System, method and apparatus for wireless delivery of content from a generalized content source to a generalized content sink

• US 7,499,462 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wireless Divide Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Radiospire Networks
• Inventors: Rao, Tandhoni S., Fastert, Steven S., MacMullan, Samuel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehra, Inder P
• Application Number:
  US11/117,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20060209745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/463, 370/468, 370/480, 370/477, 370/310, 725/100, 725/81, 725/120, 725/111, 725/131, 348/E7.026, 348/734, 348/E5.103, 455/419, 455/426.1
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/16 Use of wireless transmission of display information
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2821 Avoiding conflicts related to the use of home appliances cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4367 Establishing a secure communication between the client and a peripheral device or smart card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/083 with signal insertion during the vertical and the horizontal blanking interval , e.g. MAC data signals

Abstract

A system, method and apparatus for implementing a wireless point-to-point interface that securely and robustly delivers digital content from a generalized content source to a generalized content sink. The system, method and apparatus performs in a manner that is sufficiently secure and robust to serve as a replacement for the delivery of HDMI content over cable. The system, method and apparatus is also applicable to the delivery of other types of content traditionally delivered over cable, including but not limited to Digital Video Interface (DVI) content, composite video (CVSB) content, S-video content, RGB video content, YUV video content, and/or various types of audio content.

Claims

1. A system for transferring media content from a content source to a content sink, comprising:

a first wireless media adapter comprising first conversion logic and a transmitter, wherein the first conversion logic receives an output signal representing uncompressed video data and encoded for transmission over a wired communication interface from the content source and converts the output signal to a format suitable for wireless communication wherein the conversion does not include applying lossy compression to the uncompressed video data and wherein the transmitter wirelessly transmits the converted output signal over a first ultrawideband (UWB) radio frequency (RF) channel located in the frequency range of 3.1 gigahertz (GHz) to 10.6 GHz; and

a second wireless media adapter comprising a receiver and second conversion logic, wherein the receiver wirelessly receives the wirelessly-transmitted signal, and wherein the second conversion logic converts the wirelessly-received signal into an input signal representing the uncompressed video data and encoded for transmission over the wired communication interface and transmits the input signal to the content sink.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wired communication interface comprises one of:

a High-Definition Media Interface (HDMI);

a Digital Video Interface (DVI);

a composite video (CVSB) interface;

an S-video interface

an RGB video interface;

or

a YUV video interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless media adapter further comprises a first transceiver and the second wireless media adapter further comprises a second transceiver;

wherein the transmitter and receiver communicate over the first UWB RF channel to deliver media content from the content source to the content sink; and

wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver communicate over a second RF channel to exchange media access control (MAC) information and/or perform multimedia signaling.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver communicate High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) parameters over the second RF channel.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver communicate Display Data Channel (DDC) information over the second RF channel.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver communicate Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) channel information over the second RF channel.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver communicate information relating to a received signal quality.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first wireless media adapter adjusts operating parameters of the transmitter based on the information relating to a received signal quality.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first conversion logic performs low-density parity check (LDPC) encoding of the output signal and the second conversion logic performs LDPC decoding of the wirelessly-received signal.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first conversion logic performs Transition Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) decoding of the output signal and the second conversion logic performs TMDS encoding of the wirelessly-received signal.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first conversion logic performs Inter-Integrated Circuit (I²C) decoding of the output signal and the second conversion logic performs I²C encoding of the wirelessly-received signal.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first conversion logic performs Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) decoding of the output signal and the second conversion logic performs CEC encoding of the wirelessly-received signal.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first conversion logic generates control information based on a first reference clock and a pixel clock associated with the content source and the transmitter wirelessly transmits the control information, and wherein the receiver wirelessly receives the control information and the second conversion logic regenerates the pixel clock based on the wirelessly-received control information and a second reference clock.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless media adapter further comprises third conversion logic that receives an audio output signal encoded for transmission over a wired audio communication interface from the content source and converts the audio output signal to a format suitable for wireless communication and wherein the transmitter wirelessly transmits the converted audio output signal over the first UWB RF channel;

and

wherein the second wireless media adapter further comprises fourth conversion logic, wherein the receiver wirelessly receives the wirelessly-transmitted converted audio output signal, and wherein the fourth conversion logic converts the wirelessly-received converted audio output signal into an audio input signal encoded for transmission over the wired audio communication interface and transmits the audio input signal to the content sink.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the wired audio communication interface comprises one of:

an RCA audio interface;

an XLR audio interface;

a 5.1 surround sound audio interface;

a 6.1 surround sound audio interface;

a 7.1 surround sound audio interface;

or

a 10.1 surround sound audio interface.

16. A method for transferring media content from a content source to a content sink, comprising:

receiving an output signal representing uncompressed video data and encoded for transmission over a wired communication interface from the content source;

converting the output signal to a format suitable for wireless communication wherein the conversion does not include applying lossy compression to the uncompressed video data;

wirelessly transmitting and receiving the converted output signal over a first ultrawideband (UWB) radio frequency (RF) channel located in the frequency range of 3.1 gigahertz (GHz) to 10.6 GHz;

converting the wirelessly-received signal into an input signal representing the uncompressed video data and encoded for transmission over the wired communication interface; and

transmitting the input signal to the content sink.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the wired communication interface comprises one of:

a High-Definition Media Interface (HDMI);

a Digital Video Interface (DVI);

a composite video (CVSB) interface;

an S-video interface;

an RGB video interface;

or

a YUV video interface.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein wirelessly transmitting and receiving the converted output signal comprises wirelessly transmitting and receiving the converted output signal over the first UWB RF channel to deliver media content from the content source to the content sink, the method further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals over a second RF channel to exchange media access control (MAC) information and/or perform multimedia signaling.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals over a second RF channel comprises communicating High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) parameters over the second RF channel.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals over a second RF channel comprises communicating Display Data Channel (DDC) information over the second RF channel.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals over a second RF channel comprises communicating Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) channel information over the second RF channel.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals over a second RF channel comprises communicating information relating to a received signal quality.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising adjusting operating parameters pertaining to the wireless transmitting of the converted output signal based on the information relating to a received signal quality.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein converting the output signal to a format suitable for wireless communication comprises performing low-density parity check (LDPC) encoding of the output signal, and wherein converting the wirelessly-received signal into an input signal encoded for transmission over the wired communication interface comprises performing LDPC decoding of the wirelessly-received signal.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein converting the output signal to a format suitable for wireless communication comprises performing Transition Minimized Differential Signaling (TMDS) decoding of the output signal and wherein converting the wirelessly-received signal into an input signal encoded for transmission over the wired communication interface comprises performing TMDS encoding of the wirelessly-received signal.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein converting the output signal to a format suitable for wireless communication comprises performing Inter-Integrated Circuit (I²C) decoding of the output signal and wherein converting the wirelessly-received signal into an input signal encoded for transmission over the wired communication interface comprises performing I²C encoding of the wirelessly-received signal.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein converting the output signal to a format suitable for wireless communication comprises performing Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) decoding of the output signal and wherein converting the wirelessly-received signal into an input signal encoded for transmission over the wired communication interface comprises performing CEC encoding of the wirelessly-received signal.

28. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

generating control information based on a first reference clock and a pixel clock associated with the content source;

wirelessly transmitting and receiving the control information; and

regenerating the pixel clock based on the wirelessly-received control information and a second reference clock.

29. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving an audio output signal encoded for transmission over a wired audio communication interface from the content source;

converting the audio output signal to a format suitable for wireless communication;

wirelessly transmitting and receiving the converted audio output signal over the first UWB RF channel;

converting the wirelessly-received converted audio output signal into an audio input signal encoded for transmission over the wired audio communication interface; and

transmitting the audio input signal to the content sink.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the wired audio communication interface comprises one of:

an RCA audio interface;

an XLR audio interface;

a 5.1 surround sound audio interface;

a 6.1 surround sound audio interface;

a 7.1 surround sound audio interface;

or

a 10.1 surround sound audio interface.

31. A system comprising:

(a) a content source, wherein the content source comprises

(i) an audio/visual (A/V) source that generates an output signal representing uncompressed video data and formatted for transmission over a wired communication interface, and

(ii) a first wireless media adapter that receives the output signal, converts the output signal to a format suitable for wireless communication wherein the conversion does not include applying lossy compression to the uncompressed video data, and wirelessly transmits the converted output signal over a first ultrawideband (UWB) radio frequency (RF) channel located in the frequency range of 3.1 gigahertz (GHz) to 10.6 GHz; and

(b) a content sink, wherein the content sink comprises

(i) a second wireless media adapter that wirelessly receives the wirelessly-transmitted signal and converts the wirelessly-received signal into an input signal representing the uncompressed video data and formatted for transmission over the wired communication interface, and

(ii) an A/V presentation system that receives the input signal and generates an A/V presentation to a user responsive to the input signal.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the wired communication interface comprises one of:

a High-Definition Media Interface (HDMI);

a Digital Video Interface (DVI);

a composite video (CVSB) interface;

an S-video interface;

an RGB video interface;

or

a YUV video interface.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the A/V source generates an audio output signal formatted for transmission over a wired audio communication interface,

wherein the first wireless media adapter receives the audio output signal, converts the audio output signal to a format suitable for wireless communication, and wirelessly transmits the converted audio output signal over the first UWB RF channel,

wherein the second wireless media adapter wirelessly receives the wirelessly-transmitted converted audio output signal and converts the wirelessly-received converted audio output signal into an audio input signal formatted for transmission over the wired audio communication interface;

and

wherein the A/V presentation system receives the audio input signal and generates an A/V presentation to the user responsive to the audio input signal.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the wired audio communication interface comprises one of:

an RCA audio interface;

an XLR audio interface;

a 5.1 surround sound audio interface;

a 6.1 surround sound audio interface;

a 7.1 surround sound audio interface;

or

a 10.1 surround sound audio interface.