Network environment for video processing modules

• US 20040078418A1
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Law, Patrick, Neuman, Darren, Baer, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,259,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6338 directed to network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6371 directed to network

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for video processing modules. More specifically a network is disclosed for processing data. The network comprises a register DMA controller adapted to support register access and at least one node adapted to the data. At least one link communicates with the node, and is adapted to transmit data and at least one network module communicates with at least the link, and is adapted to route data to at least the link.

Claims

1. A network for processing data adapted to form at least one display pipeline therein by selecting and concatenating at least two nodes from a plurality of nodes in network together.

2. The network of claim 1, wherein the network is further adapted to form a plurality of display pipelines.

3. The network of claim 1, further comprising at least two display pipelines have different data rates.

4. The network of claim 1, further comprising one display pipeline having an independent data rate.

5. The network of claim 4, further comprising a flow control module enabling said independent data rate.

6. The network of claim 1, further comprising a handshaking protocol adapted to generate at least two display pipelines.

7. The network of claim 1, wherein the network is further adapted to change a functionality of said display pipeline by concatenating more than two nodes together.

8. The network of claim 1 further comprising a register DMA controller adapted to support register access.

9. The network of claim 8, wherein said register DMA controller is further adapted to provide at least one instruction to form said display pipeline.

10. The network of claim 8, wherein said register DMA controller is further adapted to obtain at least one instruction from a register update list.

11. The network of claim 10, wherein said register DMA controller is further adapted to obtain said instruction in response to a trigger event.

12. A network for processing data comprising:

a register DMA controller adapted to support register access;

a plurality of nodes adapted to process the data;

at least one link communicating with said nodes and adapted to transmit the data between said nodes;

at least one network module communicating with at least said link and adapted to route the data to at least said link, wherein the network is adapted to form at least one display pipeline therein by selecting and concatenating at least two nodes from said plurality of nodes.

13. The network of claim 12, wherein the network is further adapted to form a plurality of display pipelines.

14. The network of claim 12, comprising at least two display pipelines have different data rates.

15. The network of claim 12, comprising at least one display pipeline having an independent data rate.

16. The network of claim 15, further comprising a flow control module adapted to enable said independent data rates.

17. The network of claim 12, further comprising a handshaking protocol adapted to generate at least two display pipelines.

18. The network of claim 12 comprising a plurality of network modules connecting at least two links and further adapted to route information there between.

19. The network of claim 12 further comprising a video register bus coupled to said register DMA controller.

20. The network of claim 19 further comprising a register bus connected to at least said register DMA controller, wherein said video register and register busses use identical protocol and signals.

21. The network of claim 20, wherein said register DMA controller forwards all transactions to said video register bus.22. The network of claim 12, wherein said register DMA controller is adapted to perform register DMA operations.

23. A method of processing data using a network comprising:

forming a first display pipeline using at least one node in the network;

processing the data using said first display pipeline;

forming a second display pipeline using at least one node in the network; and

processing the data using said second display pipeline, wherein said first and second display pipelines are different.

24. A method of processing data using a network comprising:

forming a display pipeline by selecting and concatenating at least two nodes from a plurality of nodes in the a network; and

processing the data using said display pipeline.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein forming said display pipeline comprises coupling a plurality of nodes together.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising starting said display pipeline at an entrance node.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising ending said display network at an exit node.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising adding functionality to said display pipeline by cascading at least one additional node to said node.

29. A method of programming an A/V system using a network comprising:

(a) generating at least one trigger at an end of a first picture;

(b) obtaining at least one register update list from a main memory;

(c) notifying a decoder about said end of said first picture;

(d) configuring at least one node in the network for a second picture;

(e) enabling said at least one node;

(f) obtaining said second picture from a frame buffer; and

(g) providing said second picture to a display pipeline in the network.

30. The programming method of claim 29 comprising repeating steps (a)-(g).

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said at least one node is an entry node.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein said at least one node is a video feeder.

33. The network of claim 29, comprising at least two display pipelines have different data rates.

34. The network of claim 29, comprising at least one display pipeline having an independent data rate.