Patent ID: 8615091

Claim:
A system for accomplishing bi-directional digital audio data and control communications, comprising: a host end comprising host components that comprise a host transceiver, a host digital signal processor that outputs a master clock signal and audio data, and a source of low-voltage power for the host components; a plurality of remote nodes connected together serially, each remote node comprising remote components that comprise a remote transceiver, and a remote low-voltage power supply that provides power to the other remote node components; wherein the remote components further comprise a sub-system that derives the master clock signal from received digital audio data, wherein the sub-system comprises a phase-locked loop (PLL) that is locked to a PLL input signal and outputs a remote node clock signal, wherein the sub-system further comprises a switch that selects the PLL input signal and wherein the switch selects from the derived clock signal and the remote node clock signal; a two-wire communication network that connects the host end to one of the remote nodes, and connects each remote node to either one or two other remote nodes in a daisy-chain configuration; wherein the host end is enabled to transmit and receive over the communication network digital audio data and digital control signals; wherein the remote nodes are each enabled to receive over the communication network digital audio data and digital control signals, and are each enabled to transmit over the communication network digital control signals; and wherein the source of low-voltage power at the host end is coupled to the communication network, and the remote power supplies each have an input coupled to the communication network to derive the power for the remote nodes from the power coupled to the network by the host end.