The Digital Congress Network (DCN) is a discussion- and conference control system that provides both the users and owners of assembly venues with a versatile means of fulfilling congress requirements. These may range from small gatherings without an operator or chairman to major international events requiring full conference control, interpretation, language distribution, electronic voting and delegate identification facilities. The modular design of the DCN system enables the required facilities to be specified in any desired configuration, permitting a high degree of system flexibility. The system conforms to all the relevant ISO and IEC standards.

The DCN shall provide digital signal processing and transmission of all audio signals via a simple network system. It shall
provide versatility, high audio quality, data transmission security and simplicity of operation and installation. It shall be
possible to use the DCN stand-alone or via a PC running user-friendly DCN software. The software shall assist in preparation,
controlling and monitoring conferences.
　

The DCN shall be a modular conference management system. It shall be possible to connect elements of a system simply and quickly, using a daisy-chain or loop-through configuration. Systems shall be expanded or reduced in size by adding or removing equipment. The DCN shall be suitable for situations from small, informal gatherings up to international multi-lingual congresses.

The full range of DCN products shall include conference- and discussion contribution units, central control units, simultaneous
interpretation and language distribution equipment, application-specific software modules, information display
systems and installation equipment. This range shall be complemented by external equipment such as video and dot
matrix displays, PCs, monitors, booster amplifiers, cameras and accessories, loudspeakers and printers, all of which shall
be fully compatible and easily integrated into the DCN system.

Signal transmission and processing shall be by means of advanced Philips digital-audio technology. This shall include a 'Bitstream' system used for analogue-to-digital conversion in delegate microphone units. This technology shall be integrated into custom single-chip analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters around which most DCN units shall be based. Specially-designed dedicated protocol converter chips shall be used. This advanced digital technology shall result in high level audio performance with no losses in signal quality or level during transmission. There shall be virtually no background noise, interference, crosstalk or distortion.

A thin, flexible twin-coaxial cable shall carry all the system's digital signals. It shall be generally possible to run this cable
through existing ducting and cable conduits. The cable shall be able to carry up to 16 high-quality contribution channels,
16 high-quality distribution channels, and 10 separate data channels for messages and other information. It shall be possible
to 'tap' this cable at any point to connect extra DCN equipment. Mains power shall be supplied to all units via the
cable.
The Central Control Unit shall have a built-in automatic equalization function for loudspeakers in contribution units.
This function shall be activated by means of a front panel switch.
The DCN conference system with microphone management facilities shall provide four main functions that facilitate the
progress of conferences and promote orderly participation by delegates.
Firstly, the DCN conference system shall provide full facilities for sound management, including speech input by delegates,
chairman and other participants, and the amplification and relaying of speech to all participants, under the control
of the conference chairman and/or the system operator.
Secondly, the DCN conference system shall make it possible for a number of additional electronic functions, such as
delegate identification (with a chip-card reader or unique personal identification number for each delegate) to be added.
This shall ensure that no unauthorized persons can participate in the proceedings. Electronic voting, which allows delegates
to enter votes discreetly on the individual control units shall be possible, together with automatic vote totalling
presentation of the results to a chairman display, delegate display or hall display.
Thirdly, the DCN conference system shall provide facilities for simultaneous interpretation. These shall include facilities
for relaying the floor language to interpreters' booths, and for distributing the interpreted language(s) and the floor
language to delegates requiring them.
Fourthly, the DCN conference system shall provide facilities for camera control. These shall include facilities for automatically
switching camera outputs to hall displays or monitors.
All these functions shall be provided by the Philips DCN conference system. The system shall be simple and logical to
operate by all personnel concerned as well as by delegates, interpreters, chairmen and operators, and shall comply with
accepted professional standards and practices for all the functions provided.