Method and apparatus for wireless digital audio/video playback for computers

• US 7,840,983 B1
• Filed: 05/03/2007
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neosonik
• Original Assignee: Neosonik
• Inventors: Rice, David Andrew, Feldman, Theodore Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENGESHA, MULUGETA A
• Application Number:
  US11/744,179
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 725/81, 725/78, 725/80
• US Class Current: 725/81
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/02 Spatial or constructional arrangements of loudspeakers

Abstract

A computer-based digital wireless audio and video system for consumer audio, home theater and recording studio applications is disclosed. The system distributes synchronized 2-channel stereo and multi-channel home theater video and audio digital signals via wireless broadcast to a closed network including a personal computer, a display, and one or multiple digital active loudspeakers or headphones. Each loudspeaker has a separate digital amplifier dedicated to each transducer within it. The system provides a data link capable of sending an all-digital, full-bandwidth signal from the original digital source material to each separate transducer in the system without using sound degrading lossy data compression. This system is designed to read, broadcast, and reproduce with accurate audio and video channel synchronization in the effort to maintain the integrity of the entire audio and video signal.

Claims

1. A digital wireless audio and video playback system for a computer, comprising:

a computer comprising;

a video signal input for receiving a digital video signal;

an audio signal input for receiving a plurality of digital audio signals, each digital audio signal associated with an audio channel;

a digital signal processor coupled to receive the audio signals and process the audio input signals in the digital domain;

an encoder coupled to the digital signal processor and the video signal input to receive the digital video signal and to encode the digital video signal into digital video bitstream and further coupled to the digital signal processor to receive the audio signals, and to encode each audio signal into uncompressed digital audio bitstream;

an RF transmitter coupled to the encoder to receive the digital video bitstream and the plurality of digital audio bitstreams, modulate each digital bitstream into an assigned channel on a radio frequency (RF) digital broadcast signal and to transmit the digital broadcast signal to a plurality of receivers, to provide a point-to-multipoint transmission of the video signal and audio signals;

a software module to control at least one parameter of the digital wireless audio and video playback system;

a wireless video receiver assigned to one of the channels of the digital broadcast signal, and comprising;

a first RF receiver to receive the digital broadcast signal for the digital video bitstream, and demodulate the broadcast signal to obtain the encoded digital video bitstream;

a video decoder coupled to the RF receiver to receive the encoded digital video bitstream, and to decode and output the digital video signal to a display device; and

a plurality of wireless audio receivers, each audio receiver assigned to one of the channels of the digital broadcast signal, and comprising;

a second RF receiver to receive the digital audio broadcast signal and to demodulate the signal to obtain the encoded, uncompressed digital audio signal;

an audio decoder coupled to the RF receiver to receive the encoded digital audio signal to decode the digital audio signal;

a digital signal processor coupled to the decoder to process the digital audio signal in the digital domain; and

at least one amplifier coupled to receiver and to amplify the audio signal, and

provide an amplified analog audio signal to a loudspeaker.

2. The digital wireless audio and video playback system for a computer of claim 1, wherein each wireless audio receiver further comprises:

a housing;

the wireless audio receiver contained inside the housing; and

one or more loudspeakers coupled to the housing, and to the amplifier to output the audio signal.

3. The digital wireless audio and video playback system for a computer of claim 1, wherein the amplifier is a class D amplifier.

4. The digital wireless audio and video playback system for a computer of claim 1, wherein the digital broadcast signal is not compressed.

5. The digital wireless audio and video playback system for a computer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless audio receivers comprises:

a left channel receiver for receiving a digital audio signal assigned to a left audio channel;

a right channel receiver for receiving a digital audio signal assigned to a right audio channel; and

a center channel receiver for receiving a digital audio signal assigned to a center audio channel.

6. The digital wireless audio and video playback system for a computer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of wireless audio receivers comprises:

a plurality of surround speakers, each surround speaker assigned to one of the audio channels.

7. The digital wireless audio and video playback system for a computer of claim 1, wherein the at least one amplifier of a wireless audio receiver includes a tweeter amplifier, and at least one of a midrange amplifier and woofer amplifier.

8. The digital wireless audio and video playback system for a computer of claim 1, wherein the video receiver further comprises:

a video display for receiving the video signal and displaying an image; and

at least two speakers coupled to the at least one amplifier for outputting the audio signals from at least two of the audio channels.

9. The digital wireless audio and video playback system for a computer of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises:

a central processing unit to select from among the input signals from the one or more digital signals to provide to the digital signal processor.

10. A digital wireless audio and video playback system for a computer, comprising:

a computer comprising;

a video signal input for receiving a digital video signal;

an audio signal input for receiving a plurality of digital audio signals, each digital audio signal associated with an audio channel;

a digital signal processor coupled to receive the audio signals and process the audio input signals in the digital domain; and

an encoder coupled to the digital signal processor and the video signal input to receive the digital video signal and to encode the digital video signal into digital video bitstream and further coupled to the digital signal processor to receive the audio signals, and to encode each audio signal into uncompressed digital audio bitstream;

an RF transmitter coupled to the encoder to receive the digital video bitstream and the plurality of digital audio bitstreams, modulate each digital bitstream into an assigned channel on a radio frequency (RF) digital broadcast signal and to transmit the digital broadcast signal to a plurality of receivers, to provide a point-to-multipoint transmission of the video signal and audio signals;

a software module to control at least one parameter of the digital wireless audio and video playback system;

a wireless audio-video receiver, comprising;

a RF receiver to receive the digital broadcast signal, and demodulate the broadcast signal to obtain the encoded digital video bitstream and digital audio bitstreams from respective channels of the digital broadcast signal;

a video decoder coupled to the RF receiver to receive the encoded digital video bitstream, and to decode and output the digital video signal to a display device;

an audio decoder coupled to the RF receiver to receive the encoded digital audio signals to decode the digital audio signals into respective audio channels;

a digital signal processor coupled to the audio decoder to process the digital audio signal in the digital domain; and

at least one amplifier coupled to receiver and to amplify the audio signals, and provide an amplified analog audio signals to respective loudspeakers.