DISTRIBUTED SWITCHING SYSTEM FOR PROGRAMMABLE MULTIMEDIA CONTROLLER

• US 20140298081A1
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Eschholz, Siegmar K., Silva, Michael C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,255,145 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/4.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2007 using redundant communication media
• 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 12/40084 Bus arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream 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 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio

Abstract

In one embodiment, two or more programmable multimedia controllers are provided a multimedia system that includes a plurality of audio/video (A/V) devices that source or output digital media streams. Each of the programmable multimedia controllers has at least a processing subsystem and a switch capable of switching the digital media streams. Arbitration is conducted among the programmable multimedia controllers to select one of the programmable multimedia controllers as winning the arbitration. Master status is assigned to the one of the programmable multimedia controllers that won the artitration. Subordinate status is assigned to at least one other programmable multimedia controller that did not win the arbitration. It is periodically verified whether the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status is operating. In response to the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status having experienced a failure, master status is reassigned to a programmable multimedia controller that was originally is assigned subordinate status.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing two or more programmable multimedia controllers in a multimedia system that includes a plurality of audio/video (A/V) devices that source or output digital media streams, each of the programmable multimedia controllers having at least a processing subsystem and a switch capable of switching the digital media streams;

interconnecting the programmable multimedia controllers with one or more communication links capable of carrying the digital media streams and control information;

conducting an arbitration among the programmable multimedia controllers to select one of the programmable multimedia controllers as winning the arbitration;

assigning master status to the one of the programmable multimedia controllers that won the arbitration;

assigning subordinate status to at least one other programmable multimedia controller that did not win the arbitration;

periodically verifying whether the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status is operating; and

in response to the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status having experienced a failure, reassigning master status to a programmable multimedia controller that was originally assigned subordinate status.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

passing control information from the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status to a programmable multimedia controller assigned subordinate status, the control information to affect switching functions of the programmable multimedia controller assigned subordinate status.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a record of available switching paths at the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status.

4. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

providing one or more expansion units in the multimedia system whose operations are supervised by the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status, the one or more expansion units each lacking a processing subsystem.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting digital media streams point-to-point between the programmable multimedia controllers, wherein at least some digital media streams pass through an intervening programmable multimedia controller or expansion unit when transmitted from a first programmable multimedia controller to a second programmable multimedia controller.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more communication links are serial communication links.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the serial communication links support an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 serial communication protocol.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital media streams are digital audio streams and the switch is an audio crosspoint switch.

9. A method comprising:

providing two or more programmable multimedia controllers in a multimedia system that includes a plurality of audio/video (A/V) devices that source or output digital media streams, each of the programmable multimedia controllers having at s least a processing subsystem and a switch capable of switching the digital media streams;

interconnecting the programmable multimedia controllers with one or more communication links capable of carrying the digital media streams and control information;

polling the programmable multimedia controllers to determine whether more than one of the programmable multimedia controllers has a digital media source available locally;

when only one of the programmable multimedia controllers has the digital media source available locally, assigning master status to that programmable multimedia controller;

when more than one of the programmable multimedia controllers has the digital media source available locally, assigning master status to one of the programmable multimedia controllers that has the digital media source available locally based on a predetermined criteria; and

assigning subordinate status to at least one other programmable multimedia controller that was not assigned master status.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

periodically verifying whether the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status is operating; and

in response to the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status having experienced a failure, reassigning master status to a programmable multimedia controller that was originally assigned subordinate status.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

periodically verifying whether the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status is operating; and

in response to the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status having experienced a failure, reporting an error.

12. The method as in claim 9, further comprising:

operating the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status as a digital media server for the at least one other programmable multimedia controller assigned subordinate status.

13. The method as in claim 9, wherein the predetermined criteria include load balancing.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

passing control information from the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status to the at least one other programmable multimedia controller assigned subordinate status, the control information to affect switching functions of the switch of the at least one other programmable multimedia controller assigned subordinate status.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

maintaining a record of available switching paths at the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status.

16. The method as in claim 9, further comprising:

providing one or more expansion units whose operations are supervised by the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status, the one or more expansion units each lacking a processing subsystem.

17. A multimedia system comprising:

a plurality of audio/video (A/V) devices that source or output digital media streams;

two or more programmable multimedia controllers coupled to the A/V devices, each of the programmable multimedia controllers having at least a processing subsystem and a switch capable of switching digital media streams;

one or more communication links coupling the programmable multimedia controllers and capable of carrying digital media streams and control information; and

a software routine executable by at least one of the programmable multimedia controllers that when executed is operable to;

assign master status to a selected one of the programmable multimedia controllers and assign subordinate status to at least one other programmable multimedia controller, the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status to pass control information to the at least one other programmable multimedia controller assigned subordinate status to affect switching functions of the switch of the at least one other programmable multimedia controller assigned subordinate status,

periodically verify whether the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status is operating, and

in response to the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status having experienced a failure, reassign master status.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

one or more expansion units whose operations are supervised by the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status, the one or more expansion units each lacking a processing subsystem.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the selected one of the programmable multimedia controllers is selected based on an arbitration among the programmable multimedia controllers.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the selected one of the programmable multimedia controllers is selected based on local availability of a digital media source.