Multi-channel media applications support with channel-to-connector mapping

• US 20040117044A1
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Konetski, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,440,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 3/008 in which the audio signals are in digital form, i.e. employing more than two discrete digital channels data reduction aspects thereof based on psychoacoustics G10L19/02

Abstract

An information handling system includes a signal processor such as an audio accelerator based sub-system with the capabilities to define output connectors such that the same set of connectors which provide, for example, home theatre AC3 (Dolby Digital) decoded signals (front, rear, cent/LFE) can provide, for example, 3 discrete stereo channels meant to be routed to different zones in, for example, a living or business space. The information handling system can provide a home theatre experience with one application, taking advantage of audio accelerator capabilities for AC3 signal decode, and provide multi-zone audio distribution, taking advantage of audio accelerator capabilities for decoding multiple streams of compressed digital audio. Home computing architectures that utilize a consumer personal computer (PC) are, thus, now suitable as the audio storage and manipulation center. In one embodiment, the PC provides DSP/decode pre-amplification functions and routes audio output to a generic 6-channel amplifier. In one embodiment, the system also includes a simple to use user interface (UI) to (i) select and initiate processing of multiple streams of audio for playback and (ii) map routing of the audio signals to stereo signal compatible jacks. Each pair of stereo output signals can be associated with a zone. Each zone can be represented in the UI such that the user can direct the desired audio stream to the desired zone. In another embodiment such as a broadcast situation, one stream can be sent to multiple zones, accomplishing distributed coverage with one audio stream.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting multiple multi-channel media applications, the apparatus comprising:

output channel connectors; and

a signal processing system, coupled to the output signal connectors, the signal processing system comprising;

one or more media channel inputs to receive one or more media input channels generated by one or more multi-channel media applications;

an input to receive channel-mapping selections;

a signal processor to process the media input channels; and

a connector mapping system to map processed media channels to the output channel connectors pursuant to the channel mapping selections.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal processing system comprises an information handling system audio accelerator card.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a personal computer motherboard that includes the signal processing system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the channel-mapping selections comprise media application selections and associated channel selections.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal processing system is configured as part of a personal computer system.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media input channels include audio signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output channel connectors are analog audio jacks.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the media channels are associated with one or more applications and the applications include home theatre surround sound applications and multi-zone audio applications.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an audio source coupled to the signal processing system to provide the one or more media input channels.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a user interface to receive the channel-mapping selections from a user and to provide the channel-mapping selections to the signal processing system.

11. An information handling system comprising:

a processor;

memory coupled to the processor and including instructions to generate a user interface to receive media channel selections associated with one or more multi-channel media applications from a user;

output channel connectors; and

signal processing system, coupled to the output channel connectors and the processor, for supporting a plurality of the multi-channel media applications, the signal processing system comprising;

one or more media channel inputs to receive media input channels from the one or more media applications associated with the media channel selections;

a signal processor to process the media input channels to derive one or more media channels; and

a connector mapping system to map media channels to the output channel connectors pursuant to the channel mapping selections.

12. The information handling system of claim 11 wherein the signal processing system comprises an audio accelerator.

13. The information handling system of claim 11 wherein the channel-mapping selections comprise media application selections and associated channel selections.

14. The information handling system of claim 11 wherein the media input channels include audio input signals.

15. The information handling system of claim 11 wherein the output channel connectors are analog audio jacks.

16. The information handling system of claim 11 wherein media channels are associated with one or more applications and the applications include home theatre applications and multi-zone audio applications.

17. The information handling system of claim 11 further comprising:

an audio source coupled to the signal processing system to provide the one or more media input channels.

19. The information handling system of claim 11 further comprising:

a user interface to receive the channel-mapping selections from a user and to provide the channel-mapping selections to the signal processing system.

20. The information handling system of claim 11 further comprising:

a channel router to route selected media channels to an audio amplifier.

18. The information handling system of clam 17 wherein the audio source is selected from the group comprising:

a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a computer sound card, and audio files stored in a memory.

21. A method for supporting a plurality of the multi-channel media applications using a system having input/output channel quantity constraints, the method comprising:

receiving a selection designating at least one of the multi-channel media applications and channel assignments;

mapping the channel assignments of each of the designated multi-channel media applications to output channel connectors;

receiving input signals corresponding to the channel assignments;

processing the received input signals for distribution to respective output devices coupled to the output channel connectors; and

distributing the processed input signals to the respective output devices.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface to a user to allow the user to make the selection designating at least one of the multi-channel media applications and channel assignments.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein each channel comprises one or more audio input signals.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein processing the received input signals further comprises:

processing the received input signals using an audio accelerator.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the multi-channel media applications include home theatre applications and multi-zone audio applications.

26. A system for supporting a plurality of the multi-channel media applications using a system having input/output channel quantity constraints, the system comprising:

means for receiving a selection designating at least one of the multi-channel media applications and channel assignments;

means for mapping the channel assignments of each of the designated multi-channel media applications to output channel connectors;

means for receiving input signals corresponding to the channel assignments;

means for processing the received input signals for distribution to respective output devices coupled to the output channel connectors; and

means for distributing the processed input signals to the respective output devices.