Patent ID: 9615169
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: H04R

Claim:
1. A communication system for communicating with a first loudspeaker and a second loudspeaker where the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker are connected in series to an audio amplifier over a standard two-wire speaker wire operable to carry an analog audio, signal, wherein the analog audio signal is a high-voltage, high-current analog audio signal, the communication system comprising: a master node in electrical communication via the standard two-wire speaker wire carrying the analog audio signal between the audio amplifier and the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker, wherein the master node is alternating current (AC) coupled to the standard two-wire speaker wire, wherein the master node includes a data encoder operable to encode data signals, and a data transceiver operable to place the encoded data signals onto the standard two-wire speaker wire at frequencies above audio frequencies; a first slave node in electrical communication with the master node and the first loudspeaker via the standard two-wire speaker wire, wherein the first slave node is AC coupled to the standard two-wire speaker wire, wherein the first slave node includes a data transceiver operable to receive the encoded data signals from the master node, a data decoder operable to decode the encoded data signals, and an interface able to communicate with electronics in the first loudspeaker, wherein the standard two-wire speaker wire simultaneously transmits both the analog audio signal and the encoded data, signals; and a second slave node in electrical communication with the master node and the second loudspeaker via the standard two-wire speaker wire, wherein the second slave node is AC coupled to the standard two-wire speaker wire in series with the first slave node, wherein the master node is operable to transmit a control signal with an identifier in the encoded data signals, wherein the first slave node and the second slave node are operable to receive the control signal in the encoded data signals from the master node, wherein the identifier uniquely identifies one of the first slave node and the second slave node, wherein the master node uses the identifier to specifically address the one of the first slave node and the second slave node identified by the identifier, and wherein the one of the first slave node and the second slave node identified by the identifier is responsive to the control signal by adjusting a parameter for a corresponding one of the first loudspeaker and the second loudspeaker.