| abstract |
A peer-to-peer network (100) of devices connected together with data being streamed over a digital network. Network devices include one or more data communication units that are locatable in two or more zones. Data communication units may be room stations (110) and door stations connected to hub modules (104) at an entertainment hub and local units connected to the entertainment hub. The entertainment hub may be connected to the Internet, either directly or, indirectly through one of the connected data communications units. Room stations include a sending unit, a receiving unit, and an intercom unit (provide intercom, paging and station monitoring) and are located in different zones, each controlling local reception of data from the data stream and each may place data into the data stream. Room stations operate independently of each other such that a person at a first room station may select to receive audio data from another unit while a second person at a second room station is receiving data from yet another unit, each individually setting sound volume and tone controls independent of the other. |