Patent ID: 6084950
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
An audio communications device adapter for connecting a plurality of audio communications devices to digital data paths in a telephony system, wherein each of said plurality of audio communications devices includes a microphone and an earphone, said audio communications device adapter comprising:at least one analog audio signal connector, for connecting to a plurality of microphone analog audio signal paths that receive outgoing analog audio signals from respective ones of said microphones, and for connecting to a plurality of earphone analog audio signal paths that transmit incoming analog audio signals to respective ones of said earphones;at least one digital data connector, for connecting to at least one transmitting digital data path to transmit an outgoing digital data stream containing outgoing digital encoded audio signal data, and for connecting to at least one receiving digital data path to receive an incoming digital data stream containing incoming digital encoded audio signal data;a digital data formatter, coupled to said digital data connector, for extracting said incoming digital encoded audio signal data from said incoming digital data stream received over said receiving digital data path, and for formatting said outgoing digital encoded audio signal data into said outgoing digital data stream; andan audio signal converter, coupled to said analog audio signal connector and to said digital data formatter, for converting said outgoing analog audio signals into said outgoing digital encoded audio signal data to be formatted by said digital data formatter, and for converting said incoming digital encoded audio signal data into said incoming analog audio signals to be transmitted to said earphone analog audio signal paths.