Method of and system for interactive video-audio-computer open architecture operation
First Claim
1. A method of interactive video-graphics-audio-computer open architecture operation for providing multi-media command and application functions through specific requested application programs that control the operation of requested multi-media hardware devices of various types including video overlay devices, video/graphics display devices, video disc player products, audio recording and playback devices and computer user input devices, that comprises,providing a modular interface buffering software layer between the application programs and the operating hardware required for performing the same, including providing multi-media command and control functions that manage the control and presentation of multi-media data and storage and display for said application programs independently of the type of the requested hardware device and its data format;
- optimizing the performance of such multi-media applications by interleaving data-intensive tasks, including loading graphics and audio files and dynamically loading at run-time only those descrete functions of multi-media command and control requested by the specific application programs under execution; and
automatically selecting at run-time the hardware devices required to deliver the multi-media command and control functions requested, allowing the application program to be used with the hardware device requested without requiring any modification to the application software.
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Abstract
An interactive video-audio-computer open architecture system and method with dynamically reconfigurable software providing a virtual device interface buffering applications from hardware and with extended flexibility and universal compatibility with the myriad of industry hardware products and standards (videodisc players, graphics, microprocessors, computers, video and audio sources, etc.), all with transparency to the user and without the requirement of modification of application software irrespective of which hardware product is connected to the system.
91 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of interactive video-graphics-audio-computer open architecture operation for providing multi-media command and application functions through specific requested application programs that control the operation of requested multi-media hardware devices of various types including video overlay devices, video/graphics display devices, video disc player products, audio recording and playback devices and computer user input devices, that comprises,
providing a modular interface buffering software layer between the application programs and the operating hardware required for performing the same, including providing multi-media command and control functions that manage the control and presentation of multi-media data and storage and display for said application programs independently of the type of the requested hardware device and its data format; -
optimizing the performance of such multi-media applications by interleaving data-intensive tasks, including loading graphics and audio files and dynamically loading at run-time only those descrete functions of multi-media command and control requested by the specific application programs under execution; and automatically selecting at run-time the hardware devices required to deliver the multi-media command and control functions requested, allowing the application program to be used with the hardware device requested without requiring any modification to the application software. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for interactive video-graphics-audio-computer open architecture operation for providing multi-media command and application functions through specific requested application programs that control the operation of requested multi-media hardware devices, having in combination with any of a myriad of such requested hardware devices including video disc players, graphic sources, audio and video sources, and computer input/output devices including touch screen devices,
an executive system with multi-media command and control functions that manage the control and presentation of multi-media data and storage and display devices for application programs independently of the type of the requested hardware device and its data format, providing a virtual device interface with said hardware device that enables the performance of requested specific applications thereby and comprising a modular interface buffering software layer between the application programs and the operating hardware device required for performing the same, including means for establishing discrete modules of function of multi-media command and control requested by the specific application programs; -
means for dynamically loading those discrete modules of function at run-time; said software including means for restricting such loading to substantially only the functionality required to run the specific requested application; and means for enabling the software dynamically to reconfigure itself by scheduling the use only of said specific application programs to the different hardware devices connected to the system to control requested hardware devices including the videodisc players, to communicate the input/output requirements, to manage overlay of graphics, and to link to external software to incorporate such capabilities into the hardware devices and without requiring modification to the applications software. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification