Method and device for encoding vibro-kinetic data onto an LPCM audio stream over an HDMI link

• US 8,515,239 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: D-Box Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: D-Box Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Paillard, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wendmagegn, Girumsew
• Application Number:
  US12/326,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20100135641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,721 Days
• Field of Search: 386/239, 386/E5.064, 700/94
• US Class Current: 386/239
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

There is described a method and device for encoding a vibro-kinetic signal (e.g., motion codes) directly onto a video player media (e.g., a DVD player) and for streaming the vibro-kinetic signal to a dedicated motion decoder in synchrony to the audio and video, while the movie support media (e.g., a DVD, a computer file, streaming data from a network) is being played. According to an embodiment, the multi-channel vibro-kinetic signal is encoded within one of the audio channels transported by the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) link. Two methods are proposed to perform the encoding: Direct LSB (Least Significant Bit) Injection; and Perceptually Modulated Injection. There are also described corresponding decoding methods and motion decoders.

Claims

1. A method for encoding vibro-kinetic data onto an original LPCM audio stream to be packaged and synchronized with a video stream which is to be read by a video player, the original LPCM audio stream comprises a plurality of LPCM audio channels, the vibro-kinetic data for controlling a motion platform through a motion decoder, the method comprising:

obtaining a succession of blocks of vibro-kinetic samples from a vibro-kinetic file;

constructing a vibro-kinetic packet with each block of vibro-kinetic samples, the vibro-kinetic packet comprising a given number of bits, the bits representing at least a portion of the vibro-kinetic data;

obtaining a series of original LPCM samples from at least one of the audio channels from the original LPCM audio stream;

replacing at least the Least Significant Bit (LSB) of each LPCM sample of the series of original LPCM samples with a different one of the given number of bits of the vibro-kinetic packet to produce LPCM samples with encoded vibro-kinetic data; and

assembling a given number of LPCM samples with encoded vibro-kinetic data to reconstitute an LPCM audio channel which thereby includes the vibro-kinetic data for controlling the motion platform, the LPCM audio channel for being transported over a digital link between the DVD player and the motion decoder.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising packaging the encoded LPCM audio stream with the video stream to form part of content of a DVD.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising creating a DVD using the content.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising reading the DVD content using the DVD player.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising reading the vibro-kinetic data using the motion decoder.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising controlling the motion platform using the vibro-kinetic data read by the motion decoder.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital link comprises an HDMI link.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising compressing the LPCM audio channels using a compression algorithm.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the compression algorithm comprises an IEC61937 algorithm.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the LSB comprises more than one bit.

11. A method for modulating vibro-kinetic data onto an original LPCM audio stream to be packaged and synchronized with a video stream which is to be read by a video player, the original LPCM audio stream comprises a plurality of LPCM audio channels, the vibro-kinetic data for controlling a motion platform through a motion decoder, the method comprising:

obtaining vibro-kinetic samples from a vibro-kinetic file, the vibro-kinetic samples comprising the vibro-kinetic data;

obtaining a series of original LPCM audio samples from at least one of the audio channels from the original LPCM audio stream;

modulating the vibro-kinetic data according to the LPCM audio samples using a perceptual distance criterion to produce a modulated signal in the audio band such that the detectability of the modulated signal within the audio signal is minimized; and

producing an output LPCM audio channel by adding the modulated signal to the original LPCM audio channel, the output LPCM audio channel thereby includes the vibro-kinetic data for controlling the motion platform, the output LPCM audio channel for being transported over a digital link between the DVD player and the motion decoder.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising packaging the encoded LPCM audio stream with the video stream to form part of content of a DVD.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising creating a DVD using the content.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising reading the DVD content using the DVD player.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising reading the vibro-kinetic data using the motion decoder.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling the motion platform using the vibro-kinetic data read by the motion decoder.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the digital link comprises an HDMI link.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising compressing the vibro-kinetic data prior to its modulation into LPCM audio channels using a compression algorithm.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the compression algorithm comprises one of a DPCM algorithm, a Linear Prediction algorithm, and a Vector Quantization algorithm.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising compressing the LPCM audio channels using a compression algorithm.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the compression algorithm comprises an IEC61937 algorithm.

22. A method for decoding, in real time, vibro-kinetic data encoded in a stream of LPCM audio channels, the multi-channel vibro-kinetic data being for controlling a motion platform, the method comprising:

receiving the stream of LPCM audio channels with encoded vibro-kinetic data;

detecting one or more LPCM audio channels carrying vibro-kinetic data, from the stream of LPCM audio channels;

extracting the Least Significant Bit of each LPCM sample of each LPCM audio channel carrying vibro-kinetic data;

constructing a bit stream of vibro-kinetic data with the extracted Least Significant Bits;

parsing the bit stream and detecting a sync field;

using said bit stream decoding and validating a vibro-kinetic packet;

extracting vibro-kinetic samples from the vibro-kinetic packet; and

outputting the vibro-kinetic samples to the motion platform.

23. A method for demodulating, in real time, a multi-channel vibro-kinetic signal modulated in audio channels, the multi-channel vibro-kinetic data being for controlling a motion platform, the method comprising:

receiving LPCM audio channels with modulated vibro-kinetic data;

detecting a vibro-kinetic signal modulated using a perceptual distance criterion in the LPCM audio channels;

demodulating the vibro-kinetic signal to extract the vibro-kinetic data;

constructing vibro-kinetic samples from the extracted vibro-kinetic data; and

outputting the vibro-kinetic samples to the motion platform.

24. A motion decoder for decoding, in real time, vibro-kinetic data encoded in a stream of LPCM audio channels, the vibro-kinetic data being for controlling a motion platform, the motion decoder comprising:

a receiver for receiving and reading the stream of LPCM audio channels;

a processor adapted to;

detect one or more LPCM audio channels carrying vibro-kinetic data, from the stream of LPCM audio channels;

extract the Least Significant Bit of each LPCM sample of each LPCM audio channel carrying vibro-kinetic data;

construct a bit stream of vibro-kinetic data with the extracted Least Significant Bits;

parse the bit stream and detect a sync field;

decode and validate a vibro-kinetic packet using said bit stream; and

extract vibro-kinetic samples from the vibro-kinetic packet; and

an output for outputting the vibro-kinetic samples to the motion platform.

25. A motion decoder for demodulating, in real time, a multi-channel vibro-kinetic signal included in an LPCM audio stream, the home-theatre audio stream comprising two or more LPCM audio channels, the multi-channel vibro-kinetic signal being for controlling a motion platform, the motion decoder comprising:

a receiver for receiving and reading the LPCM audio channels;

a processor adapted to detect a vibro-kinetic signal modulated using a perceptual distance criterion in the LPCM audio channels, demodulate the vibro-kinetic signal to extract the vibro-kinetic data, and construct vibro-kinetic samples from the extracted vibro-kinetic data; and

an output for outputting the vibro-kinetic samples to the motion platform.