KR20210047794A - Smart public address system for delivery of device information with inaudible signal carrying the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a smart public address (PA) system. According to the present invention, the smart PA system comprises: a local PA subsystem in which a control device and a relay device are disposed; and a management subsystem which provides a graphical user interface (GUI). The control device is configured to output an audio signal derived from another local PA subsystem included in the smart PA system or from a source device disposed within the local PA subsystem to an audio line for relay to a speaker by the relay device, output a control signal for controlling an operation of the relay device on a contact line which is a line separate from the audio line, wherein the contact line is connected to the relay device and the relay device is controlled to enable or disable the relay according to the control signal, and in response to receiving a data signal carrying device information about at least one of the relay device and the speaker, deliver the device information for display on the GUI via the contact line. According to the present invention, the public address system can conveniently control various devices within the local public address subsystem.

Description

Smart public address system in which device information is delivered through inaudible signals {SMART PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY OF DEVICE INFORMATION WITH INAUDIBLE SIGNAL CARRYING THE SAME}

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a public address system, and more specifically, to an improved technique for controlling and monitoring the public address system.

Public Address (PA) systems are installed in buildings or complexes, such as apartment complexes, schools, government offices, large buildings, airports, shopping malls, etc. It is configured to transmit the sound (eg, guide voice, background music, etc.). Various devices are installed for each desired region (eg, company branch) for such public address broadcasting.

However, in the past, to some extent, a network-based integrated control and monitoring method was used. However, as the demand for a public address system that increased the overall size by connecting a larger number of regional facilities through a network increased, More efforts are required to install, maintain, and repair various devices in each target area of broadcasting. In addition, in such a large-scale public address system, it is difficult to easily grasp what devices are deployed in each area and what state the devices are in. However, unfortunately, attempts to solve this problem are still insufficient.

A smart public address (PA) system is disclosed in this document.

According to at least one embodiment, a public address (PA) system includes a local PA subsystem in which a control device and a relay device are disposed, and a management subsystem providing a graphical user interface (GUI). Including, wherein the control device is an audio signal for relay to the speaker by the relay device in another local PA subsystem included in the smart PA system or from a source device disposed in the local PA subsystem. It outputs to the line and outputs a control signal to control the operation of the relay device on the contact line, which is a line separate from the audio line above (the contact line is connected to the relay device above, and the relay device is the control signal above). In response to receiving a data signal carrying device information about at least one of the relay device and the speaker through the contact line, It is configured to deliver the above device information for display on the above GUI.

The foregoing summary is provided to introduce in a simplified form some aspects that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify important or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to delimit the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that provide any or all of the advantages discussed herein.

The public address broadcasting system according to an embodiment of the present invention makes it convenient to control various devices in the local public address subsystem.

The public address system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a flow of public address in a local public address subsystem, as well as various information about devices arranged in the local public address subsystem, for example, in the local public address subsystem. It is possible to easily grasp a fault condition occurring in an arranged device or on a line between devices, and a quality condition of the input/output audio signal of the device.

1 schematically shows a smart public address (PA) system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a diagram for explaining an operation of providing a control signal by a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram illustrating a scenario in which a user wants to control a local PA subsystem with his or her voice according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 illustrates a graphical user interface (GUI) in which predetermined information is visually expressed according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a diagram for explaining how device information is transmitted through an audio line according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a timing diagram illustrating how a master device and a slave device operate so that device information is transmitted through a contact line according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 shows an exemplary implementation of a master device and a slave device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a schematic block diagram of a computing device suitable for an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may have several embodiments, and several embodiments are disclosed herein. However, this is provided by way of illustration and not limitation of the present invention, and it is to be understood as encompassing all transformations, equivalents, and substitutes belonging to the spirit and scope of the present invention. Specific details are provided in the following detailed description to aid in a comprehensive understanding of a method, apparatus, and/or system according to the disclosed embodiments, although some embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these details. In addition, detailed descriptions of known technologies may be omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure various aspects of the present invention.

The terms described below are used only to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to be considered in a limiting sense. Expressions in the singular form include the meaning of the plural unless explicitly used otherwise. In addition, in this document, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate the presence of certain features, numbers, steps, actions, elements, information, or combinations thereof, and one or more other features, It is to be understood that it does not exclude the presence or possibility of numbers, steps, actions, elements, information, or combinations thereof.

System overview

1 schematically shows a smart public address (PA) system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The exemplary smart PA system 100 includes a plurality of local PA subsystems. Each local PA subsystem can be constructed or installed in a desired area or building. These local PA subsystems are communicatively coupled to each other. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in the smart PA system 100, a network 180 (eg, Internet, Wide Area Network: WAN), Metropolitan Area Network: MAN), etc.) and a second local PA subsystem 102. Although two local PA subsystems 101 and 102 are shown in Fig. 1, it should be noted that embodiments of the present invention are not limited in this respect.

In an embodiment, each of the local PA subsystems 101 and 102 performs their respective operations enabling public address broadcasting under the control of their respective control devices 110 and 120. By way of example and not limitation, the control device 110 disposed in the first local PA subsystem 101 transmits an audio signal for public address to another device (eg, a source device) disposed in the first local PA subsystem 101. 112) (and also transmits it to the control device 120 disposed in the second local PA subsystem 102 via the network 180) and receives the audio signal. 120) may provide the received signal to other devices (e.g., relay devices 116, 126 or amplifiers 114, 124) disposed within the local PA subsystem 101, 102 to which it belongs, and further Control signals that cause audio signals to be delivered to a specific speaker (e.g., speakers 115-1, 125-1) within that local PA subsystem 101, 102 for playback. It may be provided to a predetermined device (eg, relay devices 116, 126) disposed within. The operation of the controlling device 110, 120 may be controlled whether it is internal to or external to the local PA subsystem 101, 102 to which it belongs (eg, management subsystem 190).

In an embodiment, each local PA subsystem 101, 102 includes a respective source device 112, 122 and/or a respective relay device 116, 126. Source devices 112 and 122 and relay devices 116 and 126 are coupled to control devices 110 and 120. Although FIG. 1 shows that one source device 112 and 122 and one relay device 116 and 126 are included in each of the local PA subsystems 101 and 102, an embodiment of the present invention is in this regard. It should be noted that it is not limited. For example, there may be one source device without a relay device, one relay device without a source device, or several source devices and/or several relay devices within the local PA subsystems 101 and 102.

In an embodiment, source devices 112 and 122 are devices from which an audio signal of a certain format is derived. For example, the source devices 112 and 122 may be a sound player (e.g., a compact disc player (CDP), an MP3 player, an FM/AM radio tuner, an Internet streaming receiver, a cassette deck, another sound player, etc.), text It may include a text-to-speech (TTS) synthesizer, a microphone (eg, a remote microphone (RM)), and the like. As described above, audio signals from source devices 112, 122 of any local PA subsystem 101, 102 may be provided to control devices 110, 120 of those local PA subsystems 101, 102. And then provided to the control devices 120 and 110 of other local PA subsystems 102 and 101 via the network 180.

In an embodiment, the relay devices 116, 126 are a line capable of propagating an audio signal of a given level (e.g., a speaker level such as about 50V to 100V or a line level such as about 1V to 10V) (hereinafter referred to as “audio line”). May also be referred to as ") and connectable. Thus, the relay devices 116 and 126 can receive an audio signal through such an audio line. It is also possible for the relay devices 116 and 126 to relay the received audio signal to one or more speakers 115-1 to 115-m and 125-1 to 125-n. The relay of the audio signal to each speaker may be enabled or disabled according to a control signal provided from the control devices 110 and 120 to the relay devices 116 and 126. For example, such audio signal relay control may be considered to involve on/off control of a contact corresponding to a channel between an input audio signal and a given speaker. By way of example and not limitation, 16 speakers corresponding to 16 channels may be coupled to the relay devices 116 and 126, and the relay devices 116 and 126 may receive one or more input audio signals, and 16 Relaying one of the input audio signals for playback to each of the speakers can be enabled or disabled based on the control signal (that is, depending on the control signal, the contact for each channel is turned on or off. can do).

In an embodiment, the relay devices 116 and 126 may be input with audio signals provided from the control devices 110 and 120. Such audio signals may be internal (e.g., source devices 112, 122) or external (e.g., other local PA subsystems 102, 101) of the local PA subsystem 101, 102 to which the relay device 116, 126 belongs. Source devices 122, 112, external service systems 170, etc.).

In some exemplary implementations, the input audio signals of relay devices 116, 126 are amplified via corresponding amplifiers 114, 124 interposed between relay devices 116, 126 and control devices 110, 120 and thereafter In the relay device 116, 126 may be provided. For example, the control devices 110 and 120 may output an audio signal of a line level (eg, about 1V) to an audio line connected between the control devices 110 and 120 and the amplifiers 114 and 124, and the amplifier (114, 124) receives the audio signal output from the control device (110, 120) and amplifies it to a speaker level (e.g., about 100V) to be connected between the amplifiers (114, 124) and relay devices (116, 126). Can be output to the audio line. The relay devices 116 and 126 may output the amplified audio signals to speakers (eg, 115-1 and 125-1) coupled to the relay devices 116 and 126 through audio lines connected therebetween. Although FIG. 1 shows one amplifier 114, 124 in each local PA subsystem 101, 102, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited in this respect, for example, the relay device 116, It should be noted that several amplifiers can be electrically coupled to 126). In another exemplary implementation, the output audio signals of control devices 110 and 120 may be provided directly to relay devices 116 and 126. In another exemplary implementation, the output audio signals of the control devices 110 and 120 are provided to the amplifiers 114 and 124, with the amplifiers 114 and 124 and the relay devices 116 and 126 not directly coupled. Can be.

In an embodiment, in the local PA subsystem 101, 102, in addition to the speakers 115-1 to 115-m, 125-1 to 125-n coupled to the relay devices 116, 126, the control device 110 The speaker 121 coupled to the, 120 and/or the speaker 123 coupled to the amplifiers 114 and 124 may be included. Further, optionally, in addition to a speaker for providing notification in the form of sound, warning lights 117 and 127 for providing a visual indication may be coupled to the relay devices 116 and 126. For example, a line for inputting direct current (DC) power may be connected to the relay devices 116 and 126, and further, a line for outputting DC power to the warning lights 117 and 127 may be connected. Thus, a DC output signal for causing a visually recognizable indication to appear on the warning lights 117 and 127 during the public address broadcast by the smart PA system 100 may be provided to the warning lights 117 and 127.

In an embodiment, the relay device 116, 126 is a line connected between the control device 110, 120 and the relay device 116, 126 (which may be, for example, a line separate from the audio line, hereinafter " Control signals for controlling the operation of the relay devices 116 and 126 may be received from the control devices 110 and 120 via a contact line"). According to some exemplary implementations, the relay devices 116 and 126 may enable or disable relaying of an input audio signal to one or more of the coupled speakers, and the control signal controls the audio signal relay as such. It can be configured for use in doing things. For example, in response to receiving a specific control signal from the control device 110, 120, the relay device 116, 126 may, depending on the received control signal, e.g., multiple input audio of the relay device 116, 126. By relaying or preventing one of the signals from being relayed to at least one of several speakers coupled to the relay devices 116, 126, it is possible to operate to control the audio signal relay. Additionally, in response to receiving other specific control signals from the control devices 110, 120, the relay devices 116, 126 cause the beacon lights (117, 127) to display a visual indication corresponding to the received control signal. DC output signals can be transmitted to 117 and 127).

In embodiments, local PA subsystems 101 and 102 may be communicatively coupled to external service system 170 via network 180. For example, the external service system 170 may include a platform operated to provide audio streaming by a provider or operator of the smart PA system 100 or by a third party.

In an embodiment, the smart PA system 100 further includes a management subsystem 190, wherein the local PA control systems 101 and 102 (in particular, the control devices 110 and 120) are managed through the network 180. It may be communicatively coupled with the subsystem 190. The management subsystem 190 may include a computing device 191 operable to receive and process input from a user (eg, an administrator of the smart PA system 100) and provide an output representing some information. For example, a program code providing a graphical user interface (GUI) when executed by a processor may be stored in the memory of the computing device 191. The GUI may be displayed on a display device coupled to the computing device 191, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a control GUI 197, a schematic GUI 199 (hereinafter "schematic GUI May be referred to as ") and the like.

Control of local PA subsystem

As described above, exemplary local PA subsystems 101 and 102 (eg, various devices such as relay devices 116 and 126) may operate under control by control devices 110 and 120. To this end, the control devices 110 and 120 may operate according to control from inside or outside the local PA subsystems 101 and 102 and output a control signal.

2 is a view for explaining an operation of providing a control signal by a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the control device 210 may be coupled with the sensing device 212 and/or may be coupled with the notification device 211. In an embodiment, the control device 210 may receive a detection signal from the detection device 212 and generate a control signal according to the received detection signal. Such a control signal may be a signal for control of some local PA subsystem (eg, a signal provided through a contact line to the relay device to control the operation of the relay device of the local PA subsystem, as described above). For example, the generated control signal may be used to control the local PA subsystem to which the control device 210 belongs. Additionally or alternatively, the generated control signal may be transmitted to the control device 220 as shown in FIG. 2, so that the control device 220 transmits the received control signal to another local PA subsystem to which it belongs. It can be used to control, or to generate and output other control signals for such control. Further, although not shown, a control signal from the control device 220 may be provided to another control device and used as above.

In an embodiment, the sensing device 212 may be configured to detect sound and/or an image and provide a sensing signal to the control device 210. For example, the sensing device 212 may include a microphone or similar, a camera or similar, or a combination thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the sensing device 212 is a sensor configured to detect a certain situation occurring in the surrounding environment, such as a fire sensor, a gas sensor, a motion sensor, an earthquake sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a light sensor, or these It may include a combination of. In addition, in an embodiment, the notification device 211 receives a notification signal from the control device 210 for notifying how the corresponding local PA subsystem is controlled by the control device 210, and according to the received notification signal, the notification device 211 May be configured to provide an audible and/or visual output that is recognizable. For example, the notification device 211 may include a speaker or similar, a display device or similar, or a combination thereof.

By way of example and not limitation, the control device 210 and the control device 220 shown in FIG. 2 are each of any two control devices in the smart PA system 100 (e.g., the control device of the first local PA subsystem 101 ). 110 and the control device 120 of the second local PA subsystem 102. Further, the sensing device 212 may include an RM disposed as a source device (e.g., the source device 112 of the first local PA subsystem 101) in the local PA subsystem to which the control device 210 belongs, and , The notification device 211 may include a speaker (eg, the speaker 111 of the first local PA subsystem 101) disposed in the local PA subsystem to which the control device 210 belongs.

Meanwhile, as described above, the control device may operate according to control from the management subsystem 190 and provide a control signal. According to some example implementations, the control device 210 in FIG. 2 may be the computing device 191 of the management subsystem 190 rather than a conventional control device in the local PA subsystem, in which case the computing device 191 When a control signal is provided to the control device 220 from the control device 220, the control device 220 may use the control signal to control a local PA subsystem to which it belongs, or to generate and output another control signal. For example, the control device 220 controls the operation of a relay device (not shown) coupled with the control device 220 according to a user input on the control GUI 191 provided by the computing device 191 It is possible to generate a control signal for the purpose. Then, the generated control signal can be transmitted to the relay device to be controlled.

For example, consider a scenario where a user wants to control a local PA subsystem with his or her voice. In this exemplary scenario, as shown in FIG. 3, the sensing device 212 includes an RM 312 that detects the user's voice, and the notification device 211 includes a speaker 311-1 and a display 311. -2) may be included. The control device 210 performs processing on the sensed voice, and sends a suitable notification to the speaker 311-1 and/or so that the user can recognize the voice sensed by the RM 312 and/or a response thereto. It can be provided to the display 311-2. In some example implementations, processing of voice sensed by RM 312 may be performed by external service system 170. For example, the external service system 170 is based on an AI system 370 (for example, Machine Learning: ML) that performs speech recognition based on artificial intelligence (AI) for a speech signal. It includes a speech-to-text (STT) function that converts speech to text and a third-party service system such as Google Cloud, which has an AI platform for running AI applications.) can do. In this case, when the RM 312 detects the user's voice 350 and outputs a voice signal, the control device 210 may receive the voice signal and transmit it to the AI system 370. The AI system 370 may convert the received voice signal into text and provide a signal representing the text to the control device 210. Then, the control device 210 may display text (eg, 351, 353, 355) on the display 311-2 according to such a text signal. In addition, the AI system 370 may generate a signal representing suitable audio and/or text as a response to the voice signal and provide it to the control device 210. When the control device 210 receives a text signal from the AI system 370, the control device 210 may display text (eg, 352, 354, 356) on the display 311-2 according to the signal. When the audio signal is provided from the AI system 370, the control device 210 may cause the audio 360 to be output from the speaker 311-1 accordingly. As such, the exemplary smart PA system 100 makes it possible to detect the voice of the user who wants to control the local PA subsystem and inform the user of its result and/or response, which is the construction or maintenance of the local PA subsystem. It is beneficial in that it makes it convenient to control (eg, for testing) various devices (eg, source device, amplifier, relay device, speaker, beacon, etc.) within the local PA subsystem.

As another example, consider a scenario in which the local PA subsystem is controlled even if there is no user intervention according to the detection of the surrounding environment. As a non-limiting example, the sensing device 212 may include a fire sensor, a gas sensor, and an earthquake sensor, and the notification device 211 may include a speaker and a display. If the output signal from at least one of the above sensors is processed by the control device 210 (and, if necessary, also by the external service system 170), it is determined that a fire, gas leak and/or earthquake has occurred, The control device 212 may cause predefined audio and images suitable for such determination to be output from the speaker and display, respectively. As such, the exemplary smart PA system 100 not only enables the local PA subsystem to be automatically controlled according to the situation in which a predetermined situation (eg, an emergency situation) occurs in the surrounding environment, but also Allows context-sensitive messages to be notified

Monitoring of local PA subsystem

Referring again to FIG. 1, an exemplary technique for monitoring local PA subsystems 101 and 102 is discussed below.

In embodiments, the control devices 110 and 120 may inform the management subsystem 190 about the control devices 110 and 120 themselves, as well as other devices included in the local PA subsystems 101 and 102. For example, in addition to the control devices 110, 120, source devices 112, 122, and possibly relay devices 116, 126, amplifiers 114, 124, speakers 115-1 to 115-m, 125-1 to 125-n), other speakers 113, 123 and/or other speakers 111, 121 including information indicating details (e.g., identifier, model name, operating status, fault status, etc.) The device information may be transmitted from the control devices 110 and 120 to the management subsystem 190. In the local PA subsystem (101, 102), it is difficult to properly grasp the operating status and/or fault status of any device by just checking the audio output produced by the speaker or the visual output produced by the warning lamp. Performing monitoring based on the device information displayed on the GUI provided by the management subsystem 190 will help to overcome this problem.

Further, in an embodiment, the control device 110, 120 monitors an audio signal input or output to the control device 110, 120 through an audio line, obtains information about the quality of the signal, and obtains the audio signal. Quality information can be passed to the management subsystem 190. For example, the audio quality information is the control device (110, 120) is the audio signal received from the source device (112, 122), the audio signal provided to the relay device (116, 126), and/or the amplifier (114, 124). ) May include information about an output level, a frequency response, and the like of an audio signal.

In an embodiment, the management subsystem 190 may represent device information and/or audio quality information (eg, visually on a GUI) so that a user can easily grasp device information and/or audio quality information. For example, the management subsystem 190 may be configured to identify the device's identifier (e.g., device ID, device address, etc.), type (e.g., predefined letters, numbers indicating the type of device, combinations thereof, etc.). ), model name (e.g., predefined letters and numbers representing the model of the device, combinations thereof, etc.), operational status (e.g., on, off, play, etc.) and/or Device information including fault conditions (eg, no fault to normal, output error, etc.) can be displayed. In addition, the management subsystem 190 may display audio quality information indicating the frequency response (e.g., a simplified response curve) and/or the output level (e.g., a level value expressed in dB) of the audio signal on the audio line. have. The management subsystem 190 defaults to a graphic element showing such information, or a graphic element representing a corresponding device or a user input (e.g., click) to a graphic element representing a corresponding audio line. In response to hovering, etc.), it may be displayed on the schematic GUI 199. In addition, graphic elements for visually expressing device information and/or audio quality information may be text, as well as non-text graphic elements (eg, icons or graphic images), combinations thereof, and the like. 4 illustrates visual representation of device information and audio quality information on a schematic GUI 199 provided by a manager computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 4, each of the graphic elements 451, 453, and 455 represents device information about a corresponding source device, and each of the graphic elements 461, 463, and 465 represents device information about a corresponding control device. Graphic element 471 represents device information about a corresponding relay device, graphic element 481 represents device information about a corresponding amplifier, and these graphic elements 471 and 481 are each, for example, a model name when clicked. , Additional information such as operation status, failure status, etc. may be further indicated. On the other hand, graphic elements 491, 492 and 493 represent the presence of a speaker to which an output audio signal of a device corresponding to graphic elements 465, 471 and 481 is provided, respectively. The graphic element 444 is displayed when the graphic element 443 (which represents the corresponding audio line) is clicked on to show a schematic view of the frequency response for an audio signal on that audio line and an approximation of the output level. The graphic element 431 indicates that a failure has occurred in the source device corresponding to the graphic element 455, and the graphic element 432 is abnormal in propagating the audio signal on the audio line corresponding to the graphic element 445. Indicates that there is. Furthermore, graphic elements representing a track (e.g., graphic elements 443, graphic elements 445, etc.) change color and/or line thickness when a user input such as clicking on the element or hovering on the element is given. May be highlighted in such a way as to become bold and/or blink. According to this example, the audio signal from which source device passes through which control device(s), to which output speaker the audio signal passed through the control device is passed, and the control signal from the control device for the flow of such audio signal. The overall signal flow in the smart PA system 100, such as which line flows along, can be grasped in a user-friendly manner.

The management subsystem 190 displays device information and/or audio quality information (e.g., on the schematic GUI 199) to easily identify various devices constructed and deployed within the local PA subsystems 101 and 102. In addition to being of considerable help to the local PA subsystem (101, 102), the progress or flow of the public address, within the devices of the local PA subsystem (101, 102) or between such devices. It will be very useful in that it makes it possible to easily grasp a fault condition occurring on a line and/or a quality condition of an audio signal input or output to the control devices 110 and 120.

In order to achieve the advantage of monitoring based on device information in this way, according to an embodiment of the present invention, how the control devices 110 and 120 obtain device information about other devices is described in detail below.

Transmission of device information about the source device

In an embodiment, a signal containing device information about the source devices 112 and 122 may be transmitted from the source devices 112 and 122 to the control devices 110 and 120 on an audio line along with the audio signal. For example, the source device 112, 122 transmits device information about itself on a specific signal (e.g., a sine wave signal having a frequency exceeding the audible frequency, or other pilot signal) on a frequency band outside the audible frequency. However, an analog signal obtained by adding this inaudible signal to the audio signal may be transmitted to the control devices 110 and 120 through the audio line. After receiving such an analog signal, the control devices 110 and 120 may obtain device information by separating the inaudible signal containing the device information from the audio signal. In this way, transmitting a signal carrying device information about the source devices 112 and 122 through the audio line is to provide an additional line to be connected to the existing source device for the transfer of such information (and accordingly, the existing Since it does not require changes to the lines constructed in the local PA subsystems 101 and 102), it is possible to implement the smart PA system 100 without excessive cost burden.

Referring to FIG. 5, in some exemplary implementations, the control devices 110 and 1120 convert the received analog signal 505 into a Low Pass Filter (LPF) 510 and an analog-to-digital converter (Analog-to-Digital Converter). -Digital Converter: ADC) 512 (eg, has a sampling frequency of 32 to 48 kHz) to obtain a PCM signal 513 x[n], this signal 513 can be converted into a packetizer 514 ) To generate the network packet 515 p[m]. The network packet 515 may be delivered to other control devices 120 and 110 via the network 180. Further, the control devices 110 and 120 transmit the received analog signal 505 to a band pass filter (BPF) 520 and an ADC 522 (e.g., having a sampling frequency of 64 to 96 kHz). By processing, the discrete signal 523 i[n] can be obtained, and this signal 523 can be input to the FFT and frequency analyzer 524 to extract the device information 525 d[l]. The extracted device information 525 may be delivered to the management subsystem 190 through the network 180.

Transmission of device information about relay devices

In an embodiment, a signal containing device information about the relay devices 116 and 126 is a relay device on the contact line according to the timing of the operation of the contact interface designed to enable bidirectional communication (e.g., in a half-duplex method). 116, 126 to the control device 110, 120. This design conventionally provides a one-way communication from the control device 110, 120 to the relay device 116, 126 through a contact interface for communication on the contact line between the control device 110, 120 and the relay device 116, 126. It is quite different from the one designed to be possible. In fact, the existing design only takes into account that a signal for controlling the relay operation of the audio signal of the relay devices 116 and 126 is transmitted to the relay devices 116 and 126. I didn't care about the delivery at all. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, since a signal containing device information on the relay devices 116 and 126 is transmitted through a contact line, economical implementation of the smart PA system 100 may be facilitated. This is because there is no need to add a separate line to be connected to the existing relay device (eventually, there is no need to change the line installed in the existing local PA subsystems 101 and 102).

A description of the communication on the contact line between the control device 110, 120 and the relay device 116, 126 according to an embodiment of the invention is given below, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

In an embodiment, the contact interface between the control device 110, 120 and the relay device 116, 126 is designed to enable bidirectional communication, so that the control device 110, 120 has a local PA to the relay device 116, 126. Includes a master device (e.g., master device 670 in Fig. 7) operative to request device information about other devices (e.g., relay devices 116, 126) of subsystems 101 and 102 The relay devices 116 and 126 may be configured with one or more slave devices (e.g., slave devices 680-1 to 680 of FIG. 7) operating to respond to the control devices 110 and 120 with the requested information. -N) (hereinafter, may be individually denoted as 680)). The number of slave devices may be greater than or equal to the number of a given channel (eg, 16) of the relay devices 116 and 126. A line between the master device 670 and each slave device 680 may be collectively regarded as a contact line.

In an embodiment, not only each channel of the relay devices 116, 126 may correspond to one slave device 680, but possibly a group of multiple channels of the relay devices 116, 126 corresponds to the slave device ( There may be a slave device 680 that does not correspond to any channel of 680 and/or relay devices 116, 126, and that some kind of null channel corresponds. In an exemplary implementation, the slave device 680 to which one channel corresponds is the speakers 115-1 to 115-m and 125-1 to 125-n coupled to the relay devices 116 and 126 as described below. It can be used to convey device information about. In this case, whether the audio signal relay is enabled or disabled on the channel is the binary level of the control signal for that channel, for example, any signal provided to the slave device 680 (that is, the contact point for that channel is on). Whether it is off or off). On the other hand, the slave device 680 corresponding to the channel group or the null channel is used to convey device information about the amplifiers 114 and 124 and/or the speakers 113 and 123, as will be described later, or discussed in this section. It may be used to convey device information about the relay devices 116 and 126 as is. In the case of the slave device 680 corresponding to the channel group, the audio signal relay on each channel in the channel group may be enabled or disabled according to a control signal provided to the slave device 680. In the case of the slave device 680 corresponding to the null channel, the slave device 680 is irrelevant to the enable or disable of any audio signal relay in the relay devices 116 and 126.

Referring now to Fig. 6, an exemplary scenario for communication on a contact line between the control devices 110, 120 and the relay devices 116, 126 will be described. According to this exemplary scenario, in the first time period 601, the trigger signal 610 and the slave device 680 output from the trigger port of the master device 670 (for example, the port indicated by M_Trig_1 in FIG. 7). Both of the trigger signals 620 output from the trigger port (eg, the port indicated by S_Trig_1 in FIG. 7) have a high level that is a default value. A high level trigger signal 610 indicates that the master device 670 is in the position of a transmitter capable of transmitting data, while a high level trigger signal 620 indicates that the slave device 680 will receive the data. It indicates that you are in the position of a capable receiver. Further, referring to the timing diagram of FIG. 6, in this time period 601, from the transmission port of the master device 670 (eg, the port indicated by M_TxData_1 in FIG. 7 ), the reception port of the slave device 680 (eg, In FIG. 7, the level of the signal 630 delivered to the port indicated as S_RxData_1) is maintained for more than a threshold time. In this example, when the level of this signal 630 is maintained at a high value for more than a threshold time as shown in FIG. 6, the corresponding contact may be on (i.e., the audio signal relay is enabled on the corresponding channel). . If the level of the signal 630 is maintained at a low value for more than a threshold time, the corresponding contact may be off (ie, the audio signal relay is disabled on the corresponding channel). (On the other hand, when the level of the signal 630 is not maintained for more than a threshold time, the on/off of the corresponding contact can be kept unchanged.) Like the first time period 601, the master device 670 is The signal 630 from the master device 670 to the slave device 680 is transmitted as a signal of a predefined waveform (e.g., a request signal and a confirmation signal described below) while operating as a transmitter and the slave device 680 operates as a receiver. The time period that is not not performed may be considered to correspond to the “contact on/off mode” (or “normal mode”). During such a mode, if the level of the signal 630 changes (eg, from a high value to a low value) and then remains above a threshold time, the on/off of the contact will also change. Otherwise (for example, just by changing the level of the signal 630), no change occurs in the on/off of the contact. In this way, the signal 630 during the first time period 601 may be regarded as a signal for controlling on/off of the contact point of the corresponding channel of the relay devices 116 and 126.

Thereafter, the second time period 602 starts with an abrupt change or reversal of the level of the signal 630 (whether it is periodic or in response to a predetermined event) (e.g., a fall to the low level in FIG. 6). However, during this time period 602, the levels of the trigger signals 610 and 620 remain unchanged. In the second time period 602, the signal transmitted from the master device 670 to the slave device 680 includes a request for device information. Such a request signal may have a predefined waveform, e.g., a waveform with no portion with a level that lasts longer than a threshold time, such as a waveform with a portion that repeats every 10 ms for 100 ms, and the incremental on/off will remain unchanged. I can. In this way, the master device 670 transmits a request signal for device information to the slave device 680 as a signal 630, while pausing to provide a control signal for a given channel.

After the transmission of the request signal is completed, the third time period 603 starts with the level of the trigger signal 610 being changed to a low value. In addition, in response to the request signal, the slave device 680 checks from its own transmission port (e.g., the port indicated as S_TxData_1 in FIG. 7) to the reception port (e.g., the port indicated as M_RxData_1 in FIG. 7). As the acknowledgment (ACK) signal begins to be transmitted as the signal 640, the level of the trigger signal 620 changes to a low value. A low-level trigger signal 620 indicates that the slave device 680 is in the position of a transmitter capable of transmitting data, while a low-level trigger signal 610 indicates that the master device 670 will receive the data. It indicates that you are in the position of a capable receiver. After transmitting the ACK signal, the slave device 680 transmits a data signal containing the requested device information to the master device 670 as a signal 640. During the third time period 603, the master device 670 remains dormant to transmit the control signal for the given channel, and the slave device 680, instead of receiving the control signal, responds to the request signal. In response, signal 640 is transmitted. The slave device 680 may be configured to refrain from changing the on/off state of the contact point in this time period 603. In this way, the on/off of the contact point during the third time period 603 may remain unchanged. This is when the signal 630 during the third time period 603 in FIG. 6 is high, which is the level at the end of the normal mode. It is described as persisting in level.

Thereafter, when transmission of the signal containing the device information is completed, the level of the trigger signals 610 and 620 is changed back to a high value, and the fourth time period 604 is started. The master device 670 stores device information and transmits a control signal for a given channel as a signal 630 as a signal 630 to confirm that the transmission of the device information to itself is completed while still paused from transmitting a control signal for a given channel. ). This confirmation signal may have a predefined waveform, e.g., a waveform with no portion having a level lasting longer than a threshold time, and gradually turning on/off may be sustained.

As shown, in FIG. 6, while transmission of the control signal from the master device 670 is paused over the second time period 602 to the fourth time period 604, an audio signal controllable as the control signal There is no change in the relay from enabled to disabled or vice versa. As a result, it can be said that the second time interval 602 to the fourth time interval 604 form a device check mode together.

Thereafter, the normal mode is re-entered in the fifth time period 605. This time period 605 starts without changing the on/off of the contact point. In FIG. 6, the level of the signal 630 at the beginning of the fifth time period 605 is equal to that when the previous normal mode ends. It is described as having a value.

As discussed above, the master device 670 of the control device 110, 120 is connected to the relay device 116, 126 in communication on the contact line between the control device 110, 120 and the relay device 116, 126. When requesting device information about the device, the requested device information may be delivered to the master device 670 (ie, to the control devices 110 and 120).

Transmission of device information about the amplifier

In an embodiment, a signal containing device information about the amplifiers 114 and 124 may be carried on the audio line. For example, similar to the transmission of device information about the source devices 112, 122, the device information about the amplifiers 114, 124 is carried on a specific signal on a frequency band outside the audible frequency, and the amplifier 114 is carried over the audio line. , 124).

In some example implementations, such an inaudible signal is the control device 110, 120 and the amplifiers 114, 124 separately from the audio line through which the audio signal is transmitted from the control device 110, 120 to the amplifiers 114, 124. ) May be transmitted from the amplifiers 114 and 124 to the control devices 110 and 120 through an audio line connected between them. In this case, the inaudible signal may not be transmitted together with the audio signal in the frequency band below the audible frequency, and the control devices 110 and 120 may extract device information from the received analog signal without separation from the audio signal. have.

In another exemplary implementation, an analog signal in which an inaudible signal containing device information about the amplifiers 114, 124 is added to the audio signal is added to the amplifier 114 on the audio line between the amplifiers 114, 124 and the relay devices 116, 126. , 124) to the relay devices 116, 126. Similar to extracting device information after the control devices 110 and 120 receive the device information about the source devices 112 and 122, the relay devices 116 and 126 provide audio signals and device information from the received analog signals. Device information can be extracted by separating the inaudible signal containing the. Now that the relay devices 116, 126 have obtained the device information about the amplifiers 114, 124, the control device 110 in the communication on the contact line between the control devices 110, 120 and the relay devices 116, 126 When the master device 670 of the, 120) requests device information on the amplifiers 114 and 124, the requested amplifier-related device information is the same as the transmission of device information on the relay devices 116 and 126. 670 (i.e., to the control devices 110, 120).

Transmission of device information about speakers

In an embodiment, speakers 115-1 to 115-m, 125-1 to 125-n coupled to relay devices 116, 126, speakers 113 and 123 coupled to amplifiers 114, 124 , And device information about the speaker (111, 121) coupled to the control device (110, 120), in particular, the operation state and / or failure state, for example, in Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2016-0131781, etc. Based on the disclosed prior art regarding determining the speaker, it can be obtained by the relay devices 116 and 126, the amplifiers 114 and 124 and the control devices 110 and 120, respectively. Meanwhile, the speaker-related device information obtained in the above two cases may be transmitted to the control devices 110 and 120 as follows.

When the relay devices 116 and 126 acquire device information about the speakers 115-1 to 115-m and 125-1 to 125-n, the control devices 110 and 120 and the relay devices 116 and 126 In response to receiving a request for device information for a speaker (e.g., 115-1) from the master device 670 of the control device 110, 120 in communication on the contact line between, the relay device 116, 126 The corresponding slave device 680 (e.g., the slave device 680-1) of the master masters the requested information on the speaker in the same manner as when the device information on the relay devices 116 and 126 is requested. To the device 670 (ie, to the control devices 110 and 120).

By way of example and not limitation, when the amplifiers 114 and 124 acquire device information about the speakers 113 and 123, the amplifiers 114 and 124 cannot separate the obtained information from the device information about themselves. A blue signal may be included and transmitted on each audio line, and speaker-related device information and amplifier-related device information may be transmitted to the control devices 110 and 120 through separate routes accordingly. For example, the amplifiers 114 and 124 transmit an inaudible signal containing device information on the speakers 113 and 123 on an audio line connected between the control devices 110 and 120 and the amplifiers 114 and 124, and the amplifier ( An incomprehensible signal containing device information on the 114 and 124 can be transmitted on the audio line connected between the relay devices 116 and 126 and the amplifiers 114 and 124, or the device information on the speakers 113 and 123 can be transmitted. The inaudible signal is transmitted on the audio line connected between the relay devices 116 and 126 and the amplifiers 114 and 124, and the inaudible signal containing device information about the amplifiers 114 and 124 is transmitted to the control device 110 and 120. And the audio line connected between the amplifiers 114 and 124. The device information transmitted to the relay devices 116 and 126, whether amplifier-related device information or speaker-related device information, is a control device in communication on a contact line between the control devices 110 and 120 and the relay devices 116 and 126. When the master device 670 of (110, 120) requests such device information, the requested device information is transmitted to the master device 670 (i.e. Control devices 110, 120).

Alternatively, the amplifiers 114 and 126 may transmit the obtained speaker-related device information together with the device information about themselves in an inaudible signal on the same audio line, so that the speaker-related device information and the amplifier-related device information are the same route. It can be transmitted to the control device (110, 120) via. If the amplifier-related device information and the speaker-related device information are transmitted to the relay devices 116, 126, the control devices 110, 120 in communication on the contact line between the control devices 110, 120 and the relay devices 116, 126 ), when the master device 670 requests amplifier-related device information and/or speaker-related device information, the requested device information is the master device 670, similar to the transfer of device information regarding the relay devices 116 and 126. To (i.e., to the control devices 110, 120).

Computing environment

Each device in the exemplary smart PA system 100 (eg, computing device 191, control devices 110, 120, etc.) may be implemented as or include any suitable type of computing device. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a computing device suitable for an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, an exemplary computing device 800 includes at least one processor 810, a computer-readable storage medium coupled to the processor 810 and readable by the processor 810. storage medium) 820 and various peripheral devices 830.

The processor 810 may include processing circuitry for controlling the operation of the computing device 800. For example, the processor 810 may be a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a processor core, a microprocessor, and a microcontroller. , Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC), other hardware and logic circuits, or Any suitable combination thereof may be included.

Computer-readable storage medium 820 is any non-transitory for storing computer executable instructions or program code, program data, and/or other suitable form of information in a computer-readable form. ), may include a computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer-readable storage medium 820 includes read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), volatile memory, and non-volatile memory. Memory, removable memory, non-removable memory, hard disk, flash memory, magnetic disk storage medium, optical disk storage medium, other storage devices and storage media, or any suitable Combinations can be included. In some embodiments, the processor 810 may execute computer-executable instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium 820, and such instructions, when executed by the processor 810, cause the computing device 800 to perform the present invention. It is possible to perform an operation according to an embodiment of, for example, at least a portion of the exemplary process described above.

The peripheral device 830 may include various input/output (I/O) devices, which may be used by the computing device 800 to communicate with other devices, devices, devices, etc., or the computing device 800 ) May be used to receive user input of instructions, data, and/or information to and/or to present output from computing device 800 to a user. For example, the peripheral device 830 includes a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, a keypad, a microphone, a CD/DVD player, a hardware TTS synthesizer, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a touch-sensitive display, and Speakers, printers, communication interface cards, serial ports, Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, and the like.

Exemplary embodiments are non-transitory computer-readable storage media, such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, including computer programs in which the operations, techniques, processes, or any aspect or portion thereof are embodied. Media, optical recording media such as CD-ROM, DVD, magnetic-optical media such as floptic disks, and memory devices such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and solid-state memory. The computer-readable storage medium may include program instructions, local data files, local data structures, and the like alone or in combination. A program that can implement or use the disclosed operations, techniques, processes, or any aspect or portion thereof, is any type of (e.g., compiled or interpreted) programming language that can be executed by a computer, e.g., It can be implemented in assembly, machine language, procedural language, object-oriented language, etc., and can be combined with hardware implementation. The term “computer-readable storage medium” can store instructions for execution by a computing device (e.g., computing device 800) (which, upon execution, cause the computing device to perform the disclosed techniques), and to such instructions It may include any medium capable of storing data structures used by or associated therewith. Examples of computer-readable storage media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical recording media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, magnetic-optical media such as floptic disks, and ROM, RAM, flash memory, Including, but not limited to, memory devices such as solid-state memory.

The following relates to additional embodiments of the present invention. The smart public address system, local PA subsystem, control device, relay device, speaker, amplifier, source device, management subsystem, etc. mentioned below are the counterparts discussed above, e.g., smart PA system 100, local PA sub-system. System 101, 102, control device 110, 120, relay device 116, 126, speaker 115-1 to 115-m, 125-1 to 125-n, amplifier 114, 124, source They correspond to the devices 112 and 122, the management subsystem 190, and the like, respectively.

Example 1 relates to a smart public address (PA) system, where the above PA system is a management that provides a local PA subsystem in which a control device and a relay device are placed, and a graphical user interface (GUI). The control device includes a subsystem, wherein the control device relays an audio signal from a source device disposed within the local PA subsystem or in another local PA subsystem included in the smart PA system to the speaker by the relay device. It outputs a control signal for controlling the operation of the relay device on a contact line, which is a line separate from the audio line, and outputs a control signal for controlling the operation of the relay device (the contact line is connected to the relay device, and the relay device is Controlled to enable or disable the above relay according to the above control signal), receiving a data signal carrying device information about at least one of the above relay device and the above speaker through the above contact line In response, it is configured to convey the device information for display on the GUI.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, in which receiving the above data signal through the above contact line means that the above control device pauses outputting the above control signal to the above contact line, and the above contact line. It includes receiving the above data signal, which is a response to the above request, through the above contact line by requesting the above device information.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of Example 2, with no change in the above relays between enabled and disabled during the above dormancy.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1 to 3, in which the above audio line is connected to the above amplifier so that the above audio signal is further provided to the above relay device via an amplifier placed in the above local PA subsystem. The control device receives an inaudible signal carrying other device information about the above amplifier through another audio line, or another data signal carrying the other device information above through the contact line, and for the other device information above. It is also configured to deliver for display on the GUI.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1 to 4, where when the source device is placed in the local PA subsystem, the control device is another inaudible signal carrying other device information about the source device. It is also configured to receive the above audio signal along with the above audio line, and to convey the above other device information for display on the above GUI.

Example 6 relates to a control device for deployment in the local PA subsystem of a smart public address (PA) system, where the control device is in another local PA subsystem of the smart PA system or the local PA sub-system. An audio interface unit configured to output an audio signal from a source device disposed in the system to an audio line for relay to a speaker by a relay device disposed in the local PA subsystem, and a line separate from the audio line. A contact interface unit configured to output a control signal to the contact line (the contact line is connectable to the relay device, and the relay device is controllable to enable or disable the relay according to the control signal), and the relay Graphical user interface provided by the management subsystem of the smart PA system in response to the contact interface unit receiving a data signal carrying device information on at least one of the device and the speaker above through the contact line (Graphical User Interface: GUI) includes a network interface configured to deliver for display on.

Example 7 includes the subject of Example 6, in which receiving the above data signal through the above contact line, while the above contact interface unit pauses outputting the above control signal to the above contact line, and through the above contact line. It includes requesting device information and receiving the data signal, which is a response to the request, through the contact line.

Example 8 encompasses the subject matter of Example 7, with no change in the above relays between enabled and disabled during the above dormancy.

Example 9 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 6 to 8, wherein the audio line is connectable to the amplifier such that the audio signal is provided to the relay device further via an amplifier disposed within the local PA subsystem, and The network interface unit above receives an incomprehensible signal containing other device information about the above amplifier through another audio line or another data signal containing the above other device information through the above contact line, and the above other device information is displayed on the GUI above. It is also configured to deliver for display on the image.

Example 10 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 6 to 9, and when the source device is placed in the local PA subsystem, the network interface unit is used for an inaudible signal carrying other device information about the source device. It is also configured to receive via the audio line above along with the audio signal, and to convey the above other device information for display on the above GUI.

Example 11 relates to a smart public address (PA) system, in which the PA system above is a management that provides a local PA subsystem in which a control device and a relay device are placed, and a graphical user interface (GUI). A subsystem, wherein the relay device receives an audio signal originating from a source device disposed in the local PA subsystem or in another local PA subsystem included in the smart PA system (the audio signal is an audio line Through the above control device), receives a control signal for controlling the operation of the above relay device (the above control signal is provided from the above control device through a contact line, which is a line separate from the above audio line), and the above control In response to enabling or disabling the relay of the above audio signal to the speaker coupled with the above relay device according to the signal, and in response to receiving a request for the above device information through the above contact line, the above relay device and the above speaker It is configured to provide a data signal carrying device information on at least one of them to the control device through the contact line.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of Example 11, wherein the relay device is further configured to refrain from switching between enabled and disabled the relay while providing the data signal to the control device.

Example 13 relates to a relay device for deployment in the local PA subsystem of a smart public address (PA) system, where the relay device is in another local PA subsystem of the smart PA system or the local PA sub-system. An audio interface unit configured to receive an audio signal originating from a source device disposed in the system (the audio signal is provided through an audio line), and a contact interface unit configured to receive a control signal for controlling the operation of the relay device ( The above control signal is provided through a contact line that is a separate line from the above audio line) and a processing unit configured to enable or disable the relay of the above audio signal to the speaker coupled with the above relay device according to the above control signal. Including, the contact interface unit, in response to receiving a request for the device information through the contact line, through the contact line, a data signal carrying device information about at least one of the relay device and the speaker. It is also configured to provide.

Example 14 includes the subject matter of Example 13, wherein the processing unit is further configured to refrain from switching the relay between enabled and disabled while the contact interface unit provides the data signal.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, these should be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive. Those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will appreciate that various changes may be made to the details of the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is limited to the described embodiments and should not be determined, but should be determined by the claims and their equivalents to be described later.

100: smart public address system
101, 102: local public address subsystem
110, 120: control device
116, 126: relay device
190: management subsystem

Claims (10)

As a public address (PA) system,
A local PA subsystem in which a control device, a relay device and an amplifier are placed, and
A management subsystem communicatively coupled with the local PA subsystem, wherein the control device comprises:
Output an audio signal from a source device disposed within another local PA subsystem included in the PA system or from a source device disposed within the local PA subsystem to an audio line for relay by the relay device to a speaker-the audio signal is the The audio line is connected to the amplifier so as to be provided to the relay device via an amplifier, and
A control signal for controlling the operation of the relay device is output to a contact line that is a line separate from the audio line-the contact line is connected to the relay device, and the relay device turns on the relay according to the control signal. Controlled to enable or disable-and,
Receiving an inaudible signal carrying device information about the amplifier through another audio line, or receiving a data signal carrying the device information through the contact line,
Configured to pass the device information to the management subsystem,
Public address system. The method of claim 1,
The data signal is a signal containing the device information extracted by the relay device from the analog signal transmitted from the amplifier to the relay device, and the analog signal is the audio passing through the amplifier through an invisible signal containing the device information. Plus the signal,
Public address system. The method of claim 1,
When the source device is disposed in the local PA subsystem, the control device receives another inaudible signal carrying other device information about the source device through the audio line along with the audio signal, and the other device information Further configured to deliver to the management subsystem,
Public address system. The method of claim 1,
Also configured to receive another data signal carrying other device information about at least one of the relay device and the speaker through the contact line, and to transmit the other device information to the management subsystem,
Public address system. The method of claim 1,
The management subsystem provides a graphical user interface (GUI) and visually expresses the transmitted device information on the GUI,
Public address system. As a control device for deployment in the local PA subsystem of a public address (PA) system,
Output an audio signal from another local PA subsystem of the PA system or from a source device disposed within the local PA subsystem to an audio line for relay to a speaker by a relay device disposed within the local PA subsystem; The audio line is connectable to the amplifier such that the audio signal is provided to the relay device via an amplifier disposed in the local PA subsystem, and
Outputs a control signal to a contact line that is a line separate from the audio line-the contact line is connectable to the relay device, and the relay device is controllable to enable or disable the relay according to the control signal- And
Receiving an inaudible signal carrying device information about the amplifier through another audio line, or receiving a data signal carrying the device information through the contact line,
Control device. The method of claim 6,
The data signal is a signal containing the device information extracted by the relay device from the analog signal transmitted from the amplifier to the relay device, and the analog signal is the audio passing through the amplifier through an invisible signal containing the device information. Plus the signal,
Control device. The method of claim 6,
When the source device is disposed within the local PA subsystem, the control device is further configured to receive, along with the audio signal, another inaudible signal carrying other device information about the source device via the audio line,
Control device. The method of claim 6,
Also configured to receive, via the contact line, another data signal carrying other device information regarding at least one of the relay device and the speaker,
Control device. The method of claim 6,
Also configured to convey the device information to a management subsystem of the PA system for visual presentation,
Control device.

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