Transmission system, transmission apparatus, and transmission method for transmitting video data

• US 8,253,859 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Kazuyoshi, Matsuura, Katsuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sam
• Application Number:
  US11/919,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20090278984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,931 Days
• Field of Search: 348/448
• US Class Current: 348/554
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/047 using display data channel standard [DDC] communication
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/02 characterised by the way in which colour is displayed details of colour display specific for CRTs G09G1/28; specific for flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays G09G3/2003; specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/015 High-definition television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/035 Circuits for the digital non-picture data signal, e.g. for slicing of the data signal, for regeneration of the data-clock signal, for error detection or correction of the data signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0803 using frequency interleaving, e.g. with precision offset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/081 the additional information signals being transmitted by means of a subcarrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/083 with signal insertion during the vertical and the horizontal blanking interval , e.g. MAC data signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/087 with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

An HDMI(R) source determines whether or not an HDMI(R) sink can receive a sub-signal based on VSDB of E-EDID. When the HDMI(R) sink can receive the sub-signal, the HDMI(R) source adds a sub-signal to pixel data of a main image composed of pixel data whose number of bits is smaller than that of transmission pixel data transmitted by a transmitter, thereby constructing transmission pixel data. This data is transmitted by the transmitter through TMDS channels #0 to #2. Furthermore, the HDMI(R) source transmits a general control packet containing sub-signal information indicating whether or not the sub-signal is contained in the transmission pixel data in the control period of a vertical blanking period. The present invention can be applied to, for example, HDMI(R).

Claims

1. A transmission system, comprising:

a source-side apparatus for transmitting data using a transmission scheme in which data is transmitted in units of 8 bits, the units corresponding to the clock periods of a pixel clock; and

a sink-side apparatus;

wherein the source-side apparatus includes;

a video data generator configured to generate video data such that the number of bits representing any component of color data or luminance and color-difference data of any one pixel is a predetermined number that is not an integer multiple of 8 bits,

a transmission data arrangement section configured to arrange the video data generated by the video data generator within the units of 8 bits of the transmission scheme by first inserting, between the bits representing a given pixel of a given component of the generated video data and the bits representing a next pixel of the given component of the generated video data, a respective number of bits of data differing from the generated video data such that a first integer multiple of a sum of the predetermined number of bits and the respective number bits equals a second integer multiple of 8, and then dividing the generated video data and the inserted data among the units of 8 bits, and

a sending section configured to send the generated video data and the inserted data arranged in units of 8 bits each by the transmission data arrangement section over individual transmission lines for each component of the color data or the luminance and color-difference data in synchronization with the pixel clock; and

wherein the sink-side apparatus includes;

a receiver configured to detect the sent data sent by sending section over the transmission lines in units of 8 bits in synchronization with the pixel clock, and

a data separator configured to separate the generated video data of the predetermined number of bits and the inserted data from the received data in units of 8 bits received by the receiver.

2. The transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the source-side apparatus comprises an encryptor configured to encrypt the generated video data and the inserted data arranged by the transmission data arrangement section in units of 8 bits prior to being sent by the sending section, and the sink-side apparatus comprises a decryptor configured to decrypt the received data received by the receiver in units of 8 bits prior to being separated by the data separator.

3. A transmission method for transmitting data using a transmission scheme in which data is transmitted in units of 8 bits, the units corresponding to the clock periods of pixel clock, the transmission method comprising:

generating video data to be transmitted such that the number of bits representing any component of color data or luminance and color-difference data of any one pixel is a predetermined number of bits that is not an integer multiple of 8 bits;

arranging the generated video data of the predetermined number of bits within the units of 8 bits of the transmission scheme by first inserting, between the bits representing a given pixel of a given component of the generated video data and the bits representing a next pixel of the given component of the generated video data, a respective number of bits of data differing from the generated video data such that a first integer multiple of a sum of the predetermined number of bits and the respective number bits equals a second integer multiple of 8, and then dividing the generated video data and the inserted data among the units of 8 bits; and

transmitting the generated video data and the inserted data arranged in units of 8 bits each by the transmission data arrangement section over individual transmission lines for each component of the color data or the luminance and color-difference data from a source-side apparatus to a sink-side apparatus in synchronization with the pixel clock.

4. A transmission apparatus for transmitting data using a transmission scheme in which data is transmitted in units of 8 bits, the units corresponding to the clock periods of pixel clock, the transmission apparatus comprising:

a video data generator configured to generate video data such that the number of bits representing any component of color data or luminance and color-difference data of any one pixel is a predetermined number that is not an integer multiple of 8 bits;

a transmission data arrangement section configured to arrange the video data generated by the video data generator within the units of 8 bits of the transmission scheme by first inserting, between the bits representing a given pixel of a given component of the generated video data and the bits representing a next pixel of the given component of the generated video data, a respective number of bits of data differing from the generated video data such that a first integer multiple of a sum of the predetermined number of bits and the respective number bits equals a second integer multiple of 8, and then dividing the generated video data and the inserted data among the units of 8 bits; and

a sending section configured to send the generated video data and the inserted data arranged in units of 8 bits each by the transmission data arrangement section over individual transmission lines for each component of the color data or the luminance and color-difference data in synchronization with the pixel clock.

5. The transmission apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an encryptor configured to encrypt generated video data and the inserted data arranged by the transmission data arrangement section in units of 8 bits prior to being sent by the sending section.