FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970 (39 OF 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)
1 TITLE OF THE INVENTION :
AN EPABX (ELECTRONIC PRIVATE AUTO BRANCH EXCHANGE) BASED AUDIO CONFERENCE SYSTEM.
2 APPLICANT (S)
Name : STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LIMITED.
Nationality : A Govt. of India Enterprise;Bhilai Steel Plant, Bhilai-490001, State of Chattisgarh,India.
3 PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
COMPLETE
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to audio conferencing System. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an EPABX(Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conferencing system adapted to address/interact with multiple, preferably 128 subscribers/users on telephone for conferencing or plant control. The EPABX based audio conferencing system of the present invention is capable of communicating among a select group desired audio content on matters relating to plant operations and control. The present system is useful for industry or corporate offices where there is a daily need to communicate various production data, important messages, safety related announcement to operating personnel as well as enabling one to one interactions, group discussions among subscribers and music broadcast etc. as per need in an efficient and cost effective manner.
BACKGROUND ART
It is well known in large industry as well as corporate offices, there is a daily need to broadcast various production/operational data, important messages, safety related announcement etc among a large number of operating personnel either interactively among a group or one to one interactions, group discussions among subscribers and even music broadcast for call waiting etc. It is also well known that in large plants, there is need for instructions from chief of plant to the sectional in-charges in the morning and a review of the production situation in the afternoon. In conventional EPABX based in-house communication systems, there is no scope for addressing a large number of operating personnel by a single controlling officer. The audio interaction is limited to only two or three persons even in conference mode. Thus conferencing or group discussions cannot be arranged among a select group of personnel based on need for communication of instructions/interaction. Conventional EPABX based communication systems also do not accommodate broadcast of stored audio content from a PC to any select group.
There has been therefore a need in the art for developing audio conferencing systems wherein audio communication through EPABX based in-house telephone network may be implemented among a large population, particularly in work situations where complex operations need to be closely coordinated and periodic review of performance and

dissemination of information is of extreme importance. Such a system would on one hand be cost effective and efficient and on the other hand would enable participation by a large group in an interactive manner.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The basic object of the present invention is thus directed to providing an EPABX based audio conferencing system adapted to address/connect a large target group/participants in order to communicate important messages and audio contents as and when needed in an interactive manner.
Another object of the present invention is directed to providing an EPABX based audio conferencing system which would favour communication of important messages relating to a plant/office operation to selected group of persons, one to one interactions, group discussions among participants.
A further object of the present invention is directed to providing an EPABX based audio conferencing system wherein said system works on utilizing the external music on hold facility and morning alarm facility of the EPABX.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing an EPABX based audio conferencing system wherein external music port of the EPABX is used for broadcasting an audio conference.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing an EPABX based audio conferencing system wherein morning alarm facility is used to give simultaneously ring to a pre-determined group.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing an EPABX based audio conferencing system wherein connection to a large number of participants is established over telephone by programming in a computer via serial port of the EPABX.
Yet another object of the present invention is directed to providing an EPABX based audio conferencing system wherein software programming is done for music on hold and

interlinked with external music port so that when any subscriber goes on hold by an operator attendant or any other subscriber, the called subscriber listens music which is being fed by a computer music port via the external music port of EPABX.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing an EPABX based audio conferencing system wherein audio conference bridge works in parallel externally with the subscribers of EPABX which makes the system simple, cost effective and reliable.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing an EPABX based audio conferencing system wherein by installing this audio conference system personal meetings may be avoided which in turn saves travel time and money.
A still further object of the present invention is directed to providing an EPABX based audio conferencing system wherein said system may be expanded to any number of subscribers by augmentation of the conference bridge capacity and associated EPABX.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The basic aspect of the present invention is directed to an EPABX (Electronic Private Auto
Branch Exchange) based audio conference system comprising:
an audio conference hybrid module;
externa! conference bridge; and
an EPABX unit,
said audio conference hybrid module adapted to bridge voice signals of various
subscribers and broadcasting the same via said external conference bridge through the
EPABX unit.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to an EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system wherein said Audio Conference hybrid

module involves the external music on hold facility and morning alarm facility of the EPABX.
A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to said EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system wherein said external music port of said EPBAX unit provides for broadcasting the audio conference and morning alarm facility of said EPABX provides for simultaneous ring to a pre-determined group of telephone subscribers involving computer means adapted for such purposes via serial port of the EPABX.
A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to said EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherein external music is sourced in said morning alarm facility of said EPABX and for such purpose interlinking an external music source to the external music port of the EPABX.
A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to said EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system adapted for music on hold and interlinked with external music port such that when any subscriber goes on hold through an operator attendant or any other subscriber, the called subscriber listens music which 'is being fed by a computer music port via the external music port of EPABX.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to said EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system adapted such that the music may be switched off and in lieu of music, conference voice is fed via pre amplifier of the computer to the external music port of said EPABX whereby the conference voice is heard by all subscribers.

A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to said EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system wherein a morning conference module for plant control or any master control room/studio is adapted for broadcast messages/ one to one interactions/ group discussions and interlinked with said audio conference hybrid module.
A still further aspect of the present invention is directed to an EPBAX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system wherein the capacity of audio conference hybrid module is selectively provided by augmentation of the capacity of the EPABX and external conference bridge by N number of subscribers (Where N > 0 and is any number of subscribers).
According to an aspect of said EPBAX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system of the invention wherein the capacity of audio conference hybrid module is for 128 lines subscribers.
The present invention and its objects and advantages are described in greater details with reference to the following accompanying non limiting illustrative drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
Figure 1: is the schematic illustration of the connection diagram for 128 lines EPABX based audio conferencing system according to the present invention comprising audio conference hybrid module and a morning conference module for plant control.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
The present invention relates to multiuser EPABX based audio conferencing system adapted to monitoring day-to-day steel production activities of various Mills and production units for communicating important messages and instructions, implemented at the plant control office of one of the Steel Plant of applicants. The EPABX based audio conferencing system of the present invention is 128 lines Audio conference system which works on an audio conference hybrid module that bridges the voice signals of various subscribers and broadcast them via external conference bridge through an EPABX(Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) of capacity 256 ports).
Reference is now invited to the accompanying Figure 1 that schematically shows an embodiment of the audio conferencing system of the invention illustrating the connection diagram for 128 lines EPABX based audio conferencing system comprising audio conference hybrid module, external audio conference bridge and a morning conference module for plant control, according to the present invention.
The present system works on an audio conference hybrid module that bridges the voice signals of various subscribers/participants in the system and broadcast these signals via external conference bridge through an EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) of capacity 256 ports. The external audio conference bridge and the hybrid module are designed to provide desired conferencing functionalities. Advantageously, the Audio Conference system works on utilizing the external music on hold facility and morning alarm facility of the EPABX. The external music port is used for broadcasting the audio conference and morning alarm facility is used to give simultaneously ring to a pre¬determined group of telephone subscribers. This is accomplished by programming in a computer and forwarded via serial port of the EPABX. The numbers shown in diagram like 301, 302 are telephone numbers and the telephones used in the system are hand free speaker telephones of Panasonic make.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the morning alarm message is deleted by software programming in a PC and in lieu of alarm message an external music is fed and interlinked with an external music source to the external music port of the EPABX.

software programming has also been done for music on hold and interlinked with external music port such that when any subscriber goes on hold by an operator attendant or any :her subscriber, the called subscriber listens music which is being fed by a computer lusic port via the external music port of EPABX.
According to another aspect of the invention, the music is switched off and conference voice is fed via pre amplifier of the computer to the external music port of said EPABX. Thus conference voice is heard by all subscribers/participants in the system.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a morning conference module for plant control or any master control room/studio is also designed for broadcasting messages/one to one interactions/group discussions and this module is interlinked with this audio conference system. According to an embodiment, the capacity of audio conference system is designed for 128 lines subscribers. This capacity can be increased by augmentation of the capacity of the EPABX and external conference bridge by N number of subscribers (Where N > 0 and is any number of subscribers).
It is thus possible by way of the present invention to providing a multiuser EPABX based Audio conferencing system adapted to communicate selective audio content or important messages to a selective target population to facilitate operation, monitoring and control of day to day activity in any industry/plant or office in an interactive and well coordinated manner. The number of participants can be increased as per need by increasing the capacity of the EPABX and external conference bridge. The system is simple to operate and is cost effective and reliable and thus would favour wide scale application in plants or office for communicating instruction and coordinating activities in an efficient manner.

WE CLAIM:
1. An EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system
comprising: an audio conference hybrid module; external conference bridge; and an EPABX unit, said audio conference hybrid module adapted to bridge voice signals of various subscribers and broadcasting the same via said external conference bridge through the EPABX unit.
2. An EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system as claimed in claim I wherein said Audio Conference hybrid module involves the external music on hold facility and morning alarm facility of the EPABX.
3. An EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 or 2 wherein said external music port of said EPBAX unit provides for broadcasting the audio conference and morning alarm facility of said EPABX provides for simultaneous ring to a pre-determined group of telephone subscribers involving computer means adapted for such purposes via serial port of the EPABX.
4. An EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3 wherein external music is sourced in said morning alarm facility of said EPABX and for such purpose interlinking an external music source to the external music port of the EPABX.

5. An EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 4 adapted for music on hold and interlinked with external * music port such that when any subscriber goes on hold through an operator attendant or any other subscriber, the called subscriber listens music which is being fed by a computer music port via the external music port of EPABX.
6. An EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5 adapted such that the music may be switched off and in lieu of music, conference voice is fed via pre amplifier of the computer to the external music port of said EPABX whereby the conference voice is heard by all subscribers.
7. An EPABX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 6 wherein a morning conference module for plant control or any master control room/ studio is adapted for broadcast messages/ one to one interactions/ group discussions and interlinked with said audio conference hybrid module.
8. An EPBAX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 7 wherein the capacity of audio conference hybrid module is selectively provided by augmentation of the capacity of the EPABX and external conference bridge by N number of subscribers (Where N > 0 and is any number of subscribers).
9. An EPBAX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the capacity of audio conference hybrid module is for 128 lines subscribers.

10. An EPBAX (Electronic Private Auto Branch Exchange) based audio conference system substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures.