Multi-screen video playback system

• US 20050168630A1
• Filed: 02/03/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Yamada, Norihiko, Hasegawa, Hiroshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,264,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/383
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2365 Multiplexing of several video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4347 Demultiplexing of several video streams
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/0736 using digital storage buffer techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a multi-screen video playback system which enables synchronized video playback, and at the same time enables irregular playback such as color processing, contents change. According to exemplary embodiments, a multi-screen video playback system includes a plurality of rendering units RU1 through RU4 which are connected to LAN as a network and output video data to a plurality of display devices D1 through D4; a function which is connected to LAN and distributes timing information to the rendering units RU1 through RU4 by simultaneous transmission; a timing server TS which generates the irregular playback control information to enable irregular playback, such as color correction and contents change to the video data, in a plurality of rendering units RU1 through RU4 which output video data to each corresponding display device of the plurality of display devices D1 through D4; and video data storage devices S1 through S4 to store video data to be reproduced.

Claims

1. A multi-screen video playback system, comprising:

a network;

a video data storage device to store video data to be reproduced;

a plurality of display devices;

a plurality of rendering units connected to the network, having a function to output video data read in from the video data storage device and being developed to a frame buffer in advance, to each corresponding display device of the plurality of display devices, and a function to carry out video processing to enable irregular playback of the video data;

a timing server connected to the network, having a function to distribute timing information, with which the plurality of rendering units output the video data synchronized with the corresponding display device to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission, and a function that generates, when an irregular playback instruction is given, irregular playback control information of video data based on the irregular playback instruction, and outputs the irregular playback control information to the rendering unit.

2. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 1,

the timing server including:

a timing information generation section that generates the timing information;

an irregular playback control information generation section that generates the irregular playback control information; and

a transmission section that distributes the timing information to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission, and simultaneously distributes the irregular playback control information to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission or to a certain rendering unit by unicast communication, and

the rendering unit including;

a receiving section that can receive the timing information or the irregular playback control information distributed by the transmission section;

an output section that outputs to the corresponding display device the video data being developed to a frame buffer in advance, based on timing information from the timing server; and

a video processing section that carries out video processing based on the irregular playback control information received in the receiving section, to the video data.

3. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 2,

the timing server further including a read-in frame information generation section that generates the read-in frame information concerning video data read in from the video data storage device and being developed to the frame buffer in advance, and the irregular playback control information generation section has a function to output the irregular playback control information also to the read-in frame information generation section, while the transmission section in the timing server has a function to distribute the read-in frame information to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission or to a certain rendering unit by unicast communication, and

the receiving section in the rendering unit having a function to receive the read-in frame information distributed by the transmission section, while the rendering unit further having a video data acquisition section that reads in video data from the video data storage device and develops to the frame buffer, based on the read-in frame information that the receiving section received.

4. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 1, the irregular playback control information including control information to control the contents of the video processing.

5. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 4, the control information to control the contents of the video processing being control information to enable color processing and resolution conversion.

6. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 3, the irregular playback control information including the control information that instructs the contents change to set the video data presently on display to the video data of other contents.

7. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 1, the irregular playback of the video data being carried out to, as a target, each video data that is displayed in all the display devices.

8. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 1, the irregular playback of video data being carried out to, as a target, the video data that is displayed in a certain specific display device.

9. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 1, a certain rendering unit of the plurality of rendering units including the function of the timing server.

23. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 1, the plurality of display devices being a plurality of display devices that constitute a multi-screen display, and the multi-screen video playback system being a multi-screen video playback system to output video data synchronized with each of the plurality of display devices.

10. A multi-screen video playback system, comprising:

a video data storage device to store video data to be reproduced;

a plurality of display devices;

a plurality of rendering units having a function to output the video data read in from the video data storage device and being developed to a frame buffer in advance, to each corresponding display device of the plurality of display devices; and

a function to carry out irregular playback processing to enable irregular playback of the video data; and

a timing server having a function to distribute timing information, with which the plurality of rendering units output the video data synchronized with the corresponding display device, to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission, and a function to generate, when an irregular playback instruction is given, irregular playback control information of video data based on the irregular playback instruction and outputs the irregular playback control information to the rendering unit.

11. A multi-screen video playback system comprising:

a network;

a plurality of display devices;

a plurality of rendering units connected to the network, having a function to output video data to each corresponding display device of the plurality of display devices, and a function to carry out video processing to enable irregular playback of the video data, to the video data;

a video distribution server connected to the network, having a function to distribute video data to the plurality of rendering units, a function to distribute timing information with which the plurality of rendering units output the video data synchronized with the corresponding display device to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission, and a function to generate, when an irregular playback instruction is given, the irregular playback control information of video data based on the irregular playback instruction, and controls the video data to be distributed to the rendering unit according to the contents of this irregular playback control information, or a function to distribute the irregular playback control information to the rendering unit.

12. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 11,

the video distribution server including:

a video data generation section that generates the video data to be distributed to the plurality of rendering units;

a timing information generation section that generates the timing information;

an irregular playback control information generation section that generates the irregular playback control information and can output the irregular playback control information, according to the contents thereof, to the video data generation section or the rendering unit; and

a transmission section that distributes video data generated in the video data generation section, the timing information generated in the timing information generation section, and the irregular playback control information, to the plurality of rendering units, and

the rendering unit including;

a receiving section that receives the video data that is distributed by the video distribution server, timing information, and irregular playback control information;

a frame buffer to which the video data received in this receiving section is developed;

a video processing section that carries out video processing based on the irregular playback control information to the video data being developed to this frame buffer;

an output section that outputs the video data being developed to the frame buffer to the corresponding display device, based on the timing information.

24. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 11, a certain rendering unit of the plurality of rendering units including the video distribution server function.

13. A multi-screen video playback system, comprising:

a plurality of display devices;

a plurality of rendering units having a function that outputs video data to each corresponding display device of the plurality of display devices, and a function to carry out video processing to enable irregular playback of the video data, to the video data; and

a video distribution server having a function to distribute video data to the plurality of rendering units, a function to distribute timing information with which the plurality of rendering units output the video data synchronized with the corresponding display device, to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission, and a function to generate, when an irregular playback instruction is given, irregular playback control information of video data based on the irregular playback instruction and controls the video data to be distributed to the rendering unit, according to the contents of the irregular playback control information, or a function to distribute the irregular playback control information to the rendering unit.

14. A multi-screen video playback system, comprising:

a network;

a plurality of display devices;

a plurality of rendering units connected to the network, having a function to output video data to each corresponding display device of the plurality of display devices;

a video distribution server connected to the network, having a function to distribute video data to the plurality of rendering units, a function to distribute timing information, with which the plurality of rendering units output the video data synchronized with the corresponding display device, to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission, a function to generate, when an irregular playback instruction is given, irregular playback control information of video data based on the irregular playback instruction, and controls the video data to be distributed to the rendering unit according to the contents of the irregular playback control information, or a function to carry out video processing to video data to be distributed.

15. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 14,

the video distribution server including:

a video data generation section that generates the video data to be distributed to the plurality of rendering units;

a timing information generation section that generates the timing information;

a video processing section that carries out video processing to enable the irregular playback of the video data to be distributed;

an irregular playback control information generation section that generates the irregular playback control information and outputs the irregular playback control information, according to the contents thereof, to the video data generation section or the video processing section; and

a transmission section that can distribute the video data generated in the video data generation section and the timing information generated in the timing information generation section to the plurality of rendering units, and

the rendering unit including;

a receiving section that can receive the timing information and the video data that is distributed by the transmission section;

a frame buffer to which the video data received in this receiving section is developed; and

an output section that outputs the video data being developed to the frame buffer, to the corresponding display device, based on the timing information.

16. A multi-screen video playback system comprising:

a plurality of display devices;

a plurality of rendering units having a function to output video data to each corresponding display device of the plurality of display devices; and

a video distribution server having a function to distribute video data to the plurality of rendering units, a function to distribute timing information, with which the plurality of rendering units output the video data synchronized with the corresponding display device, to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission, and a function to generate, when an irregular playback instruction is given, irregular playback control information of video data based on the irregular playback instruction and controls the video data to be distributed to the rendering unit according to the contents of the irregular playback control information, or a function to carry out video processing to the video data to be distributed.

17. A multi-screen video playback system comprising:

a network;

a plurality of display devices;

a plurality of rendering units connected to the network, having a function to output video data to each corresponding display device of the plurality of display devices, and a function to carry out video processing to enable irregular playback of the video data to the video data; and

a timing server connected to the network, having a function to distribute timing information, with which the plurality of rendering units output the video data synchronized with the corresponding display device, to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission;

a function to generate the video distribution control information to a video distribution server, and a function to generate, when an irregular playback instruction is given, the irregular playback control information of video data based on the irregular playback instruction, and distributes, according to the contents of the irregular playback control information, the irregular playback control information as the information to control the video data to be distributed, to the video distribution server, or a function to distribute the irregular playback control information to the rendering unit; and

a video distribution server connected to the network, having a function to distribute video data to the plurality of rendering units based on the video distribution control information from the timing server.

18. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 17,

the timing server including:

a timing information generation section that generates the timing information;

a video distribution control information generation section that generates the video distribution control information;

an irregular playback control information generation section, having a function to generate irregular playback control information to enable the irregular playback of the video data in the plurality of display devices, and outputs, according to the contents of the irregular playback control information, the irregular playback control information to the video distribution control information generation section as the information to control the video data to be distributed, or a function to output the irregular playback control information; and

a transmission section that outputs the timing information, the video distribution control information, and the irregular playback control information, and

the video distribution server including;

a video distribution control section that controls video distribution to the plurality of rendering units based on the video distribution control information from the timing server;

a video data generation section that generates the video data to be distributed to the plurality of rendering units by the control of this video distribution control section; and

a transmission section that can distribute the video data generated in this video data generation section to the plurality of rendering units, and

the rendering unit including;

a receiving section that can receive the video data, timing information, and irregular playback control information;

a frame buffer to which the video data received in this receiving section is developed;

a video processing section that carries out video processing based on the irregular playback control information; and

an output section that outputs to the corresponding display device the video data being developed to the frame buffer, based on the timing information.

19. A multi-screen video playback system comprising:

a plurality of display devices;

a plurality of rendering units having a function to output video data to each corresponding display device of the plurality of display devices and a function to carry out video processing to enable irregular playback of the video data to the video data;

a timing server having a function to distribute timing information, with which the plurality of rendering units output the video data synchronized with the corresponding display device, to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission, a function to generate the video distribution control information to a video distribution server, and a function to generate, when an irregular playback instruction is given, the irregular playback control information of video data based on the irregular playback instruction and distributes, according to the contents of the irregular playback control information, the irregular playback control information as the information to control the video data to be distributed, to the video distribution server, or a function to distribute the irregular playback control information to the rendering unit; and

a video distribution server having a function to distribute video data to the plurality of rendering units based on the video distribution control information from the timing server.

20. A multi-screen video playback system, comprising:

a network;

a plurality of display devices;

a plurality of rendering units connected to the network, having a function to output video data to each corresponding display device of the plurality of display devices;

a timing server connected to the network, having a function to distribute timing information, with which the plurality of rendering units output the video data synchronized with the corresponding display device, to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission, a function to generate video distribution control information to a video distribution server, a function to generate video distribution control information to a video distribution server, and a function to generate, when an irregular playback instruction is given, the irregular playback control information of video data based on the irregular playback instruction, and distributes, according to the contents of this irregular playback control information, the irregular playback control information as the information to control the video data to be distributed, to the video distribution server, or a function to distribute the irregular playback control information to the video distribution server as information to carry out the video processing; and

a video distribution server connected to the network, having a function to distribute video data to the plurality of rendering units based on the video distribution control information from the timing server, and a function that carries out video processing to enable the irregular playback of the video data to be distributed, to the video data to be distributed.

21. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 20,

the timing server including:

a timing information generation section that generates the timing information;

a video distribution control information generation section that generates the video distribution control information;

an irregular playback control information generation section having a function to generate irregular playback control information to enable irregular playback of the video data in the plurality of display devices and outputs, as the information to control video data to be distributed, the irregular playback control information according to the contents of the irregular playback control information, to the video distribution control information generation section, or a function to output this irregular playback control information as information to carry out the video processing; and

a transmission section that can output the timing information, the video distribution control information, and information for carrying out the video processing, and

the video distribution server including;

a video distribution control section that controls video distribution to the plurality of rendering units based on the video distribution control information generated by the timing server;

a video data generation section that generates the video data to be distributed to the plurality of rendering units by the control of this video distribution control section;

a video processing section that carries out video processing to enable the irregular playback of the video data to be distributed, to the video data to be distributed; and

a transmission section that can distribute the video data generated in this video data generation section to the plurality of rendering units, and

the rendering unit including;

a receiving section that can receive the video data and the timing information;

a frame buffer to which the video data received in this receiving section is developed; and

an output section that outputs the video data being developed to the frame buffer, to the corresponding display device, based on the timing information.

22. A multi-screen video playback system, comprising:

a plurality of display devices;

a plurality of rendering units having a function to output video data to each corresponding display device of the plurality of display devices;

a timing server having a function to distribute timing information with which the plurality of rendering units output the video data synchronized with the corresponding display device to the plurality of rendering units by simultaneous transmission, a function to generate the video distribution control information to a video distribution server, and a function to generate, when an irregular playback instruction is given, the irregular playback control information of video data based on this irregular playback instruction, and distributes, according to the contents of this irregular playback control information, the irregular playback control information as the information to control the video data to be distributed, to the video distribution server, or a function to distribute this irregular playback control information to the video distribution server as information to carry out the video processing; and

a video distribution server having a function to distribute video data to the plurality of rendering units based on the video distribution control information from the timing server, and a function that carries out video processing to enable the irregular playback of the video data to be distributed, to the video data to be distributed.