MODULAR FLEXIBLE SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE FOR TV

• US 20100057968A1
• Filed: 11/20/2008
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Liu, Kai, Liu, Aixin, Wong, Ling Jun, Dawson, Thomas P., Nguyen, Andy
• Granted Patent: US 8,339,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/301
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44526 Plug-ins; Add-ons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4433 Implementing client middleware, e.g. Multimedia Home Platform [MHP]

Abstract

Rather than have a unique code set per TV product, a common code base is provided to service multiple products and even multiple product lines. Embedded systems can be upgraded through a network connection. The software architecture provides a flexible approach to supporting multiple product offerings through a plug-in modular middle-ware and to providing standardized hardware acceleration for both 2D and 3D graphics. The plug-in capability provides for feature additions and upgrades after sale.

Claims

1. Display system, comprising:

video display;

processor circuitry implementing a TV feature architecture embodied in software and including;

an application logic coordination unit (ALCU); and

plural plug in modules (PIM) communicating with the ALCU, each PIM representing a desired TV system feature, the ALCU routing information between the PIMs, wherein new PIMs may be added to the ALCU to cooperate with PIMs communicating with the ALCU.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a PIM providing a first feature embodies a first application launch judgement in a first model line and a PIM providing the first feature embodies a second application launch judgement in a second model line, the second application launch judgement being different than the first application launch judgement.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a PIM providing a first feature registers for a first event in a first model line and a PIM providing the first feature registers for a second event in a second model line, the second event being different than the first event.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein PIM-to-PIM interactions are defined at the PIM level to be product-specific.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each PIM includes;

an interface code unique to a particular model line; and

a feature code common across all model lines in which the PIM is sought to be used.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the interface code translates calls from other PIMs received through the ALCU into calls understood by the feature code.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the ALCU includes a public interface, a utilities interface, and a PIM interface.

8. Method comprising:

providing in first and second TV system model lines an application logic coordination unit (ALCU) common to both model lines; and

providing plural plug in modules (PIM) configured for communicating with the ALCU, with each PIM representing a desired TV system feature and with the ALCU routing information between the PIMs, wherein a set of PIMs in the first model line are different from a set of PIMs in the second model line.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising downloading a new PIM to a TV in the first model line after the TV is vended to provide a feature represented by the PIM to the TV, the TV not having the feature prior to downloading the PIM.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a Pi:

m providing a first feature embodies a first application launch judgement in a first model line and a PIM providing the first feature embodies a second application launch judgement in a second model line, the second application launch judgement being different than the first application launch judgement.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a PIM providing a first feature registers for a first event in a first model line and a PIM providing the first feature registers for a second event in a second model line, the second event being different than the first event.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein PIM-to-PIM interactions are defined at the PIM level to be product-specific.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein each PIM includes:

an interface code unique to a particular model line; and

a feature code common across all model lines in which the PIM is sought to be used, wherein the interface code is unique to a desired feature of the model line.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the interface code translates calls from other PIMs received through the ALCU into calls understood by the feature code.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the ALCU includes a public interface, a utilities interface, and a PIM interface.

16. TV system architecture embodied on a tangible computer readable storage medium comprising:

an application logic coordination unit (ALCU); and

plural plug in modules (PIM) communicating with the ALCU, each PIM representing a desired TV system feature, PIM-to-PIM interactions being defined at the PIM level to be product-specific.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein a PIM providing a first feature embodies a first application launch judgement in a first model line and a PIM providing the first feature embodies a second application launch judgement in a second model line, the second application launch judgement being different than the first application launch judgement.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein a PIM providing a first feature registers for a first event in a first model line and a PIM providing the first feature registers for a second event in a second model line, the second event being different than the first event.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein each PIM includes:

an interface code unique to a particular model line; and

a feature code common across all model lines in which the PIM is sought to be used, wherein the interface code translates calls from other PIMs received through the ALCU into calls understood by the feature code.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the ALCU includes a public interface, a utilities interface, and a PIM interface.