Patent ID: 7711126

Claim:
A networked integrated control node for a networked audio distribution system, where the system includes one or more networked audio distribution nodes and one or more networked integrated control nodes, and where each networked integrated control node further includes a local I/O connection to connect to a variety of local I/O devices that includes local speakers and or local audio devices, comprising: a control processor that further comprises a flash upgradeable memory, a control surface that receives control information, IR/RF transceivers for transmitting and receiving control information, and a display device that displays control information, said control processor uses web services to control the networked audio distribution node and or other integrated control nodes in the audio distribution system; a network connection that couples to said control processor, said network connection transmits and receives digital audio from the networked audio distribution node and or other networked integrated control nodes in the audio distribution system; a speaker output connection that couples to said control processor, said speaker output connection transmits analog audio to the local speaker; a local audio I/O connection that couples to said control processor, said local audio I/O connection transmits and receives digital audio or analog audio to and from the local audio device, said control processor uses said local audio I/O connection to transmit and receive control information to and from the local audio device; and a sound processing unit with an integrated amplifier that couples to said local audio I/O connection, said network connection, and said speaker output connection, said sound processing unit receives, processes, and transmits analog and digital audio between said local audio I/O connection, said network connection, and said speaker output connection.