System and related interfaces supporting the processing of media content

• US 20050216592A1
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Rudolph, Eric H., Miller, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,757,240 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols

Abstract

A software enabled, matrix switch is presented wherein a scalable plurality of inputs, coupled to media content sources, provide media content which is recursively routed through select media processing object(s) coupled to a scalable plurality of matrix switch outputs in accordance with a user-defined media processing project.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing, as part of a software-implemented matrix switch, a scalable plurality of inputs, dynamically coupled to select source(s) to receive media content;

providing, as part of the software-implemented matrix switch, a scalable plurality of outputs, dynamically coupled to select object(s), wherein the software enabled, matrix switch recursively routes media content through the select object(s) to manipulate the received media content in accordance with a user-defined media processing project; and

providing, as part of the software-implemented matrix switch, a memory space, shared among the plurality of inputs and outputs to receive and buffer media content from various sources until presentation to one of the plurality of outputs, wherein the memory space is comprised of two segments, a first segment dedicated to the scalable plurality of inputs and a second segment dedicated to the scalable plurality of outputs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second segment is dedicated to a primary output which is coupled to a rendering object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second segment is dedicated to an independent output processing thread supporting the rendering object.

4. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed, implement a method comprising:

providing, as part of a software-implemented matrix switch, a scalable plurality of inputs, dynamically coupled to select source(s) to receive media content;

providing, as part of the software-implemented matrix switch, a scalable plurality of outputs, dynamically coupled to select object(s), wherein the software enabled, matrix switch recursively routes media content through the select object(s) to manipulate the received media content in accordance with a user-defined media processing project; and

providing, as part of the software-implemented matrix switch, a memory space, shared among the plurality of inputs and outputs to receive and buffer media content from various sources until presentation to one of the plurality of outputs, wherein the memory space is comprised of two segments, a first segment dedicated to the scalable plurality of inputs and a second segment dedicated to the scalable plurality of outputs.

5. The computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein the second segment is dedicated to a primary output which is coupled to a rendering object.

6. The computer-readable media of claim 5, wherein the second segment is dedicated to an independent output processing thread supporting the rendering object.

7. A system comprising:

means for implementing a matrix switch for processing media content in accordance with a user-defined media processing project, the matrix switch comprising;

a scalable plurality of inputs dynamically coupleable to select source(s) to receive media content; and

a scalable plurality of outputs dynamically coupleable to select object(s);

means for dynamically coupling one or more of the inputs to one or more of the sources to receive the media content;

means for dynamically coupling one or more of the outputs to the select object(s) to recursively route media content through the select object(s) to manipulate the received media content in accordance with the user-defined media processing project; and

means for providing a memory space and sharing the memory space among the plurality of inputs and outputs effective to receive and buffer media content from various sources until presentation to one of the plurality of outputs, wherein said act of providing comprises providing at least two memory space segments, a first of which is dedicated to the scalable plurality of inputs, a second of which is dedicated to the scalable plurality of outputs.