Channel selection in a multimedia system

• US 9,197,435 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VIXS Systems Incorporated (Pixelworks Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: VIXS Systems Incorporated (Pixelworks Incorporated)
• Inventors: Laksono, Indra
• Primary Examiner(s): Chae, Kyu
• Application Number:
  US13/606,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20120331509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 725/74, 725/86, 725/87, 725/91, 725/95, 725/98, 725/103
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2805 Home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/106 for domestic distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A method for a client module to provide a channel selection request in a multimedia system begins by receiving an input signal from a client. The method continues by interpreting the input signal to determine type of signal. The method continues, when the type of signal is control information, by determining whether the control information relates to a local command or a system-level command. The method continues, when the control information relates to a system-level command, by processing the control information for conveyance to a multimedia server to produce a control message. The method continues by transmitting the control message to the multimedia server.

Claims

1. A method for hub-based network access, the method comprises:

receiving network packets via a network connection;

determining identity of at least one of a plurality of clients as a target of at least one of the network packets to produce an identified client by interpreting a header section of the at least one of the network packets to identify the at least one of the plurality of clients;

determining whether a network access application is active for the identified client by interpreting the header section of the at least one of the network packets to determine a type of network access, and determining whether the network access application is active based on the identity of the at least one of the plurality of clients and on the type of network access;

when the network access application is active for the identified client, processing data of the at least one of the network packets to produce client data; and

multiplexing the client data for transmission to the plurality of clients to produce multiplexed client data; and

transmitting the multiplexed client data to the plurality of clients.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the type of network access further comprises at least one of:

interpreting the header section of the at least one of the network packets to determine e-mail network access;

or interpreting the header section of the at least one of the network packets to determine web browser network access.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing of the data of the at least one of the network packets further comprises:

preparing display data based on the data of the at least one of the network packets and the network access application;

storing the display data in a frame buffer to produce stored display data; and

when a frame of display data is available, retrieving portions of the stored display data for packetizing.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the multiplexing of the client data further comprises:

multiplexing packets of the stored display data to produce the multiplexed client data.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprises:

receiving client-to-client packets from at least one of a plurality of clients;

processing the client-to-client packets to produce processed client packets;

multiplexing the processed client packets with the client data for transmission to the plurality of clients to produce multiplexed client packets; and

transmitting the multiplexed client data to the plurality of clients.

6. An apparatus for hub-based network access, the apparatus comprises:

a processing module; and

memory operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the memory stores operational instructions that cause the processing module to;

receive network packets via a network connection;

determine identity of at least one of a plurality of clients as a target of at least one of the network packets to produce an identified client by interpreting a header section of the at least one of the network packets to identify the at least one of the plurality of clients;

determine whether a network access application is active for the identified client by interpreting the header section of the at least one of the network packets to determine a type of network access, and determining whether the network access application is active based on the identity of the at least one of the plurality of clients and on the type of network access; and

when the network access application is active for the identified client, process data of the at least one of the network packets to produce client data;

multiplex the client data for transmission to the plurality of clients to produce multiplexed client data; and

transmit the multiplexed client data to the plurality of clients.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to determine the type of network access by at least one of:

interpreting the header section of the at least one of the network packets to determine e-mail network access;

or interpreting the header section of the at least one of the network packets to determine web browser network access.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to process of the data of the at least one of the network packets by:

preparing display data based on the data of the at least one of the network packets and the network access application;

storing the display data in a frame buffer to produce stored display data; and

when a frame of display data is available, retrieving portions of the stored display data for packetizing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to multiplex the client data by:

multiplexing packets of the stored display data to produce the multiplexed client data.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the memory further comprises operational instructions that cause the processing module to:

receive client-to-client packets from at least one of a plurality of clients;

process the client-to-client packets to produce processed client packets;

multiplex the processed client packets with the client data for transmission to the plurality of clients to produce multiplexed client packets; and

transmit the multiplexed client data to the plurality of clients.