Identification and handling of data streams using coded preambles

• US 8,964,979 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lattice Semiconductor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Silicon Image, Inc. (Lattice Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Altmann, William Conrad
• Primary Examiner(s): Chea, Philip
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, KHOI V
• Application Number:
  US13/269,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20130089202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• US Class Current: 380/211
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/161 Encoding, multiplexing or demultiplexing different image signal components for multi-view video sequence encoding H04N19/597
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/178 Metadata, e.g. disparity information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• 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 21/43637 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 21/4408 involving video stream encryption, e.g. re-encrypting a decrypted video stream for redistribution in a home network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to identification and handling of data streams using coded preambles. An embodiment of an apparatus includes an interface with a communication channel, transmitter coupled with the interface to transmit one or more data streams via the interface, and a processing element, the processing element to receive one or more data streams for transmission. Upon receiving multiple data streams for transmission of a first type of data, including a first data stream and a second data stream for transmission of the first type of data, the processing element is to select a first preamble for the first data stream and a second preamble for the second data stream, where the first preamble is distinguishable from the second preamble.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an interface with a first communication channel;

a transmitter coupled with the interface to transmit one or more data streams via the interface over the first communication channel;

a processing element, the processing element to receive one or more data streams for transmission; and

an encryption module;

wherein, for a plurality of data streams for transmission of a first type of data including a first data stream and a second data stream for transmission of the first type of data, the processing element is to;

select a first preamble to identify the first data stream and a second preamble to identify the second data stream, wherein the first preamble is distinguishable from the second preamble, the first preamble and the second preamble selected by choosing either from a plurality of preamble inputs to a multiplexer or from a plurality of preambles of a lookup table,

insert the first preamble to precede the first data stream and the second preamble to precede the second data stream, and

merge the first data stream and second data stream together for transmission via the first communication channel, the first data stream and second data stream being merged together, wherein the merging of the first data stream and the second data stream includes inserting the second data stream into unused space of the first data stream;

wherein the encryption module is to encrypt the first data stream, and wherein the encryption module does not encrypt the first preamble for the first data stream or the second preamble for the second data stream.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein selecting the first preamble and the second preamble includes selecting a preamble for each data stream that identifies data being carried by the first data stream and the second data stream.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus utilizes the first preamble in a transmission of a single data stream of the first type.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the encryption module does not encrypt the second data stream.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the encryption module is an HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) compatible element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication channel is compatible with HDMI™

(High Definition Multimedia Interface) or MHL™

(Mobile High-definition Link).

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first type of data is one of video content data and audio content data.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first type of data is video data, the first data stream being a first primary data stream and the second channel being a second secondary data stream.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a mobile device.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first data stream is larger than the second data stream.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing element is further to create the second data stream from received data.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein creating the second data stream includes using a sampling rate for the received data that is low enough to allow insertion of the second data stream into the first data stream.

10. An apparatus comprising:

an interface with a first communication channel; and

a receiver coupled with the interface to receive a plurality of data streams of a first type via the interface over the first communication channel, each of the plurality of data streams of the first type having a different preamble preceding the data stream that identifies the data stream and distinguishes the data stream from the other data streams of the plurality of data streams, the plurality of data streams including a first data stream having a first preamble and a second data stream having a second preamble, the first preamble and the second preamble chosen either from a plurality of preamble inputs to a multiplexer of a transmitter or from a plurality of preambles of a lookup table of the transmitter, the first and second data streams carrying a first type of data, the first data stream and second data stream being merged together, wherein the merger of the first data stream and the second data stream includes the insertion of the second data stream into unused space of the first data stream, and wherein one or more of the plurality of data streams of the first type, including the first data stream, are encrypted and wherein the preambles of the plurality of data streams are unencrypted; and

a decryption module to decrypt the one or more encrypted data streams;

wherein the receiver is to;

determine the existence of the plurality of data streams of the first type based on detection of the first preamble and second preamble, and

handle each of the plurality of data streams according to the preamble for each data stream, the first data stream being handled in a first manner based on the first preamble and the second data stream being handled in a second manner based on the second preamble,

wherein handling the first data stream based on the first preamble includes decrypting the first data stream utilizing the decryption module.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the decryption module is an HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) compatible element.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the communication channel is compatible with HDMI™

(High Definition Multimedia Interface) or MHL™

(Mobile High-definition Link).

28. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second data stream is unencrypted, and wherein handling the second data stream based on the second preamble includes handling the second data stream without decryption.

29. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first data stream is larger than the second data stream.

13. A system comprising:

an interface with a first communication channel; and

a receiver coupled with the interface to receive a plurality of merged data streams of a first type via the interface over the first communication channel, each of the plurality of data streams having a separate preamble preceding the data stream that identifies the data stream and distinguishes the data stream from the other data streams, the plurality of data streams including a first data stream having a first preamble and a second data stream having a second preamble, the first preamble and the second preamble chosen either from a plurality of preamble inputs to a multiplexer of a transmitter or from a plurality of preambles of a lookup table of the transmitter, the first and second data streams carrying a first type of data, the first data stream and second data stream being merged together, wherein the merger of the first data stream and the second data stream includes the insertion of the second data stream into unused space of the first data stream, and wherein one or more of the plurality of data streams of the first type, including the first data stream, are encrypted and wherein the preambles of the plurality of data streams are unencrypted;

and a decryption module for the decryption of the one or more encrypted data streams;

wherein the receiver is to;

determine the existence of the plurality of streams of the first type based on detection of the first and second preamble, and

handle each of the plurality of data streams according to the preamble for each data stream, the first data stream being directed to a first element based on the first preamble and the second data stream being directed to a second element based on the second preamble,

wherein handling the first data stream based on the first preamble includes decrypting the first data stream utilizing the decryption module.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the receiver is a part of a port processor to receive data via one or more ports, the one or more ports including a first port for the interface.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the first element is a television display to display the first data stream.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the first element is a part of the system and the second element is external to the system.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second element is a second system including a second receiver.

18. A method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of data streams to be transmitted via a single interconnect over a first communication channel, the plurality of data streams including a first data stream and a second data stream, the first data stream and the second data stream each containing a first type of data;

choosing a first preamble to identify the first data stream and a second preamble to identify the second data stream, the first preamble and the second preamble chosen either from a plurality of preamble inputs to a multiplexer or from a plurality of preambles of a lookup table, the first preamble and the second preamble each having a predetermined number of clock periods, the first and second preambles uniquely identifying the first data stream and the second data stream among data streams of the first type for transmission, wherein the first preamble is distinguishable from the second preamble;

inserting the first preamble to precede the first data stream and the second preamble to precede the second data stream;

merging the first data stream and the second data stream together for transmission, wherein merging the first data stream and the second data stream includes inserting the second data stream into unused space of the first data stream; and

transmitting via the single interconnect over the first communication channel;

an element to identify the first type of data,

the first data stream, wherein the first data stream is preceded by the first preamble, the first data stream being encrypted for transmission and the first preamble being unencrypted, and

the second data stream, wherein the second data stream is preceded by the second preamble, the second preamble being unencrypted.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first preamble and the second preamble each include one or more symbols for an error correction mechanism.

32. The method of claim 18, further comprising creating the second data stream from received data.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein creating the second data stream includes applying a sampling rate for the received data that is low enough to allow insertion of the second data stream into the first data stream.

20. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of merged data streams via a single interconnect over a first communication channel at a receiver, wherein the merged data streams include a first data stream and a second data stream merged by the insertion of the second data stream into unused space of the first data stream, the plurality of data streams including a designation to identify a first type of data, each of the plurality of data streams of the first type being preceded by a preamble having a predetermined number of clock periods to identify each of the different data streams of the first type and to distinguish each of the data streams from each other of the plurality of data streams, the preamble for each of the data streams of the first type being unique among the plurality of data streams of the first type, the first data stream having a first preamble and the second data stream having a second preamble, the first preamble and the second preamble chosen either from a plurality of preamble inputs to a multiplexer of a transmitter or from a plurality of preambles of a lookup table of the transmitter, the first data stream being encrypted and the preambles of the plurality of data streams being unencrypted;

determining the existence of a plurality of data streams of the first type by detecting the receipt of a plurality of preambles for the data streams of the first type; and

handling each of the data streams of the first type according to the preamble for the data stream, where handling data of the first data stream according to the first preamble includes decrypting the first data stream.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising separating the merged data streams of the first type prior to handling each of the data streams of the first type according to the preamble for the data stream.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein handling each of the data streams of the first type further includes handling the second data stream of the first type without decrypting the second data stream.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein handling each of the data streams of the first type includes directing the first data stream to a first element and directing the second data stream to a second element.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the first element is a part of a first apparatus or system including the receiver, and the second element is external to the first apparatus or system.

25. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

obtaining a plurality of data streams to be transmitted via a single interconnect over a first communication channel, the plurality of data streams including a first data stream and a second data stream, the first data stream and the second data stream each containing a first type of data;

choosing a first preamble to identify the first data stream and a second preamble to identify the second data stream, the first preamble and the second preamble chosen either from a plurality of preamble inputs to a multiplexer or from a plurality of preambles of a lookup table, the first preamble and the second preamble each having a predetermined number of clock periods, the first and second preambles uniquely identifying the first data stream and the second data stream among data streams of the first type for transmission, wherein the first preamble is distinguishable from the second preamble;

inserting the first preamble to precede the first data stream and the second preamble to precede the second data stream;

merging the first data stream and the second data stream together for transmission, wherein merging the first data stream and the second data stream includes inserting the second data stream into unused space of the first data stream; and

transmitting via the single interconnect over the first communication channel; and

transmitting via the single interconnect over the first communication channel;

an element to identify the first type of data,

the first data stream, wherein the first data stream is preceded by the first preamble, the first data stream being encrypted for transmission and the first preamble being unencrypted, and

the second data stream, wherein the second data stream is preceded by the second preamble, the second preamble being unencrypted.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving plurality of merged data streams via a single interconnect over a first communication channel at a receiver, wherein the merged data streams include a first data stream and a second data stream merged by the insertion of the second data stream into unused space of the first data stream, the plurality of data streams including a designation to identify a first type of data, each of the plurality of data streams of the first type being preceded by a preamble having a predetermined number of clock periods to identify each of the different data streams of the first type and to distinguish each of the data streams from each other of the plurality of data streams, the preamble for each of the data streams of the first type being unique among the plurality of data streams of the first type, the first data stream having a first preamble and the second data stream having a second preamble, the first preamble and the second preamble chosen either from a plurality of preamble inputs to a multiplexer of a transmitter or from a plurality of preambles of a lookup table of the transmitter, the first data stream being encrypted and the preambles of the plurality of data streams being unencrypted;

determining the existence of a plurality of data streams of the first type by detecting the receipt of a plurality of preambles for the data streams of the first type; and

handling each of the data streams of the first type according to the preamble for the data stream, where handling data of the first data stream according to the first preamble includes decrypting the first data stream.