Method and system for disaggregating audio/visual components

• US 20040100942A1
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Blank, William Thomas, Atkinson, Robert George, Valavi, Anand, Gray, Donald M. III
• Granted Patent: US 7,295,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method and system for disaggregating and connecting ANV components, and communicating A/V content stream information. An A/V stream from a source device is packaged for transmission over an IP network to one or more output devices. A brick device enables the integration of legacy A/V systems into the network supported A/V system. The brick device operates to provide analog signal and IP protocol conversion, along with the synchronization of received A/V stream data packets. The rendering and play of the A/V stream content on multiple output devices is synchronized to overcome distortions and other network idiosyncrasy and to facilitate a pleasant user experience.

Claims

1. A method for disaggregating audio-visual systems comprising:

providing an audio-visual stream from a source device as one or more data packets for communication over a network;

transmitting said one or more data packets over said network;

receiving said data packets and obtaining therefrom said audio-visual stream; and

rendering said audio-visual stream multiple output devices in a synchronized fashion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said source device and said output devices are located in geographically disperse locales.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said source device and receiving device are located within close proximity and connected on a local area network.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said data packets incorporate a time stamp and one or more rendering or play informational items.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said network is an IP network.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising controlling the rendering of said audio-visual stream to synchronize the output of said audio-visual stream on said output devices.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein control of the rendering of said audio-visual stream is through time manipulation by utilizing said one or more rendering or play informational items to indicate when said output devices should begin rendering or playing said audio visual stream.

8. A system for disaggregating audio-visual systems comprising:

a first and a second brick;

an audio-visual source device; and

one or more audio-visual output devices;

wherein said audio-visual source device generates an audio-video stream, and is coupled to a network via said first brick;

wherein said one or more output devices are connected to said network via said second brick, for receiving and rendering said audio-video stream from said audio-video source device

wherein said first and second brick provide protocol conversion through a network interface component and an analog audio-visual component.

9. A system as recited in claim 8 wherein said second brick provides timing synchronization for said audio-visual stream on said one or more output devices.

10. A system for disaggregating audio-visual systems comprising:

a brick and;

one or more audio-visual output devices;

wherein said one or more output devices are connected to a network via said brick, for receiving and rendering an audio-video stream from an audio-video source device

wherein said brick provides protocol conversion through a network interface component and an analog audio-visual component.

11. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said brick provides timing synchronization for said audio-visual stream on said one or more output devices.

12. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said brick is a separate component from said one or more output devices.

13. A system as recited in claim 10 wherein said brick is integrated into said one or more output devices;

14. A method in a computing environment for synchronizing the rendering of audio-visual stream from a source device on one or more output devices comprising:

Identifying on a distribution network, a time master;

providing to source device and the one or more output devices at least one time component, said time component corresponding to information obtained from said time master; and

utilizing said time component on the one or more output devices, to establish a common time rendering the audio visual stream synchronously.

15. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable to execute a method for synchronizing the rendering of audio-visual stream from a source device on one or more output devices, the method comprising:

Identifying on a distribution network, a time master;

providing to source device and the one or more output devices at least one time component, said time component corresponding to information obtained from said time master; and

utilizing said time component on the one or more output devices, to establish a common time rendering the audio visual stream synchronously.

16. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for disaggregating audio-visual systems, the method comprising:

providing an audio-visual stream from a source device as one or more data packets for communication over a network;

transmitting said one or more data packets over said network;

receiving said data packets and obtaining therefrom said audio-visual stream; and

rendering said audio-visual stream on multiple output devices using a time synchronization method between the output devices.