Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a battery that performs wireless communication with an information terminal. The battery of <CIT> receives information for connecting to an access point, from the information terminal through a charging apparatus.

<CIT> discloses a transmitter of a wireless microphone. When the transmitter is placed, a charge adapter connected to a receiver receives channel data, and sets a communication channel.

A large number of microphones may be used simultaneously in some cases. The configurations disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT> do not assume the use of a plurality of microphones. It is troublesome to configure connection settings for each of a plurality of microphones.

<CIT> relates to an apparatus for identifying associated channel assignment for wireless microphones configured to communicated with an audio mixing console.

<CIT> relates to an automatic identification of a wireless microphone, a body-pack transmitter having an audio input or a body-pack receiver for audio play back by way of an earphone.

<CIT> relates to a multichannel wireless microphone system comprising a voice receiving apparatus and a plurality of wireless microphones in a local communication area wherein the voice receiving apparatus is capable of communicating with each of the wireless microphone located in the local communication area without interfering with any one of them to ensure reliable communications.

In view of the foregoing, an object of an embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a wireless microphone holder capable of easily configuring connection settings of a plurality of wireless microphones.

A wireless microphone holder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a storage device that stores identification information of a host device, a communication interface that communicates with the host device, and a processor configured to receive a pairing instruction to pair a plurality of wireless microphones with the host device, connect to the plurality of wireless microphones, and send the identification information to the plurality of wireless microphones. In a case in which the processor receives the pairing instruction, the processor sends the identification information and instruction information according to the pairing instruction to the plurality of wireless microphones connected to the processor, sends the instruction information to the host device, and mutually connects the plurality of wireless microphones and the host device.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, connection settings of a plurality of wireless microphones are able to be easily configured.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless microphone system <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The wireless microphone system <NUM> includes a host device <NUM>, a plurality of wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM>, and a wireless microphone holder <NUM>. The wireless microphone holder <NUM> holds the plurality of wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM>. In addition, the wireless microphone holder <NUM> functions as a charging stand that charges the plurality of wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM>.

The host device <NUM> and the plurality of wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> are connected to each other, for example, by predetermined wireless communication standards such as DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications). The host device <NUM> and the wireless microphone holder <NUM> are connected to each other by wired communication through a LAN cable or the like. However, the host device <NUM> and the wireless microphone holder <NUM> may be connected wirelessly.

The wireless microphone holder <NUM> is connected to the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> by the communication standards that function as communication and power supply, such as USB. However, the wireless microphone holder <NUM> may be connected to the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> with a dedicated communication terminal and charging terminal. In addition, the wireless microphone <NUM> and the wireless microphone holder <NUM> may be connected to each other by wireless communication standards. Moreover, the wireless microphone <NUM> may receive power supply from the wireless microphone holder <NUM> by contactless charging standards.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing a configuration of the host device <NUM>. <FIG> is a block diagram showing a configuration of the wireless microphone <NUM>. <FIG> is a block diagram showing a configuration of the wireless microphone holder <NUM>. It is to be noted that, since all the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> have the same configuration and function, the configuration of the wireless microphone <NUM> is shown in <FIG> as a representative.

The host device <NUM> includes a CPU <NUM>, a flash memory <NUM>, a RAM <NUM>, a wireless communicator <NUM>, and a LAN interface (I/F) <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> reads a program stored in the flash memory <NUM>, being a storage medium, to the RAM <NUM> and implements a predetermined function. For example, the CPU <NUM> receives an audio signal from the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> through the wireless communicator <NUM>. The wireless communicator <NUM> connects to the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM>, for example, by the wireless communication standards such as the DECT, and receives an audio signal. It is to be noted that the connection standards of the host device <NUM> and the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> is not limited to the DECT. For example, the host device <NUM> and the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> may be connected by other wireless communication standards such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

The CPU <NUM> sends the audio signal received from the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> to a different apparatus through the LAN I/F <NUM>. The LAN I/F <NUM> connects to the different apparatus by the communication standards such as Dante (registered trademark), for example, and sends the audio signal received from the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM>. It is to be noted that the communication standards of the host device <NUM> and the different apparatus is not limited to Dante (registered trademark). For example, the host device <NUM> may connect to the different apparatus by other communication standards such as USB, and may send the audio signal. As a matter of course, the host device <NUM> may connect to the different apparatus by wireless communication standards, and may send the audio signal.

The different apparatus is an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, for example. The information processing apparatus outputs the audio signal received from the host device <NUM> to a speaker. As a result, the information processing apparatus amplifies voice of a talker or the like collected by the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM>, to a venue such as a conference room, for example. Alternatively, the information processing apparatus sends the audio signal received from the host device <NUM> through the Internet, to a remote place. As a result, the information processing apparatus may function as a remote conversation apparatus.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the wireless microphone <NUM> may include a CPU <NUM>, a flash memory <NUM>, a RAM <NUM>, a wireless communicator <NUM>, a USB I/F <NUM>, and a microphone unit <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> reads a program stored in the flash memory <NUM>, being a storage medium, to the RAM <NUM> and implements a predetermined function. For example, the CPU <NUM> receives an audio signal according to the voice collected by the microphone unit <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> sends a received audio signal to the host device <NUM> through the wireless communicator <NUM>. The wireless communicator <NUM> connects to the host device <NUM>, for example, by the wireless communication standards such as the DECT, as described above, and sends the audio signal.

The USB I/F <NUM> connects to the wireless microphone holder <NUM>. The USB I/F <NUM> communicates with the wireless microphone holder <NUM>, and receives power supply from the wireless microphone holder <NUM>.

It is to be noted that a function to communicate with the wireless microphone holder <NUM> and a function to receive power supply from the wireless microphone holder <NUM> may be different configurations.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the wireless microphone holder <NUM> may include a pairing button <NUM>, a CPU <NUM>, a RAM <NUM>, a LAN I/F <NUM>, a USB I/F <NUM>, and a flash memory <NUM>.

The pairing button <NUM> is provided in a housing of the wireless microphone holder <NUM>. When the pairing button <NUM> is pressed, the wireless microphone holder <NUM> takes a pairing instruction to pair the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> with the host device <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> reads a program stored in the flash memory <NUM> being a storage medium to the RAM <NUM> and implements a predetermined function. For example, the CPU <NUM> communicates with the host device <NUM> through the LAN I/F <NUM>. In addition, the CPU <NUM> communicates with the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> through the USB I/F <NUM>. The USB I/F <NUM> also functions as a power supplier to supply electric power to the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM>.

In addition, the flash memory <NUM> stores identification information of the host device <NUM>. The identification information of the host device <NUM> is information required to connect to the host device <NUM> by communication standards such as the DECT. The CPU <NUM>, in a case in which the pairing instruction are taken by the pairing button <NUM>, reads the identification information stored in the flash memory <NUM>, and sends the identification information to a wireless microphone connected to the USB I/F <NUM>. The wireless microphone connects to the host device <NUM> by use of received identification information.

<FIG> is a flow chart showing an operation of the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM>, the wireless microphone holder <NUM>, and the host device <NUM>.

The wireless microphone holder <NUM> takes pairing instruction through the pairing button <NUM> (S11). It is to be noted that the pairing instruction do not need to be taken through the pairing button <NUM>. For example, the wireless microphone holder <NUM> may take the pairing instruction, when detecting mounting of a wireless microphone. In such a case, the wireless microphone holder <NUM>, upon detecting the mounting of a wireless microphone, may take the pairing instruction. Alternatively, the wireless microphone holder <NUM> may take the pairing instruction through GUI (a WEB UI to take the setting of the host device <NUM>, for example) of the information processing apparatus connected through the LAN. The wireless microphone holder <NUM>, when taking the pairing instruction, reads the identification information of the host device <NUM> stored in the flash memory <NUM> (S12). Then, the wireless microphone holder <NUM> sends the identification information and the pairing instruction to the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> and the host device <NUM> (S13). However, the wireless microphone holder <NUM> does not need to send the identification information to the host device <NUM>.

The wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> receive the identification information and the pairing instruction (S21). In addition, the host device <NUM> receives the pairing instruction (S31). The host device <NUM>, when receiving the pairing instruction, shifts to a pairing mode (S32). The pairing mode is a mode to release encryption of wireless communication and receive the identification information to be sent from a different apparatus. The wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM>, when receiving the identification information and the pairing instruction, send the received identification information by broadcast (S22). The host device <NUM> receives the identification information that the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> have sent (S33). The host device <NUM> assigns a channel of Dante (registered trademark) in order in which the identification information is received (S34).

For example, the host device <NUM>, in a case of receiving first identification information from the wireless microphone <NUM>, assigns Channel <NUM> of Dante (registered trademark) to the wireless microphone <NUM>. The host device <NUM>, in a case of receiving second identification information from the wireless microphone <NUM>, assigns Channel <NUM> of Dante (registered trademark) to the wireless microphone <NUM>. The host device <NUM>, in a case of receiving third identification information from the wireless microphone <NUM>, assigns Channel <NUM> of Dante (registered trademark) to the wireless microphone <NUM>. The host device <NUM>, in a case of receiving fourth identification information from the wireless microphone <NUM>, assigns Channel <NUM> of Dante (registered trademark) to the wireless microphone <NUM>.

In such a manner, the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> and the host device <NUM> are connected to each other. Hereinafter, a sound collected by the wireless microphone <NUM> is sent from the host device <NUM> to another apparatus in Channel <NUM> of Dante (registered trademark). A sound collected by the wireless microphone <NUM> is sent from the host device <NUM> to another apparatus in Channel <NUM> of Dante (registered trademark). A sound collected by the wireless microphone <NUM> is sent from the host device <NUM> to another apparatus in Channel <NUM> of Dante (registered trademark). A sound collected by the wireless microphone <NUM> is sent from the host device <NUM> to another apparatus in Channel <NUM> of Dante (registered trademark).

As described above, the host device <NUM> assigns a channel in order of connection. A user does not need to connect a plurality of wireless microphones to use in a particular order, but simply presses the pairing button <NUM> of the wireless microphone holder <NUM> once, and can easily connect the plurality of wireless microphones to use to the host device <NUM>.

In the wireless microphone system according to various embodiments, the identification information and the pairing instruction are sent to a wireless microphone connected to the wireless microphone holder <NUM>. In other words, the identification information and the pairing instruction are not sent to a wireless microphone that is not connected to the wireless microphone holder <NUM>. Therefore, the host device <NUM>, when the pairing button <NUM> of the wireless microphone holder <NUM> is pressed, is paired with only the wireless microphone connected to the wireless microphone holder <NUM>. For example, in a case in which the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> are connected to the wireless microphone holder <NUM> and the wireless microphone <NUM> is not connected to the wireless microphone holder <NUM>, the host device <NUM> is paired with the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM>, and is not paired with the wireless microphone <NUM>.

The wireless microphone system <NUM> is used in venues of various sizes or for events of various scales. The required number of wireless microphones differs according to the size of a venue or the scale of an event. An event operator connects the required number of wireless microphones to the wireless microphone holder <NUM> according to the size of the venue or the scale of the event. Subsequently, when the event operator presses the pairing button <NUM>, only the wireless microphone connected to the wireless microphone holder <NUM> at the time is connected to the host device <NUM>. In such a manner, the event operator can adjust the number of wireless microphones to be easily connected to the host device <NUM> according to the size of the venue or the scale of the event.

It is to be noted that, while the present embodiment shows the example in which the four wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> are connected to the host device <NUM>, the number of microphones to be used is not limited to four. For example, Dante (registered trademark) is able to transmit an audio signal of <NUM> channels in <NUM> base-TX. Therefore, the host device <NUM> is able to be connected to up to <NUM> microphones simultaneously. The wireless microphone system <NUM> is able to connect the larger number of wireless microphones to the host device <NUM> than the number of wireless microphones simultaneously connectable to the wireless microphone holder <NUM>. The event operator first mounts the four wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> to the host device <NUM>, and connects the four wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> to the host device <NUM> by pressing the pairing button <NUM>. Subsequently, the event operator replaces the four wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> with other wireless microphones, and connects the other wireless microphones to the host device <NUM> by pressing the pairing button <NUM> again. In such a case as well, the host device <NUM> assigns a channel of Dante (registered trademark) in order in which the identification information is received. For example, the host device <NUM>, in a case of having already assigned Channel <NUM> to Channel <NUM> of Dante (registered trademark) to each of the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM>, assigns Channel <NUM> of Dante (registered trademark) to other wireless microphones to be connected to the host device <NUM> next.

In addition, the number of wireless microphone holders <NUM> is not limited to one. The wireless microphone system <NUM> may include a plurality of wireless microphone holders <NUM>. The event operator may mount a wireless microphone to each of the plurality of wireless microphone holders <NUM>, and may press each pairing button <NUM> of the plurality of wireless microphone holders <NUM>. In such a case as well, the host device <NUM> assigns a channel of Dante (registered trademark) in order in which the identification information is received.

The host device <NUM>, in a case in which the number of channels to connect reaches the maximum number of connectable channels, may refuse connection to any more wireless microphones. Alternatively, the host device <NUM>, in a case in which the number of channels to connect reaches the maximum number of connectable channels, may release connection to a wireless microphone that has been already connected, and may assign a channel to a new wireless microphone. For example, the host device <NUM> may release connection to the wireless microphone to which Channel <NUM> is assigned, and may assign Channel <NUM> to a wireless microphone to be newly connected.

In addition, the host device <NUM> may include a mode change switch. The host device <NUM>, in a case in which the number of channels to connect reaches the maximum number of connectable channels, may take either a first mode to refuse connection to a new wireless microphone or a second mode to release connection to the already connected wireless microphone and make connection to a new wireless microphone, through the mode change switch. In addition, the host device <NUM> may take mode switch instructions through the GUI of the information processing apparatus connected through LAN.

In addition, the wireless microphone holder <NUM>, according to how the pairing button <NUM> is pressed, may designate whether to add a new wireless microphone or to redo the assignment of Channel <NUM>. For example, in a case in which the pairing button <NUM> continues being pressed for <NUM> second, the wireless microphone holder <NUM> sends pairing instructions to the wireless microphone and the host device <NUM> that are connected at the time. In such a case, the host device <NUM> is connected to a new wireless microphone in addition to the currently connected wireless microphone. On the other hand, in a case in which the pairing button <NUM> continues being pressed for <NUM> seconds, the wireless microphone holder <NUM> sends pairing instructions including initial setting instructions to the host device <NUM>. In such a case, the host device <NUM> releases connection to the currently connected wireless microphone, and newly assigns the wireless microphones connected at the time, in order from Channel <NUM>. As a result, the event operator can easily provide instructions on whether to add a wireless microphone or to redo the setting from the beginning.

Next, <FIG> is a block diagram showing a configuration of a wireless microphone holder 15A according to a modification. The flash memory <NUM> of the wireless microphone holder 15A further stores wireless system information. Other configurations are the same as the configurations of the wireless microphone holder <NUM>, and the description will be omitted.

The wireless system information is information showing a system (such as standards, an encryption system, or a frequency) of wireless communication to be used. The system of wireless communication to be used is different for each country or region to which a product is shipped. The host device <NUM> and the wireless microphone holder <NUM> are previously set to a wireless communication system suitable for each country or region to which a product is shipped, at the time of factory shipment. On the other hand, the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> are not set to the wireless communication system at the time of factory shipment.

<FIG> is a flow chart showing an operation of wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> according to the modification, the wireless microphone holder 15A, and the host device <NUM>. Like reference numerals are used to refer to the operation common to <FIG>, and the description will be omitted.

The wireless microphone holder <NUM>, when taking pairing instructions, reads identification information and wireless system information (S102). Then, the wireless microphone holder <NUM> sends the identification information, the wireless system information, and the pairing instruction, to the currently connected wireless microphone (S103). The wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> receive the identification information, the wireless system information, and the pairing instruction (S201). The wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> set a wireless communication system, based on received wireless system information (S202). As a result, the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> are set to the wireless communication system suitable for each country or region to which a product is shipped, and are able to be connected to the host device <NUM>.

In such a manner, the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> are set to the wireless communication system suitable for each country or region to which a product is shipped, at the beginning of use of the product. Therefore, the wireless microphones <NUM> to <NUM> do not need to be set to the wireless communication system at the time of factory shipment. Accordingly, a manufacturer of the wireless microphone system does not need to previously set each of a large number of wireless microphones to be used, to the wireless communication system suitable for each country or region. Therefore, the manufacturer can manufacture and ship a wireless microphone, without distinguishing a country or a region of a shipping destination.

Claim 1:
A wireless microphone holder (<NUM>, 15A) comprising:
a storage device (<NUM>) that stores identification information of a host device (<NUM>);
a communication interface (<NUM>) configured to communicate with the host device (<NUM>); and
a processor (<NUM>) configured to:
receive a pairing instruction to pair a plurality of wireless microphones (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) with the host device (<NUM>);
connect to the plurality of wireless microphones (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); and
send the identification information to the plurality of wireless microphones (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
wherein, in a case in which the processor (<NUM>) receives the pairing instruction, the processor (<NUM>) is configured to:
send the identification information and instruction information according to the pairing instruction to the plurality of wireless microphones (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) connected to the processor (<NUM>); and
send the instruction information to the host device (<NUM>) via the communication interface (<NUM>).