Channel monitoring with plural frequency agile receivers

摘要

A system and method to efficiently use a plurality of ‘receivers’ to monitor a larger plurality of ‘sources’ for audio content. Upon identifying that a source is active, one of the plural receivers is assigned to convey the content to a destination. All other receivers are prevented from monitoring that specific source for the duration of its activity, but continue to monitor the remaining sources. ‘Source’ includes any source of information containing audio content. ‘Receiver’ includes any device capable of selectively conveying such content, including physical switches, hardware or software multiplexers, microphones, radio receivers, or any other means of obtaining such content.

主权项

1. A method of simultaneously receiving plural signals from plural source channels using plural receivers, each having corresponding source channel scan lists, and that are coupled to a control system, the method comprising the steps of:
sequentially sampling a first scan list, including a first source channel, for signals by a first receiver, and upon detecting a current signal on said first source channel, reporting a corresponding first channel identification code to the control system, and receiving said current signal for at least the duration of said current signal; upon receipt of said first channel identification code by the control system, disabling said first channel identification code from the source channel scan list of the remaining plural receivers having said first channel identification code in their respective scan lists, thereby disabling said plural remaining receivers from sequentially sampling said first source channel, and wherein when said current signal ceases, said first receiver returns to said sequentially sampling step, and the control system re-enables said first channel identification codes in the source channel scan lists from which is was disabled, thereby enabling said corresponding plural remaining receivers to sequentially scan said first source channel.