Voice actuated switching system

A method of connecting speech signals from a plurality of speech circuits to an output line, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of speech signals in the plurality of circuits;
• selecting at least one of the plurality of speech signals for coupling to an output line, said selecting step selecting for coupling to the output line speech signals that exceed a predetermined minimum threshold;
• assigning a variable weighting factor to each one of the received speech signals, each weighting factor being assigned responsive to the selecting step for controlling a level that its assigned speech signal is coupled to the output line;
• commonly connecting the plurality of received speech signals to the output line, and
• gradually adding or removing each one of said plurality of speech signals from the output line in accordance with the assigned weighting factor for each one of said plurality of speech signals.

A voice-actuated switching apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of circuits for receiving a plurality of speech signals;
• means for selecting at least one of the plurality of speech signals for coupling to an output line, said selecting means selecting for coupling to the output line speech signals that exceed a predetermined minimum threshold;
• means responsive to the selecting means for assigning a variable weighting factor to each one of the received speech signals, each weighting factor controlling a level that its assigned speech signal is coupled to the output line;
• and
• means for providing a weighted sum of the plurality of received speech signals to the output line in accordance with the assigned weighting factor for each of the plurality of speech signals.

A voice-actuated switching system comprising:

• a plurality of circuits for receiving a plurality of speech signals;
• means for selecting at least one of the plurality of speech signals for coupling to an output line, said selecting means identifying a stronger one of the speech signals by comparing the energy level in each of the plurality of received speech signals with the energy level in each other of the plurality of received speech signals;
• means for assigning a variable weighting factor to each one of the received speech signals, each weighting factor being assigned responsive to the selecting means for controlling a level that its assigned speech signal is coupled to the output line;
• and
• means for commonly connecting the plurality of received speech signals to the output line, each of said plurality of speech signals being either gradually added to or removed from the output line in accordance with the assigned weighting factor for each one of said plurality of speech signals.