System, method and apparatus for wirelessly providing a display data channel between a generalized content source and a generalized content sink

• US 20060209892A1
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Radiospire Networks
• Original Assignee: Radiospire Networks
• Inventors: Fastert, Steven S., Rao, Tandhoni S., MacMullan, Samuel J., Patel, Bhavin D.
• Application Number:
  US11/216,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20060209892A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/468
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for implementing a wireless point-to-point interface that securely and robustly delivers media content from a generalized content source to a generalized content sink. The system, method and apparatus performs in a manner that is sufficiently secure and robust to serve as a replacement for the delivery of High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) content or Digital Video Interface (DVI) content over cable. An aspect of the present invention performs Inter-Integrated Circuit (I²C) decoding and encoding operations to implement a wireless HDMI or DVI interface between the generalized content source and the generalized content sink. The I²C decoding and encoding operations are performed as necessary to support the reception, decoding and transmission of a Display Data Channel (DDC) channel.

Claims

1. A wireless media adapter, comprising:

a digital media interface coupled to a media device over an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I²C) bus; and

a wireless transceiver coupled to the digital media interface;

wherein the digital media interface and the wireless transceiver are configured to wirelessly relay a portion of an I²C transaction between the media device and a remote wireless media adapter, thereby providing a Display Data Channel (DDC) channel.

2. The wireless media adapter of claim 1, wherein the digital media interface is a High-Definition Media Interface (HDMI) interface.

3. The wireless media adapter of claim 2, wherein the HDMI interface is coupled to the media device over a Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) bus.

4. The wireless media adapter of claim 3, wherein the HDMI interface and the wireless transceiver are configured to wirelessly relay a portion of a CEC transaction between the media device and the remote wireless media adapter, thereby providing a CEC channel.

5. The wireless media device of claim 4, wherein the portion of the CEC transaction is a byte of the CEC transaction.

6. The wireless media adapter of claim 1, wherein the digital media interface is a Digital Video Interface (DVI) interface.

7. The wireless media device of claim 1, wherein the portion of the I²C transaction is a byte of the I²C transaction.

8. The wireless media adapter of claim 1, wherein the digital media interface is configured to receive the portion of the I²C transaction from the media device and provide the portion of the I²C transaction to the wireless transceiver.

9. The wireless media adapter of claim 8, wherein the digital media interface releases a Serial Clock Line (SCL) of the I²C bus from a low state to receive the portion of the I²C transaction.

10. The wireless media adapter of claim 8, wherein the digital media interface holds a Serial Clock Line (SCL) of the I²C bus in a low state after receiving the portion of the I²C transaction to prevent the media device from providing a next portion of the I²C transaction.

11. The wireless media adapter of claim 8, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to convert the portion of the I²C transaction to a format suitable for wireless transmission.

12. The wireless media adapter of claim 11, wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to wirelessly transmit a reformatted version of the portion of the I²C transaction to the remote wireless media device.

13. The wireless media adapter of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to receive a wireless signal from the remote wireless media adapter comprising a reformatted version of the portion of the I²C transaction.

14. The wireless media adapter of claim 13, wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to decode the reformatted version of the portion of the I²C transaction to recover the portion of the I²C transaction.

15. The wireless media adapter of claim 14, wherein the digital media interface is configured to provide the portion of the I²C transaction to the media device.

16. The wireless media adapter of claim 15, wherein the digital media interface releases a Serial Clock Line (SCL) of the I²C bus from a low state to provide the portion of the I²C transaction to the media device.

17. The wireless media adapter of claim 15, wherein the digital media interface holds a Serial Clock Line (SCL) of the I²C bus in a low state after providing the portion of the I²C transaction to the media device to prevent the media device from sampling a Serial Data Line (SDL) of the I²C bus

18. The wireless media adapter of claim 1, wherein the media device is a media source.

19. The wireless media adapter of claim 18, wherein the digital media interface is configured to operate as a I²C slave.

20. The wireless media adapter of claim 1, wherein the media device is a media sink.

21. The wireless media adapter of claim 20, wherein the digital media interface is configured to operate as a I²C master.

22. A method for wirelessly relaying a portion of an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I²C) transaction from a media device to a remote wireless media adapter, comprising:

receiving the portion of the I²C transaction from the media device;

converting the portion of the I²C transaction to a format suitable for wireless transmission; and

wirelessly transmitting a reformatted version of the portion of the I²C transaction to the remote wireless media adapter, thereby providing a Display Data Channel (DDC) channel between the media device and the remote wireless media adapter.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein receiving the portion of the I²C transaction comprises releasing a Serial Clock Line (SCL) of an I²C bus from a low state to notify the media device to provide the portion of the I²C transaction.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising holding a Serial Clock Line (SCL) of an I²C bus in a low state to prevent the media device from providing a next portion of the I²C transaction.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein wirelessly transmitting comprises wirelessly transmitting the reformatted version of the portion of the I²C transaction over a wireless control channel.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the portion of the I²C transaction comprises a byte of the I²C transaction.

27. A method for wirelessly relaying a portion of an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I²C) transaction from a remote wireless media adapter to a media device, comprising:

receiving a wireless signal from the remote wireless media adapter, the wireless signal comprising a reformatted version of the portion of the I²C transaction;

decoding the reformatted version of the portion of the I²C transaction to recover the portion of the I²C transaction; and

providing the portion of the I²C transaction to the media device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving further comprises receiving the wireless signal over a wireless control channel.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein providing the portion of the I²C transaction comprises releasing a Serial Clock Line (SCL) of an I²C bus from a low state.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising holding a Serial Clock Line (SCL) of an I²C bus in a low state after providing the portion of the I²C transaction to prevent the media device from sampling a Serial Data Line (SDL) of an I²C bus.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the portion of the I²C transaction comprises a byte of the I²C transaction.