setting up said PANs in said single audio space.