Data gathering/data processing device for video/audio signals

• US 8,914,614 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Gilge, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): GEIB, BENJAMIN P
• Application Number:
  US10/587,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20070226459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,611 Days
• Field of Search: 712/28, 709/252
• US Class Current: 712/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

In order to create a data gathering/data processing device for video/audio signals which includes a plurality of signal processors and which has an optimized hardware architecture, it is provided that the signal processors or a subset of the signal processors are coupled to a network having a star-shaped topology.

Claims

1. A data gathering/data processing device for video/audio signals, comprising:

a plurality of signal processors; and

an evaluation device configured to analyze output of at least a subset of the signal processors, the evaluation device and the at least a subset of the signal processors each forming a direct link to one of a central hub, a switch and a port, of a network having a star- shaped topology.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least a subset of the signal processors are communicatively interlinked via the one of a central hub, a switch and a port of the network.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the network is integrated into the device.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the network forms a backbone for the device.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the network is designed according to the Ethernet standard.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein data traffic on the network proceeds according to the Ethernet standard.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing, the one of a hub, a switch and a port of the network being integrated into the housing which accommodates the signal processors.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing, the one of a hub, a switch and a port of the network being situated externally with respect to the housing which accommodates the signal processors.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one connection for inputting video/audio signals to the at least a subset of the signal processors.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one connection, at least two of the signal processors being assigned to the at least one connection.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one connection for a transmission of data to a digital network.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the connection is coupled to the network of the device.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the connection is coupled to at least one of a hub, a switch and a port of the network of the device.

14. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a housing, the one of a hub, a switch and a port of the network being integrated into the housing which accommodates the signal processors;

at least one connection for inputting video/audio signals to the at least a subset of the signal processors; and

at least one connection for a transmission of data to a digital network;

wherein;

the at least a subset of the signal processors are communicatively interlinked via the one of a central hub, a switch and a port of the network,

the network is integrated into the device,

the network forms a backbone for the device, and

the network is designed according to the Ethernet standard, and data traffic on the network proceeds according to the Ethernet standard.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one connection for a transmission of data to a digital network is coupled to the network of the device, and coupled to the one of a hub, a switch and a port of the network of the device.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of signal processors are configured to communicate with one another in full duplex mode.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of signal processors is assigned a specific bandwidth.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of signal processors are connected to the same signal source, a first one of the at least two of the plurality of signal processors is configured to perform a compression of a signal received from the signal source, and a second one of the at least two of the plurality of signal processors is configured to perform an analysis of the signal received from the signal source.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein internal communication between the plurality of signal processors occurs over a digital network coupled to the network having a star-shaped topology.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of signal processors are configured to communicate with one another in full duplex mode,

at least a subset of the plurality of signal processors is assigned a specific bandwidth,

at least two of the plurality of signal processors are connected to the same signal source,

a first one of the at least two of the plurality of signal processors is configured to perform a compression of a signal received from the signal source, and a second one of the at least two of the plurality of signal processors is configured to perform an analysis of the signal received from the signal source, and

internal communication between the plurality of signal processors occurs over a digital network coupled to the network having a star-shaped topology.

21. A device, comprising:

a housing having a plurality of input connections and an output connection, each of the input connections adapted to receive an audio/visual signal;

a plurality of signal processors coupled to the input connections, at least two of the plurality of signal processors being coupled to a shared input connection, a first one of the at least two of the plurality of signal processors configured to perform a compression of a signal from the shared input connection, and a second one of the at least two of the plurality of signal processors configured to perform an analysis of the signal from the shared input connection;

an evaluation device to analyze output of at least a subset of the signal processors; and

one of a central hub, a switch and a port, directly connected to each of the signal processors and to the evaluation device to form a network having a star-shaped topology, each of the connections to the one of a central hub, a switch and a port being assigned a specific communication bandwidth;

wherein the one of a central hub, a switch and a port is configured to engage in full duplex communication with each of the signal processors, communicate the output of the at least a subset of the signal processors to the evaluation device, communicate an output of the evaluation device to a second device coupled to the output connection, and communicate an input from the second device, received via the output connection, to the evaluation device.

22. A device, comprising:

a housing having a plurality of input connections and a plurality of output connections, each of the input connections adapted to receive an audio/visual signal;

a plurality of signal processors coupled to the input connections, at least two of the plurality of signal processors being coupled to a shared input connection, a first one of the at least two of the plurality of signal processors configured to perform a compression of a signal from the shared input connection, and a second one of the at least two of the plurality of signal processors configured to perform an analysis of the signal from the shared input connection; and

an evaluation device configured to analyze output of at least a subset of the signal processors;

wherein, each of the plurality of signal processors and the evaluation device is directly coupled to one of a central hub, a switch and a port, via a respective one of the plurality of output connections, to form a network having a star-shaped topology, each of the connections to the one of a central hub, a switch and a port being assigned a specific communication bandwidth, and

wherein the one of a central hub, a switch and a port is configured to engage in full duplex communication with each of the signal processors, communicate the output of the at least a subset of the signal processors to the evaluation device, communicate an output of the evaluation device to a second device coupled to an output connection of the one of a central hub, a switch and a port, and communicate an input from the second device, received via the output connection of the one of a central hub, a switch and a port, to the evaluation device.