Systems and methods for encoding a DMX data stream and decoding an AES digital audio stream

• US 7,065,418 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2002
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Video Applications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: WorldStage, LLC
• Inventors: Long, Jeff, Standard, Gary, Weiss, Lou, Whitaker, Gregg, Standard, Russ, Standard, Lee, McMillan, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): SELLERS, DANIEL R
• Assistant Examiner(s): SELLERS, DANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US10/084,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20020154773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 379/101.01
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 3/22 Theatres; Concert halls; Studios for broadcasting, cinematography, television or similar purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2335 involving reformatting operations of audio signals, e.g. by converting from one coding standard to another details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41415 involving a public display, viewable by several users in a public space outside their home, e.g. movie theatre, information kiosk
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43074 of additional data with content streams on the same device, e.g. of EPG data or interactive icon with a TV program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A tunneling system includes an encoding module, which is typically located in the production studio, and a decoding module, which is typically located in the entertainment venue. The encoding module is configured to incorporate DMX codes into an Audio Engineering Society (AES) digital audio stream to provide additional scenes, props, special effects, lights, sounds, and music in the entertainment venue. The DMX codes are typically incorporated into the AES digital audio stream so that they are synchronized with the performance recorded on the digital video stream. The encoding module is used to add, embed or record the AES digital audio stream with DMX codes, e.g., lighting data or queues, etc., which control the equipment in the entertainment venue. The recording module is used to make the standard AES/European Broadcasting Union (EBU) audio channels hold codes such as lighting data to enhance the entertainment experience.

Claims

1. A Digital Multiplex lighting protocol (DMX) encoder, comprising:

a DMX input port configured to receive a DMX data stream having DMX data;

a level shifter configured to shift the DMX data stream to a Transistor-Transistor-Logic (TTL) level;

a universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter configured to format the DMX data stream into a plurality of packets;

a digital signal processor configured to insert the plurality of packets into an Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcasting Union (AES) digital audio stream to produce an encoded data stream carrying the DMX data;

an AES formatter configured to shift the encoded data stream to an unbalanced AES digital audio stream; and

a transformer configured to transform the unbalanced AES digital audio stream to a balanced AES digital audio stream.

2. The DMX encoder as defined in claim 1, wherein the AES digital audio stream is received from the AES formatter.

3. The DMX encoder as defined in claim 1, wherein the AES formatter is configured to generate the AES digital audio stream.

4. The DMX encoder as defined in claim 1, further comprising an AES input port coupled to the AES formatter.

5. The DMX encoder as defined in claim 4, wherein the AES formatter is configured to receive the AES digital audio stream from the AES input port.

6. The DMX encoder as defined in claim 4, wherein the AES formatter is configured to receive an AES word clock signal that is derived from the AES input port.

7. The DMX encoder as defined in claim 6, wherein the AES word clock signal synchronizes an output of the AES formatter.

8. A method of encoding a Digital Multiplex lighting protocol (DMX) data stream into a balanced Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcasting Union (AES) digital audio stream, the method comprising:

receiving a DMX data stream having DMX data;

shifting the DMX data stream to a Transistor-Transistor-Logic (TTL) level;

formatting the DMX data stream into a plurality of packets;

inserting the plurality of packets into an AES digital audio stream to produce an encoded data stream carrying the DMX data;

shifting the encoded data stream to an unbalanced AES digital audio stream; and

transforming the unbalanced AES digital audio stream to a balanced AES digital audio stream.

9. The method of encoding as defined in claim 8, further comprising generating the AES digital audio stream.

10. The method of encoding as defined in claim 8, further comprising receiving the AES digital audio stream.

11. The method of encoding as defined in claim 8, further comprising receiving an AES word clock signal for synchronization.

12. A Digital Multiplex lighting protocol (DMX) decoder, comprising:

an Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcasting Union (AES) formatter configured to receive an AES digital audio stream having a cyclic redundancy code value and DMX data;

a digital signal processor configured to receive the AES digital audio stream, to determine whether the cyclic redundancy code value is valid, and to extract the DMX data from the AES digital audio stream if the cyclic redundancy code value is valid and to retrieve stored DMX data if the cyclic redundancy code value is not valid;

a universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter configured to receive the DMX data; and

a level shifter configured to shift the DMX data to a DMX output level.

13. The DMX decoder as defined in claim 12, wherein the AES formatter is further configured to convert the AES digital audio stream to a Transistor-Transistor-Logic (TTL) level.

14. The DMX decoder as defined in claim 12, wherein the AES formatter is further configured to verify that the AES digital audio stream is a valid AES stream.

15. The DMX decoder as defined in claim 12, wherein the digital signal processor is further configured to store a plurality of DMX codes representing a particular scene.

16. The DMX decoder as defined in claim 12, wherein the universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter is further configured to format the DMX data.

17. A method of decoding an Audio Engineering Society/European Broadcasting Union (AES) digital audio stream into a Digital Multiplex lighting protocol (DMX) data stream, the method comprising:

receiving an AES digital audio stream having a cyclic redundancy code value and DMX data;

sending the AES digital audio stream to a digital signal processor,

determining whether the cyclic redundancy code value is valid;

if the cyclic redundancy code value is valid, then extract the DMX data from the AES digital audio stream, and if the cyclic redundancy code value is not valid, then retrieve stored DMX data from the digital signal processor;

sending the DMX data to a universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter;

formatting the DMX data; and

shifting the DMX data to a DMX output level.

18. The method of decoding as defined in claim 17, further comprising storing a plurality of DMX codes in the digital signal processor, the plurality of DMX codes representing a particular scene.

19. The method of decoding as defined in claim 17, further comprising storing a plurality of scaler DMX codes in the digital signal processor.

20. The method of decoding as defined in claim 19, wherein the digital signal processor compares the plurality of scaler DMX codes with the DMX output level to ensure that the DMX output level is not greater than one or more of the plurality of scaler DMX codes.