Protocol for uncompressed multimedia data transmission

• US 20080005310A1
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OWLink Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: OWLink Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Guo, Yong, Tzeng, Shing-Wu P., Xu, Mingcheng
• Granted Patent: US 7,386,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/047 using display data channel standard [DDC] communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2812 describing content present in a home automation network, e.g. audio video content retrieval from the Internet G06F16/95
• 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 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5046 Resolving address allocation conflicts; Testing of addresses testing when self-assigning an address H04L61/5092
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS

Abstract

A serial transmission protocol and architecture are provided that can be used to transmit uncompressed multimedia (e.g., video/audio/control data) over a high speed serial forward communication channel. A backward channel is also provided, for communicating control data. The protocol is implemented with a flexible packet format that supports all different modes of video data, and also supports 24 bit and 30 bit video data (or higher). An example application where the architecture and protocol can be used is a home entertainment multimedia system. A mechanism to implement EDID pass-through and protocols such as HDCP is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically updating addresses of daisy-chained devices in an uncompressed multimedia communication system, comprising:

receiving at a downstream device uncompressed multimedia data serially transmitted over a single communication channel from an upstream device, the data in a data format that specifies upstream device address;

detecting at the downstream device that the address of the upstream device has changed; and

automatically adjusting the address of the downstream device based on the upstream device address.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the uncompressed multimedia communication system includes at least a plurality of source devices and a plurality of sink devices.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the multimedia system is configured for transmission of multiple uncompressed multimedia streams in the single communication channel, and the data format further specifies to which stream each multimedia packet belongs.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the downstream device is a sink device, the method further comprising:

comparing at the sink device a received stream number with a programmed stream number associated with the sink device; and

providing multimedia data having a stream number that matches the programmed stream number to local video/audio processing circuitry.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the downstream device is a sink device, the method further comprising:

comparing at the sink device a received stream number with a programmed stream number associated with the sink device; and

relaying multimedia data having a stream number that does not match the programmed stream number to a next downstream device.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the downstream device is a sink device, and a programmed stream number is assigned to the sink device by:

detecting available multimedia streams;

displaying a list of the available multimedia streams;

receiving a user stream selection; and

assigning the programmed stream number to the sink device based on the user stream selection.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the data format further specifies timing information between a source device and a sink device, the method further comprising:

receiving at the sink device control signal change data including control signal values and time at which each change occurs relative to a first pixel time of each packet received;

counting pixels from first pixel for each data packet received; and

regenerating control timing signal for each packet based on pixel count.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the data format further specifies timing information between a source device and a sink device, the method further comprising:

detecting at the source device control signal change data;

counting pixels from first pixel for each data packet received;

recording control signal change data including control signal values and time at which each change occurs relative to a first pixel time of each packet received; and

forwarding the control signal change data to the sink device.

9. An uncompressed multimedia communication system for dynamically updating addresses of daisy-chained devices, comprising:

an interface for receiving at a downstream device uncompressed multimedia data serially transmitted over a single communication channel from an upstream device, the data in a data format that specifies upstream device address; and

a control processor for detecting at the downstream device that the address of the upstream device has changed, and for automatically adjusting the address of the downstream device based on the upstream device address.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the uncompressed multimedia communication system includes at least a plurality of source devices and a plurality of sink devices.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the multimedia system is configured for transmission of multiple uncompressed multimedia streams in the single communication channel, and the data format further specifies to which stream each multimedia packet belongs.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the downstream device is a sink device and the control processor is further configured for comparing at the sink device a received stream number with a programmed stream number associated with the sink device, and for providing multimedia data having a stream number that matches the programmed stream number to local video/audio processing circuitry.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the downstream device is a sink device and the control processor is further configured for comparing at the sink device a received stream number with a programmed stream number associated with the sink device, and for relaying multimedia data having a stream number that does not match the programmed stream number to a next downstream device.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the downstream device is a sink device, and a programmed stream number is assigned by the control processor to the sink device, the control processor further configured for detecting available multimedia streams, providing a list of the available multimedia streams for display, receiving a user stream selection, and assigning the programmed stream number to the sink device based on the user stream selection.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the data format further specifies timing information between a source device and a sink device, and the control processor is further configured for receiving at the sink device control signal change data including control signal values and time at which each change occurs relative to a first pixel time of each packet received, counting pixels from first pixel for each data packet received, and regenerating control timing signal for each packet based on pixel count.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein the data format further specifies timing information between a source device and a sink device, and the control processor is further configured for detecting at the source device control signal change data, counting pixels from first pixel for each data packet received, recording control signal change data including control signal values and time at which each change occurs relative to a first pixel time of each packet received, and forwarding the control signal change data to the sink device.

17. A machine-readable medium encoded with instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the processor to carry out a process for dynamically updating addresses of daisy-chained devices in an uncompressed multimedia communication system, the process comprising:

receiving at a downstream device uncompressed multimedia data serially transmitted over a single communication channel from an upstream device, the data in a data format that specifies upstream device address;

detecting at the downstream device that the address of the upstream device has changed; and

automatically adjusting the address of the downstream device based on the upstream device address.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the multimedia system is configured for transmission of multiple uncompressed multimedia streams in the single communication channel, and the data format further specifies to which stream each multimedia packet belongs.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the downstream device is a sink device, the process further comprising:

comparing at the sink device a received stream number with a programmed stream number associated with the sink device; and

providing multimedia data having a stream number that matches the programmed stream number to local video/audio processing circuitry.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the downstream device is a sink device, the process further comprising:

comparing at the sink device a received stream number with a programmed stream number associated with the sink device; and

relaying multimedia data having a stream number that does not match the programmed stream number to a next downstream device.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 18 wherein the downstream device is a sink device, and a programmed stream number is assigned to the downstream device by the process, further comprising:

detecting available multimedia streams;

providing a list of the available multimedia streams for display;

receiving a user stream selection; and

assigning the programmed stream number to the sink device based on the user stream selection.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the data format further specifies timing information between a source device and a sink device, the process further comprising:

receiving at the sink device control signal change data including control signal values and time at which each change occurs relative to a first pixel time of each packet received;

counting pixels from first pixel for each data packet received; and

regenerating control timing signal for each packet based on pixel count.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the data format further specifies timing information between a source device and a sink device, the process further comprising:

detecting at the source device control signal change data;

counting pixels from first pixel for each data packet received;

recording control signal change data including control signal values and time at which each change occurs relative to a first pixel time of each packet received; and

forwarding the control signal change data to the sink device.