Integrated multimedia signal processing system using centralized processing of signals

• US 8,015,590 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2005
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mondo Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mondo Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Chung, Chul
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton; Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chokshi; Pinkal R
• Application Number:
  US11/198,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20060294569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,220 Days
• Field of Search: 725/141, 725/85, 725/133, 725/153, 725/25, 725/38, 348/553
• US Class Current: 725/141
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0435 Change or adaptation of the frame rate of the video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/005 Adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2368 Multiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4341 Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4398 involving reformatting operations of audio signals details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4621 Controlling the complexity of the content stream or additional data, e.g. lowering the resolution or bit-rate of the video stream for a mobile client with a small screen arrangements for using the results of monitoring on user's side in broadcast systems H04H60/65; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/14 Picture signal circuitry for video frequency region cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/57 Control of contrast or brightness
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• 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: H04N 9/64 Circuits for processing colour signals H04N9/77 takes precedence; camera processing pipelines for processing colour signals H04N23/84

Abstract

Integrated processing of multimedia signals can eliminate unnecessary signal processors and converters without losing the functionality of typical home entertainment system components. The integrated system includes a main player that captures and processes signals digitally, a dummy display, and a dummy speaker. The dummy display may only have a display panel and a panel driver. The dummy speaker may only have a driving unit and no crossover logic. The main player may have a PC architecture and process all signals digitally for outputting signals tailored for the display device and the individual driving units of the dummy speaker. The integrated system may generate parameters for optimizing display of a video source. These parameters can be shared among users over a network connection.

Claims

1. An integrated multimedia processing system, comprising:

a video source to provide a video signal;

a central processing unit adapted to be responsive to the video signal from the video source to generate a digital display signal; and

a dummy display driven directly by the digital display signal to display video output, the dummy display not having a deinterlacer or a scaler,

wherein the central processing unit performs deinterlacing and scaling of the video signal when generating the digital display signal for the dummy display.

2. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a converter module converting an analog signal from the video source into a digital video signal to be processed by the central processing unit.

3. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 2, wherein the converter module is software that operates in conjunction with the central processing unit.

4. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 2, wherein the converter module is a peripheral device in communication with the video source.

5. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 1, wherein the video signal is processed in a digital format.

6. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 2, wherein the video signal is processed in a digital format.

7. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor module coupled to the central processing unit, and

a housing containing the central processing unit and the processor module,

wherein the central processing unit processes the video signal in conjunction with the processor module to generate a digital display signal for video output.

8. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit processes the video signal to control a display characteristic of video output, wherein the display characteristic is brightness, contrast, color warmth, or display resolution.

9. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit processes the video signal to control a frame rate of video output from the dummy display.

10. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit processes the video signal to control a display resolution of video output from the dummy display.

11. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a video filtering module adjusting a characteristic of video output from the dummy display.

12. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 11, wherein the characteristic adjusted by the filtering module is:

brightness;

contrast;

color warmth;

or display resolution.

13. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 12, wherein the filtering module is software.

14. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 12, wherein the filtering module is a peripheral device in communication with the central processing unit.

15. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 1, further comprising:

an input device in communication with the central processing unit.

16. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 15, wherein the input device comprises an image capture device.

17. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 16, wherein the input device detects a viewing environment characteristic of a location where the system is located.

18. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 17, wherein the detected viewing environment characteristic is:

lighting;

room size;

room color;

audience number;

or audience position.

19. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 18, wherein the central processing unit generates a video signal adjustment based on the detected viewing environment characteristics.

20. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 19, wherein the central processing unit generates the digital display signal based in part on the video signal adjustment.

21. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 19, further comprising:

a storage device coupled with the central processing unit,

wherein the video signal adjustment is stored on the storage device.

22. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit analyzes the video source and generates a parameter for optimizing display of the video source.

23. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 22, wherein the central processing unit analyzes the video source when the video source is not displayed.

24. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 22, wherein the parameter for optimizing display is:

brightness;

contrast;

color warmth;

display resolution;

display scene motion;

or frame rate.

25. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 24, further comprising:

a storage device coupled with the central processing unit,

wherein the parameters for optimizing video display are stored in the storage device.

26. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 25, further comprising:

a network connection,

wherein the central processing unit process acquires parameters for optimizing display of the video source over the network connection that are subsequently stored in the storage device.

27. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 26, wherein the stored parameters for optimized video display are transmitted over the network connection.

28. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 27, wherein the digital display signal output to the dummy display is adjusted based on the parameters for optimized video display of the video source.

29. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit is adapted to be responsive to an audio signal from the video source.

30. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 29, wherein the video output comprises audio output.

31. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 30, further comprising:

an audio filtering module coupled with the central processing unit for adjusting characteristics of audio output.

32. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 30, wherein an interface between the central processing unit and the dummy display is a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI).

33. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 1, wherein an interface between the central processing unit and the dummy display is a digital video interface (DVI).

34. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 1, wherein the video processing system is based on a personal computer based architecture.

35. The integrated multimedia processing system of claim 34, further comprising:

a power supply providing power to the integrated multimedia processing system,

wherein the power supply comprises a power tank preventing the integrated multimedia processing system from shutting down when experiencing a power level in excess of a personal computer threshold.

36. A method for displaying video, comprising:

capturing a video signal from a video source;

processing the captured video signal using a central processing unit;

generating a digital display signal from the processed video signal;

outputting the digital display signal to a dummy display; and

displaying an image corresponding to the digital display signal on the dummy display,

wherein the processing of the video signal by the central processing unit comprises deinterlacing and scaling the video signal for generating the digital display signal for a video output on the dummy display, and wherein the dummy display displays the image without deinterlacing or scaling the digital display signal.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

converting an analog signal from the video source into a digital signal for processing.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the captured video signal is processed entirely in a digital format.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the captured video signal is processed entirely in a digital format.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the processing the captured video signal comprises controlling a characteristic of display output of a digital display signal, the characteristic is brightness, contrast, color warmth, display resolution, display scene motion, or frame rate.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the processing the captured video signal comprises controlling the frame rate of video output.

42. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

analyzing the video source; and

generating a parameter for optimizing video display; and

storing the parameter for optimizing video display on a storage device,

wherein the parameter for optimizing video display is brightness, contrast, color warmth, display resolution, display scene motion;

or frame rate.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the generating of the digital display signal is based in part on the parameter for optimizing video display.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

transmitting a stored parameter for optimizing video display over a network connection.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

acquiring a stored parameter for optimizing video display over a network connection.

46. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

acquiring a parameter for optimizing video display; and

storing the parameters for optimizing video display on a storage device,

wherein the parameter for optimizing video display is brightness, contrast, color warmth, display resolution, display scene motion;

or frame rate.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the generating of the digital display signal is based in part on the parameter for optimizing video display.

48. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

detecting a viewing environment characteristic,

wherein the viewing environment characteristic is lighting, room size, room color, audience number, or audience position.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

generating a video signal adjustment based on the viewing environment characteristic.

50. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

inputting a user preference characteristic,

wherein the user preference characteristic is brightness, contrast, color warmth, or display resolution, and

wherein the generating the display signal is based in part on the inputted user preference characteristic.

51. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

storing the inputted user preference characteristic on a storage device.