Patent ID: 8538567
Filing Date: 2013-09-17
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
1. An audio bridge device connected to a first network an a second network, in each network, one of audio devices including the audio bridge device operates as a master node and the other audio devices operate as slave nodes, the audio bridge device operates as a master node in at least one of the first and second networks, the master node in a network generates and transmits to the network an audio transmission frame conveying audio signals every sampling period, the audio transmission frame passes through all devices included in the network and returns to the master node, one of the devices in the network writes an audio signal into the audio transmission frame, and another one of the devices reads the audio signal from the audio transmission frame such that the audio signal is transmitted from the one device to the other device, the audio bridge device comprising: a first interface connected to the first network; a second interface connected to the second network; a clock generator that periodically generates a sampling clock; a frame generator, operable when the audio bridge device operates as the master node of a network, that generates the audio transmission frame, to be transmitted to the network, synchronously with the sampling clock; a clock controller that, in a state where the audio bridge device operates as a slave node in the first network connected by the first interface and operates as a master node in the second network connected by the second interface, controls the clock generator to generate the sampling clock synchronously with a receiving timing of the audio transmission frame while the audio transmission frame is periodically received in the first network, otherwise to generate the sampling clock at its own timing; and a operation switcher that, in a state where the audio bridge device operates as a slave node in the first network connected by the first interface and operates as a master node in the second network connected by the second interface, controls the audio bridge device to start an operation as a slave in the second network when another node in the second network resets the second network and starts to operate as a master node in the second network, thereafter when periodic reception of an audio transmission frame generated and transmitted by the other node as the master node in the second network is started, resets the first network and controls the audio bridge device to start an operation as a master node in the first network.