US 2003/0207694 A1Published application

Apparatus and method for a multi-channel, multi-user wireless intercom

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

InventorsDavid J. Legare, F. Robert Falbo, Paul E. Sargent, Timothy A. Baker

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Abstract

Method and apparatus for providing a multi-channel, multi-user wireless intercom, comprising a plurality of multi-channel wireless transceiver radios configured to form a radio unit. Each user in a group of users employs a radio unit to communicate with other users in the group. Users may selectively communicate with another user or broadcast simultaneously to all users in the group. Additionally, subnets between users may be formed where communications take place among a number of selected users comprising less than the entire group of users. Receive and transmit audio combiners are employed such that users can hear communications traffic on one or more channels and transmit on one or more channels, simultaneously.

Claims11

Dependent claims

Apparatus for providing a multi-channel, multi-user wireless intercom, comprising:

at least one wireless transmitting device for each said user;
at least one wireless receiving device for each said user;
means, cooperating with said at least one wireless transmitting device, for providing at least one frequency-tunable transmit channel for each said user;
means, cooperating with said at least one wireless receiving device, for providing at least two frequency-tunable receive channels for each said user;
a microphone for each said user;
a headphone for each said user;
means for connecting said means for at least two frequency-tunable receive channels to said headphone;
means for connecting said means for at least one frequency-tunable transmit channel to said microphone;
wherein any said user may simultaneously transmit on any of said at least one transmit channel;
and
wherein any said user may simultaneously receive on any of said at least two receive channels.

8 more elements

Method for providing a multi-channel, multi-user wireless intercom, comprising the steps of:

providing a wireless transmit and receive medium for each user;
providing at least one transmit channel and at least two receive channels over said wireless transmit and receive medium, respectively, for each said user,
said at least one transmit and said at least two receive channels being independently frequency-tunable;
wherein any said user may simultaneously transmit on any of said at least one transmit channel, and
wherein any said user may simultaneously receive on any of said at least two receive channels;
combining the outputs of said at least two receive channels so that they may be heard through a common headphone by said user;
combining the inputs to each of said at least one transmit channel so that said user's voice may be input into each of said at least one transmit channel from a common microphone;
and
configuring one of said at least two receive channels so as to indicate to said user that the transmit channel over which said user desires to communicate is already in use by another user,
said step of configuring further comprising the step of automatically tuning said one of said at least two receive channels to the same frequency as said transmit channel over which said user desires to communicate.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.