Multi-screen image reproducing apparatus and image reproducing method in multi-screen image reproducing apparatus

• US 7,792,412 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2005
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Columbia Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nishitani, Masanobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNN, MISHAWN N
• Application Number:
  US11/084,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20050207728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,996 Days
• Field of Search: 725/112, 725/113, 725/135, 725/136, 725/8, 725/9, 725/144, 725/145, 386/46, 386/61, 386/66, 386/95, 386/124, 348/460, 348/461, 348/383, 348/588, 348/721, 348/739, 348/51, 348/52, 348/512, 348/584, 348/585, 358/450, 358/451, 345/1.1, 709/203, 709217-219, 709/224, 709/248, 709/249
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026

Abstract

To provide a multi-screen video playback apparatus outputting video data to a plurality of display units constituting a multi-screen display, respectively, and capable of reliably and efficiently delivering the video data and playback control information required for reproducing the video data. There is provided a multi-screen video playback apparatus including: a plurality of rendering units RU1 to RU4 which is connected to a network and outputs video data to the corresponding display units among a plurality of display units; and an video delivery server VS as video-data and playback-control-information delivery device, which is connected to the network and has a function of delivering the video data to the plurality of rendering units and a function of delivering to the plurality of rendering units playback control information making the plurality of rendering units output the video data to the corresponding display units. The network includes a video network to deliver the video data and a playback-control-information network to deliver the playback control information.

Claims

1. A multi-screen video playback system for a multi-screen display, the multi-screen video playback system comprising:

a plurality of display units constituting the multi-screen display;

a local area network;

a plurality of rendering units which are connected to the local area network and output video data to the corresponding display units among the plurality of display units, the video data including frames of video data; and

a video-data and playback-control-information delivery device which is connected to the local area network and has a function of delivering the video data to the plurality of rendering units and a function of delivering to the plurality of rendering units playback control information which enables the plurality of rendering units to output the video data to the corresponding display units, the local area network comprising;

a video network that connects the video-data and playback-control-information delivery device and each rendering unit, the video network configured to deliver the video data; and

a playback-control-information network that connects the video-data and playback-control-information delivery device and each rendering unit, the playback-control-information network being separate from the video network and configured to deliver the playback control information,

the playback control information including a synchronization signal which synchronizes the rendering units enabling the plurality of display units to display synchronized images, the synchronized images each being a partial picture corresponding to a dedicated area of the display with respect to the corresponding display units, the partial picture for each area corresponding to each imaging unit separately delivered.

2. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 1,

the playback-control-information network enabling two-way communication between the video-data and playback-control-information delivery device and the rendering units.

3. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 1,

the video-data and playback-control-information delivery device including a playback-control-information delivery server which can generate and deliver the playback control information, and a video delivery server which can generate video data to be supplied to the rendering units and deliver the video data to the rendering units.

4. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 3,

the playback-control-information network enabling at least connection between the playback-control-information delivery server and the video delivery server and between the playback-control-information delivery server and the rendering units.

5. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 4,

the playback-control-information network enabling at least two-way communication between the playback-control-information delivery server and the video delivery server and between the playback-control-information delivery server and the rendering units.

6. The multi-screen video playback system according to claim 1,

the video network being a large-capacity and high-speed network and the playback-control-information network being a small-capacity and low-speed network compared with the video network.

7. A video playback method in a multi-screen video playback system for a multi-screen display, the multi-screen video playback system including:

a plurality of display units constituting the multi-screen display;

a local area network including a video network and a playback-control-information network which is separate from the video network;

a plurality of rendering units which is connected to the local area network and outputs video data to the corresponding display units among the plurality of display units; and

video-data and playback-control-information delivery means which is connected to the network and has a function of delivering the video data to the plurality of rendering units and a function of delivering playback control information to the plurality of rendering units which enables the plurality of rendering units to output the video data to the corresponding display units, the playback control information including a synchronization signal which synchronizes the rendering units enabling the plurality of display units to display synchronized images, the synchronized images each being a partial picture corresponding to a dedicated area of the display with respect to the corresponding display units, the partial picture for each area corresponding to each imaging unit separately delivered, the method comprising;

delivering the video data through the video network that connects the video-data and playback-control-information delivery means and each rendering unit, the video data including frames of video data; and

delivering the playback control information through the playback-control-information network that connects the video-data and playback-control-information delivery means and each rendering unit.

8. A video-data and playback-control-information delivery device for a multi-screen display, the video-data and playback-control-information delivery device comprising:

a first delivery means which is connected to a video network and delivers video data to a plurality of rendering units, the video network connecting the first delivery means and each rendering unit, the video data including frames of video data; and

a second delivery means which is connected to a playback-control-information network which is separate from the video network and connects the second delivery means and each rendering unit, the second delivering means delivering to the plurality of rendering units playback control information making the plurality of rendering units output the video data to corresponding display units,

the playback control information including a synchronization signal which synchronizes the rendering units enabling the plurality of display units to display synchronized images, the synchronized images each being a partial picture corresponding to a dedicated area of the display with respect to the corresponding display units, the partial picture for each area corresponding to each imaging unit separately delivered.

9. A rendering unit which outputs video data to a corresponding display unit for multi-screen display, the rendering unit comprising:

a first receiving means which is connected to a video network and receives the video data, the video data including frames of video data;

a second receiving means which is connected to a playback control-information network which is separate from the video network and receives playback control information; and

an output means which outputs the video data to the corresponding display unit based on the playback control information,

the playback control information including a synchronization signal which synchronizes the rendering units enabling the plurality of display units to display synchronized images, the synchronized images each being a partial picture corresponding to a dedicated area of the display with respect to the corresponding display units, the partial picture for each area corresponding to each imaging unit separately delivered.