Patent Publication Number: US-11653076-B2

Title: Internet protocol (IP)-speaker with IP-camera

Description:
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/033,871, filed Jun. 3, 2020; the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     Illustrative embodiments relate generally to an internet protocol (IP)-based ceiling or wall-mounted speaker with optional IP-based camera and/or alarm indicator. Illustrative embodiments also relate generally to an internet protocol (IP)-based speaker having a detachable add-on device for accommodating different types of camera configurations and other components. 
     Description of Related Art 
     Commercial speakers are used in commercial settings, industrial settings, or other relatively large places with need for output of announcements, pages, alarms, and the like, to people in these settings. Speakers are generally distributed throughout a facility or other areas, and particularly when the facility has several different levels or floors, to ensure people are within the output range of a speaker(s). Speaker installations therefore can be costly due to the cost per speaker and the number of speakers needed to provide adequate announcement/alarm coverage. 
     SUMMARY 
     An IP-based ceiling or wall-mounted speaker is provided in accordance with different illustrative embodiments. 
     It is an aspect of illustrative embodiments to provide a speaker comprising: a loudspeaker connected to a speaker amplifier; a codec configured to provide audio to the speaker amplifier; an Ethernet interface to an Ethernet link; a camera; and a processing device connected to the Ethernet interface and the codec and the camera, and configured to associate the speaker with an Internet Protocol (IP) address. The processing device is further configured to receive packets with the IP address from an IP device connected to the speaker via the Ethernet link and to transmit packets to the IP device via the Ethernet link, and output digitized audio in received packets via the loudspeaker, and to provide images from the camera to the IP device via transmitted packets. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the IP device is chosen from a session initiation protocol (SIP) server, an IP endpoint device, and a video surveillance device, and an IP endpoint device is chosen from a Voice over IP (VoIP) phone and a Public Address and General Alarm System (PA/GA) controller. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the speaker further comprises: a main housing having walls that enclose the loudspeaker, the codec, the Ethernet interface and the processing device except for a front side thereof; and a detachable cover that covers the front side of the main housing when detachably affixed thereto. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the main housing has a recess therein to receive an add-on device, and the cover has an opening through which the add-on device is inserted, the add-on device being detachably affixed to at least one of the main housing and the cover. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the camera is provided in the add-on device and is electrically connected to the processing device when the add-on device is affixed to at least one of the main housing and the cover. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the camera comprises a lens that is flush mounted with respect to the cover and provides a field of view parallel with respect to a longitudinal axis of the speaker. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the add-on device comprises a housing structure that extends away from the cover when the add-on device is affixed to the speaker, and a lens of the camera is provided in the housing structure and directed to provide an angled field of view with respect to a longitudinal axis of the speaker. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the cover has a grill comprising a pattern of apertures, and the add-on device comprises a second cover configured to cover the opening. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the second cover has a second grill comprising the pattern of apertures. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the speaker comprises at least one transformer and a power supply configured to supply power the speaker from the Ethernet link using at least one of using Power over the Ethernet (PoE) and PoE+. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the speaker further comprises at least one indicator that is visible to a user when the speaker is mounted to a surface, and is chosen from a light emitting diode (LED) and a bicolor LED. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the processing device is configured to control the at least one indicator to indicate a connection status chosen from when the speaker is connected to the Ethernet link, and when speaker is not connected to the Ethernet link. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the loudspeaker comprises a speaker cone configured to receive audio when not outputting audio, and the speaker is configured to operate in talkback mode wherein audio can be inputted via the speaker cone and the processing device is configured to control digitization and transmission of the inputted audio to the IP device. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the speaker comprises a talkback switch input to the processing device, the processing device being configured to initiate the talkback mode in response to receiving the talkback switch input upon activation of a talkback switch. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the speaker further comprises a relay configured to operate a device connected to the relay in response to a relay control output generated by the processing device. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the speaker further comprises a memory device configured to store audio files, the processing device configured to output at least one of the stored audio files via the loudspeaker in response to instructions received from the IP device identifying the at least one of the stored audio files for playback. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the camera is night vision-type camera, and further comprising an infrared light emitting diode (LED) to provide illumination for the night vision-type camera. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the camera comprises an infrared (IR) camera and an automatically switchable IR filter to block IR and pass visible light when camera image quality is determined to meet criteria for day-time image capture operation, and to not block IR when camera image quality is determined to meet criteria for night-time image capture operation. 
     It is an aspect of illustrative embodiments to provide a speaker comprising: a loudspeaker connected to a speaker amplifier; a codec configured to provide audio to the speaker amplifier; an Ethernet interface to an Ethernet link; at least one indicator visible to a user when the speaker is mounted to a surface; and a processing device connected to the Ethernet interface and the codec and the indicator, and configured to associate the speaker with an Internet Protocol (IP) address. The processing device is further configured to receive packets with the IP address from an IP device connected to the speaker via the Ethernet link, and output digitized audio in the received packets via the loudspeaker, and operate the at least one indicator to indicate a selected condition in accordance with indicator instructions in the received packets. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the IP device is chosen from a session initiation protocol (SIP) server, an IP endpoint device, and a video surveillance device, and an IP endpoint device is chosen from a Voice over IP (VoIP) phone and a Public Address and General Alarm System (PA/GA) controller. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the speaker comprises at least one transformer and a power supply configured to supply power the speaker from the Ethernet link using at least one of using Power over the Ethernet (PoE) and PoE+. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the at least one indicator is chosen from a light emitting diode (LED) and a bicolor LED. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the processing device is configured to control the at least one indicator to indicate a connection status chosen from when the speaker is connected to the Ethernet link, and when speaker is not connected to the Ethernet link. 
     In accordance with aspects of illustrative embodiments, the loudspeaker comprises a speaker cone configured to receive audio when not outputting audio, and the speaker is configured to operate in talkback mode wherein audio can be inputted via the speaker cone and the processing device is configured to control digitization and transmission of the inputted audio to the IP device. 
     Additional and/or other aspects and advantages of illustrative embodiments will be set forth in the description that follows, or will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the illustrative embodiments. The illustrative embodiments may comprise apparatuses and methods for operating same having one or more of the above aspects, and/or one or more of the features and combinations thereof. The illustrative embodiments may comprise one or more of the features and/or combinations of the above aspects as recited, for example, in the attached claims 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and/or other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the illustrative embodiments will be more readily appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  are perspective views of an example IP-based speaker in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are front and side views, respectively, of the IP-based speaker in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B ; 
         FIGS.  3 A,  3 B,  4  and  5    are perspective views of example IP-based speakers in accordance with another illustrative embodiment; 
         FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  are block diagrams of components of an IP-based speaker in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram of IP-based speakers connected to an IP device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram of IP-based speakers connected to an IP device and providing rebroadcasts in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG.  9    is a diagram of IP-based speakers connected to an IP device and to a remote call button device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment; and 
         FIG.  10    is an exploded view of an example IP-based speaker with infrared (IR) camera and switchable IR filter in accordance with an illustrative embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawing figures, like reference numbers will be understood to refer to like elements, features and structures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to illustrative embodiments, which are depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described herein exemplify, but do not limit, the illustrative embodiments by referring to the drawings. 
       FIGS.  1 A and  1 B  illustrate perspective views of an example IP-based speaker  100  configured in accordance with an illustrative embodiment, and  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are front and side views, respectively, of the speaker  100  in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B . The speaker  100  comprises a housing  102  which can be made of molded plastic or other material that encloses speaker assembly components such as those illustrated in  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B  as described below in accordance with illustrative embodiments. The speaker housing  102  can be constructed similarly to the housing of a B-650(T) speaker, for example, which is commercially available from DNH A/S, Kragero, Norway. The speaker housing  102  is configured for mounting into a recess in ceiling or wall surface, for example. The housing  10  has a main section  104  enclosing most of the speaker components and a removable cover  108 . The main section  104  can be installed through an opening in the ceiling or wall surface and secured in place against the surface via one or more screws received in mounting brackets or fasteners  106 . The cover  108  is removably secured to the main housing  104  via clips  110  to optionally expose the interior of the main housing when removed therefrom, and to otherwise present a grill  112  when attached to the main housing  104 . It is to be understood, however, that the speaker  100  can have a housing form factor wherein the speaker is flush mounted to a ceiling or wall surface. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1 B,  2 A and  3 B , at least a portion of the front surface of the speaker  100  comprises a grill  112  with plural openings that facilitate output of sound from a loudspeaker  214  ( FIG.  6 B ) provided within the housing  102 . The openings also allow a user to see light output from an alarm LED  248  provided on a speaker control board  120  ( FIG.  6 A ) mounted within the housing  102 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  3 A,  3 B,  4  and  5   , and in accordance with other example embodiments, the speaker  100  can be alternatively configured to have an opening  114  that receives an optional add-on device  116  such as a camera, LED device or other device, or simply a cover for the opening  114 . For example, the main section  104  of the housing  102  can have a recess therein that is sufficient to receive a least a portion of an add-on device  116 . The removable cover  108  can have the opening  114 , which is dimensioned to receive the add-on device  116 . For example, the opening  114  can be 2″ inches in diameter and or other diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the cover  108 . 
     The add-on device  116  has a pluggable electrical interface between the add-on device  116  and the control board  120  in the speaker main housing section  104 . For example, the add-on device  116  can have a flexible cable or ribbon cable electrically connected thereto at one end thereof that has an electrical plug or connector provided at the other end thereof for electrical connection to the control board  120 . The flexible cable or ribbon cable is configured to be disposed within the recess of the main section  104  of the housing  102  following assembly with the add-on device  116 , and to have sufficient length to allow the add-on device  116  to be rotated relative to the control board  120  without disconnecting the electrical plug or connector from the control board  120 . The electrical plug or connector of the add-on device  116  is electrically connected to a cooperating connector associated with the control board  120  to provide electrical power from the control board  120  to the add-on device  116 &#39;s components, and to allow exchange of inputs, outputs and/or control signals between the speaker control board  120  and the add-on device  116 . For example, the add-on device  116  can have a pressure fit connector that electrically connects to a plug on the board  120  when the add-on device  116  is installed in the speaker, and that is released from the plug upon application of a sufficient force that separates the add-on device  116  from the speaker  100 . The opening  114  and the add-on device  116  can be provided with cooperating mounting features that allow detachment of the add-on device  116  from the opening  114 . For example, the opening  114  can be provided with a helical groove along an inner circumferential surface thereof that cooperates with a screw thread provided along an exterior surface of the add-on device  116 . Alternatively, pressure mounted clips can be used to detachably mount an add-on device  116  within the opening  114  of the speaker  100 . In an alternative embodiment, the add-on device  116  is integral or otherwise connected to control board  120  and related components in a single sub-assembly that rotates relative to the main section  104  of the housing  102 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , the add-on device  114  is a cover  122  having a grill pattern similar to the grill  12 . As shown in  FIG.  3 B , an LED is visible through the add-on device  116 . For example, the LED can be part of the speaker control board  120 , in which case the LED can be visible through the grill  112  in the embodiment of the speaker  100  shown in  FIGS.  1 B and  2 A , or through the add-on device  116  shown in  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B . It is to be understood that placement of the LED within the housing  102  is not limited to viewing from the center of the housing  102  front or opening  114  and can instead be visible from a peripheral location within the speaker housing  102 . Also, the LED can be part of the speaker control board  120  or the add-on device  116  in accordance with example embodiments. In accordance with another example embodiment, the speaker  100  can be provided with an LED and the add-on device  116  can have another LED. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the add-on device  116  comprises a flush mount camera  124  having a lens providing a field of view that is parallel with the longitudinal axis of the housing  102 . In  FIG.  5   , the add-on device  116  has a housing structure  128  (e.g., a dome-like structure) that extends away from the cover  108  enclosing a camera  126  with a lens that provides an angled field of view with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing  102 . The housing structure  128  can be configured to rotate relative to the add-on device  116  housing or otherwise relative to the speaker  100  to allow set up of a camera to a desired field of view. The housing structure  128  can be translucent to allow a user in the vicinity of the speaker to see output from one or more LEDs or other visual indicator(s) provided in the add-on device  116  such as a fire alarm that flashes. 
     In accordance with another example embodiment and with reference to  FIG.  10   , the add-on device  116  comprises an infrared (IR) camera  126  to provide day-time and night-time images (e.g., for security applications) for a selected area in the field of view of the camera. The IR camera can have a switchable electromagnetic filter to automatically switch an IR filter from being in front of the camera to pass only visible light, to being away from the camera when the camera senses image quality degradation from insufficient visible light to output IR images instead. The dome  128  can be swiveled for desired angle and field of view. For example, the automatically switchable IR filter  138  can be operated by the camera  126  to block IR and pass visible light when camera image quality is determined to meet criteria for day-time image capture operation, and to not block IR when camera image quality is determined to meet criteria for night-time image capture operation. The IR camera  126  with switchable IR filter  136  can be accommodated in a dome  128 . The dome  128  is dimensioned in terms of length and diameter and look-down face angle to accommodate an IR camera, which can have a comparatively larger form factor than regular visible spectrum only camera because of the IR filter  138 . The add-on device  116  with IR camera  126  can be provided with a cap  140 . The cap  140  is beneficial to reduce any acoustical anomalies occurring in the cavity of the camera dome  128  on the frequency response of the speaker  214  output. The IR camera add-on  116  can have a ribbon connection or other electrical interface (not shown) with the speaker control board  120  to send images via Ethernet to IP endpoint device  130  and to optionally receive power. The IR camera  126  is indicated as installed as a pluggable add-on device  116 ; however, it can also be mounted integrally to the speaker  100 . 
     As described below in connection with  FIGS.  6 ,  7 ,  8  and  9   , the speaker  100  provides an Ethernet connection to an amplifier and loudspeaker, and is IP addressable to operate with other IP device(s)  130  connected via Ethernet (e.g., optic cable or CAT5 cable) to provide one-way and/or two-way IP communications. For example, the IP devices  130  can be IP end units (e.g., a HUBBCOM™ IP device, or Elemec3 Networked Public Address and General Alarm System (PA/GA) controller commercially available from GAI-Tronics, Reading, Pennsylvania) and a SIP server for two-way IP communications, and an optional video switch for one-way IP communications. As described below, the Ethernet connection provides bi-directional audio between the speakers  100  and the IP devices  130  and optional unidirectional video from a speaker(s)  100  with a camera to a video switch  130 . Regardless of the type of IP device  130  used, an IP device  130  and one or more speakers  100  are configured in accordance with example embodiments to allow the IP device  130  to send digitized audio to the speakers  100  for pages and public address (PA) announcements. The speakers  100  are powered via PoE/PoE+, and can be configured as addressable individually, as a zoned unit, and/or as an all-page unit with respect to an IP device  130 . 
       FIG.  7    depicts an example multi-Function IP endpoint device  130  available from GAI-Tronics and SIP server  130  that can be programmed to send pages, alarms, other announcements to speakers  100  that are connected via multicast technology, as well as to receive audio via a talkback function of the speaker(s)  100 . In addition, when used in connection with a video surveillance system, speakers  100  can provide video to an optional video switch  130 , Speakers  100  are provided with IP addresses and IP device(s)  130  can address pages/announcements to zones of speakers. For example, speakers  100  can be configured to be addressed in different zones whereby different speaker  100  identifiers are associated with one or more zone identifiers assigned to respective zones in an area or building where the speakers  100  are deployed. In addition, each speaker  100  can be configured to rebroadcast audio output to other IP devices using the multicast technology as depicted in  FIG.  8   . 
     With reference to  FIG.  9   , a speaker  100  can be configured to operate with a talkback switch or similar device  134  in the vicinity of the speaker  100  which allows an IP device  130  to sense speaker engagements. The loudspeaker  214  ( FIG.  6 B ) in the speaker  100  can operate as a microphone and user input audio to the speaker  100  is digitized and provided to the IP device  130  via IP communications. The input audio to the loudspeaker can also be ambient environment sound relative to the speaker  100  and therefore allowed ambient level sensing or monitoring by the IP device  130  (e.g., to control speaker output level based on detected ambient noise). 
     Since the speaker  100  has a high bandwidth data pipe similar to other IP devices such as HUBBCOM′ IP devices, the speaker  100  can be provided with an add-on device  116  that comprises a camera for surveillance, in addition to the services provided by the speaker  100  such as public address and general alarms (PA/GA) and emergency announcements. With continued reference to  FIGS.  7 ,  8  and  9   , a speaker can be provided with an optional add-on device  116  with a camera to allow camera output to be sent to the IP device so that an IP device  130  user can see and/or verbally communicate with a person in the vicinity of the speaker  100  in real-time. 
     With continued reference to  FIG.  9   , the speaker  100  can be connected to a remote device  134  such as a call button or panel to provide building entry and gate or door control. For example, the remote device  134  can be a button such as a SPST switch contact. When the device  134  is activated, the speaker can initiate its talkback function and operate the loudspeaker as a microphone and digitize and send inputted audio to the IP device(s)  130 . Alternatively, an IP device  130  can send a control signal to the speaker  100  to operate the loudspeaker as a microphone (e.g., in response to a page). 
     As stated above, different types of IP devices  130  can be used. For example, the afore-mentioned HUBBCOM™ IP devices are configured to provide one or more of web application control, VoIP SIP telephone operation, overhead speaker broadcasts, and point-to-point serverless IP communication (audio and/or video). HUBBCOM™ IP devices can also provide an audio output for powering an external speaker  100  for overhead paging and broadcasting, access control for door or gate, emergency audible and visual alerts (e.g., public address and general announcements (PA/GA)). 
     The speakers  100  and the IP device(s)  130  have IP connectivity for convenient integration into an existing network through standard Ethernet cables  132 . For example, an IP device  130  can be connected to one or several speakers  100  via an Ethernet link  132  (e.g., cables) and then registered, for example, with a SIP server or IP-PBX. Alternatively, the speakers  100  can include control logic that allows serverless provisioning as described in commonly owned U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/051,129, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. IP connectivity of the speaker(s)  100  with an IP device  130  is advantageous because multicast technology can be employed to enable multiple speakers  100  to listen on a given broadcast address to receive data over an Ethernet network from a single source such as an IP device  130 . 
     Components on the control board  120  of the speaker  100  will now be described with reference to  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B . The control board  120  has an Ethernet connector  200  for connection to an Ethernet link (e.g., Ethernet cable)  132  between the speaker and an IP device  130  and an Ethernet interface  206 . A processing device  202  and associated memory device(s)  204  are provided on the control board  120 . The control board also has an audio codec  208  that provides audio output to a loudspeaker  214  (e.g., 8-Ohm) via a current-controlled limiter circuit  210  and speaker amplifier (e.g., 15-Watt)  212 . A talkback amplifier  216  is provided to allow input audio via the loudspeaker cone. The processing device  202  is provided with control logic and configuration data for IP addressing and registration of the speaker  100  for communication with other IP devices, for control of the IP-based indicator(s) (e.g., LEDs) and optional camera(s)  218 , and processing of input and output of audio with respect to other IP devices  130  and remote devices  134 . 
     As stated above, the speaker  100  employs PoE/PoE+ power only; that is, no auxiliary power source is needed. PoE can be up to 6 watts, and variable via a configuration setting. PoE+ can be up to 15 watts, and variable via a configuration setting. The speaker  100  utilizes a speaker amplifier  212  rated for at least 15 watts into 8 ohms, and a current-controlled limiter circuit  210  to limit power to the speaker amplifier  212  as needed to support stable operation in PoE and PoE+ modes. The control board has PoE transformers  222 , a PoE power supply  224  and current sense resistor  226  to provide +3.3V and 5 VA via regulators  228  and  230 . The processor has a power management section  232  that receives 3.3V from the regulator  228 . The current-controlled limiter circuit  210  receives inputs CS+ and CS− from the current-sense resistor  210  and a POE/POE+ input from the PoE power supply  224 . 
     The control board  120  has a camera indicated at the camera board interface  218 . As described herein, a speaker can have an add-on device  116  with a camera  218  mounted in the center of the grill. The camera  218  can be rotatable relative to the add-on device  126  and/or housing  112  to orient camera coverage. For example, the add-on device  126  ( FIG.  5   ) can be used instead of add-on device  124  ( FIG.  4   ) when a user wishes to angle the camera lens toward the radius (e.g., outward) instead of straight down. The add-on device  116  can also be provided with a night vision-type camera. The current sense resistor  226  at the output of the PoE power supply  224  can provide +24V to a regulator  234  to provide +12 VDC to an optional IR illuminator in the event the speaker  100  is provided with a night vision-appropriate camera. For example, an optional infrared (IR) LED and driver circuit can be provided to the speaker  100  via an add-on device  116  with the night vision-appropriate camera. 
     As stated above, the add-on device  122  can also be a cover or blank insert. As such, the speaker  100  is configured to accommodate a removable/replaceable camera and different camera types such as cameras with different camera lens types (e.g., wide-angle, fisheye, etc.). Speaker  100  is therefore versatile which is advantageous in installations wherein different types of add-on devices  116  are needed to provide different capabilities depending on speaker location and desired functions. 
     As stated above, the control board  120  has a talkback amplifier  216  to allow a half duplex talkback capability using the speaker cone of the loudspeaker  214 . When the speaker  100  is not outputting audio, input audio is enabled for talkback function for a configurable time after no audio output activity. During a talkback mode, the loudspeaker  214  connections are fed back to a microphone input of the processing device  120 &#39;s audio codec  208  such that the loudspeaker  214  is being used as a microphone during talkback mode. In addition, the processing device  120  allows the speaker  100  to be configured for remotely activated talkback using a remote device  134  (e.g., an external dry contact input  134  in  FIG.  6 A ) connected to the speaker as illustrated in  FIG.  9   . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B , the control board  120  in the main housing  104  of the speaker  100  has an LED driver (200 mA)  240  to drive an external LED indicator for such things as indicating status of the speaker  100  (e.g., active, powered) or to illuminate the area in its vicinity for egress of people. The processing device  202  can be provided with logic for local control (e.g., versus IP device  130  control) for activity indication, or remote control for alarms, etc. The LED driver  240  can act as a current source with a maximum current rating of 200 mA. The output current can be reduced from the 200 mA value using a PWM signal from the processing device  202 . A heartbeat LED  244  and Ethernet LED(s)  246  can be driven by the processing device  202  to indicate that the speaker  100  has power and Ethernet connectivity. A bicolor LED driver  242  is provided to drive a common-cathode bicolor LED such as a red/green LED (e.g., whereby a third color (e.g., amber) can be produced if both LEDs are driven simultaneously) to provide an IP-based alarm LED  248  operated in accordance with control signals from an IP device  130 , for example, to flash or illuminate a selected color to indicate a designated event to personnel within the vicinity of the speaker  100 . As stated above, the speaker  100  can be provided with an add-on device  116  with night-vision appropriate camera, and therefore a possible need to drive an IR LED to allow night-vision with the appropriate camera. The regulator  234  can provide a +12 VDC voltage source to power an external IR illuminator. The +12 VDC voltage source can be switched on and off by the processing device  202  such as switched on at night and switched off during daytime. 
     The control board  120  has contact input to allow for talkback initiation from an external button (e.g., a call button switch or other device  134 ) operated by a user to activate the talkback function. For example, the processing device  202  can be provided with an external dry contact input  134 . A relay  220  (e.g., small relay less than or equal to 2 A DC) and contact output  250  allow activation of an external DC-powered device (e.g., to activate an E3 alarm). The processing device  202  can be provided with logic for local control (e.g., versus IP device  130  control) for activity indication (e.g., operate the alarm LED  248 ), or remote control for alarms, etc. The control board  120  can also have a processor module-controlled Form A (SPST) relay contact with a 30 VDC/2 A contact rating. 
     Ambient level sensing (ALS) and supervision via ambient noise as described above can be reported to E3 and/or SNMP systems. For example, output of the speaker is adjusted higher or lower to maintain a set level of output above sensed ambient level. A factory reset pushbutton  238  and MicroSD card connector  254  are also provided (e.g., for initial programming of the speaker  100 ). 
     The IP-based speaker  100  described herein in accordance with various example embodiments realizes a number of advantages. The IP-based speaker  100  takes advantage of the high bandwidth data pipe afforded the speaker  100  by virtue of its Ethernet connection to an IP device  130 . The IP device  130  generally has a more powerful and higher quality and high cost amplifier for audio data sent to one or more IP-based speakers connected to it, allowing for a more cost effective amplifier to be used in each of the IP-based speakers and effectively lowering the unit cost of each IP-based speaker without degrading their sound quality. In addition, the high bandwidth data pipe allows for more data features and services to be provided by the IP-based speakers such as the use of different types of cameras and/or talkback features and/or remote relay control of doors or gates for security applications as well as public address applications. 
     It will be understood by one skilled in the art that this disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the above description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments herein are capable of other embodiments, and capable of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it will be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. Further, terms such as up, down, bottom, and top are relative, and are employed to aid illustration, but are not limiting. 
     The components of the illustrative devices, systems and methods employed in accordance with the illustrated embodiments can be implemented, at least in part, in digital electronic circuitry, analog electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. These components can be implemented, for example, as a computer program product such as a computer program, program code or computer instructions tangibly embodied in an information carrier, or in a machine-readable storage device, for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus such as a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. 
     A computer program can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network. Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments for accomplishing the illustrative embodiments can be easily construed as within the scope of claims exemplified by the illustrative embodiments by programmers skilled in the art to which the illustrative embodiments pertain. Method steps associated with the illustrative embodiments can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program, code or instructions to perform functions (e.g., by operating on input data and/or generating an output). Method steps can also be performed by, and apparatus of the illustrative embodiments can be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), for example. 
     The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an ASIC, a FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. 
     Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example, semiconductor memory devices, e.g., electrically programmable read-only memory or ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory devices, and data storage disks (e.g., magnetic disks, internal hard disks, or removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks). The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in special purpose logic circuitry. 
     Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof. 
     Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of claims exemplified by the illustrative embodiments. A software module may reside in random access memory (RAM), flash memory, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. In other words, the processor and the storage medium may reside in an integrated circuit or be implemented as discrete components. 
     Computer-readable non-transitory media includes all types of computer readable media, including magnetic storage media, optical storage media, flash media and solid state storage media. It should be understood that software can be installed in and sold with a central processing unit (CPU) device. Alternatively, the software can be obtained and loaded into the CPU device, including obtaining the software through physical medium or distribution system, including, for example, from a server owned by the software creator or from a server not owned but used by the software creator. The software can be stored on a server for distribution over the Internet, for example. 
     The above-presented description and figures are intended by way of example only and are not intended to limit the illustrative embodiments in any way except as set forth in the following claims. It is particularly noted that persons skilled in the art can readily combine the various technical aspects of the various elements of the various illustrative embodiments that have been described above in numerous other ways, all of which are considered to be within the scope of the claims.