Hierarchy and processing order control of downloadable and upgradeable media processing applications

• US 8,984,501 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation (Dolby Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Crockett, Brett G., Brown, Charles P., Seefeldt, Alan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Thuy
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERMAN, STEPHEN DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/377,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/482 Application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/484 Precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4881 Scheduling strategies for dispatcher, e.g. round robin, multi-level priority queues
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0091 Means for obtaining special acoustic effects combined with modulation G10H1/043
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/041 Processor load management, i.e. adaptation or optimization of computational load or data throughput in computationally intensive musical processes to avoid overload artifacts, e.g. by deliberately suppressing less audible or less relevant tones or decreasing their complexity
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/028 with computer assistance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• 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 21/43615 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 21/4431 characterized by the use of Application Program Interface [API] libraries
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4516 involving client characteristics, e.g. Set-Top-Box type, software version or amount of memory available
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8166 involving executable data, e.g. software arrangements for executing specific programs G06F9/44; broadcasting computer programmes in broadcast systems H04H20/91; involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/04 Circuit arrangements, e.g. for selective connection of amplifier inputs/outputs to loudspeakers, for loudspeaker detection, or for adaptation of settings to personal preferences or hearing impairments combinations of amplifiers H03F3/68; stereophonic systems H04S
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/30 : Control circuits for electronic adaptation of the sound field
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/301 : Automatic calibration of stereophonic sound system, e.g. with test microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/307 : Frequency adjustment, e.g. tone control H04S7/301 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/308 : Electronic adaptation dependent on speaker or headphone connection

Abstract

A method for an audio/video (A/V) system includes accessing processing modules for downloadable applications. Each downloadable application can have at least one processing module and data for a graphical user interface (GUI), and each processing module can be configured to interact with an upgradable engine to adjust a performance or a setting of an audio and video (A/V) equipment. The method includes arranging an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain to share processing resources, to reduce a processing requirement of the A/V equipment, or to enhance a level of performance of the A/V equipment.

Claims

1. A method executed by one or more processors, the method comprising:

accessing a plurality of processing modules for a plurality of downloadable applications,

wherein each downloadable application comprises at least one processing module and data for a graphical user interface, and

wherein each processing module is configured to interact with an upgradable engine to adjust at least one of a performance or a setting of audio/video (AV) equipment; and

arranging an order of processing modules within at least two processing chains, wherein the arranging for each processing chain comprises,

determining, by the one or more processors, an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on available system resources of the one or more processors, and

arranging, by the one or more processors, the two or more processing modules in the processing chain based on the determined order;

forming a hierarchy of processing levels for the at least two processing chains based upon at least one of a number of processing modules in the processing chain or one or more types of processing modules in the processing chains;

dynamically arranging a processing order in the hierarchy in response to changes in the configuration of the AV equipment; and

processing audio-related data with the upgradable engine and the processing chain.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging comprises rearranging a previously determined processing order of the processing modules in the processing chain.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, by the one or more processors, an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on available system resources of the one or more processors comprises determining, by the one or more processors, an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on:

(i) available system resources of the one or more processors; and

(ii) metadata that relates to a level of performance of the AV equipment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the order of the processing modules in the processing chain comprises an order in which the processing modules are processed with the upgradable engine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the order of the processing modules in the processing chain is dynamically adjustable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, by the one or more processors, an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on available system resources of the one or more processors comprises determining, by the one or more processors, an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on:

(i) available system resources of the one or more processors; and

(ii) at least one of a type of the AV equipment, an age of the AV equipment, a specification of a performance of the AV equipment, a condition of the AV equipment, an input configuration of the AV equipment, an output configuration of the AV equipment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, by the one or more processors, an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on available system resources of the one or more processors comprises determining, by the one or more processors, an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on:

(i) available system resources of the one or more processors; and

(ii) a number of processing modules to process or a type of processing modules to process.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, by the one or more processors, an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on available system resources of the one or more processors comprises determining, by the one or more processors, an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on:

(i) available system resources of the one or more processors; and

(ii) at least one of a level of a quality of the AV equipment, or a type of content to be played by the AV equipment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the arranging of the order of the two or more of the processing modules further depends on information from a user profile.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, by the one or more processors, an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on available system resources of the one or more processors comprises determining, by the one or more processors, an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on:

(i) available system resources of the one or more processors; and

(ii) a usage history of the AV equipment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said arranging comprises rearranging a previously determined processing order of the processing modules, and wherein the previously determined processing order is an order that is downloaded from an application developer.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging an order of two or more processing chains, where each processing chain comprises at least two processing modules;

wherein the arranging the order of two or more of the processing chains comprises;

assigning each of the processing chains to a level of a hierarchy;

for each level of the hierarchy, evaluating a processing cost or a processing resource requirement to determine whether at least one of the processing cost or the processing resource requirement is lower based upon having at least one of the processing modules in the respective level of the hierarchy to be rearranged into another order in the processing chain of the hierarchy; and

based upon determining that at least one of the processing cost or the processing resource requirement is lower, rearranging the order of the at least one processing module in the processing chain for the respective hierarchy to position the at least one processing module in the order that produces the lower processing cost or the lower processing resource requirement.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchy is formed to arrange a processing order in the hierarchy according to a configuration of the AV equipment.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the dynamic arranging of the processing order in the hierarchy comprises re-arranging the order of at least two of the processing modules in the hierarchy to perform the processing operations involving at least one of sharing the processing resources, reducing the computation requirement of the AV equipment, and increasing the level of performance of the AV equipment.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging the processing order in the hierarchy based upon a type of AV equipment and stored user preferences for the AV equipment.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are remote from the AV equipment.

16. A system for audio and video processing, the system comprising:

a graphical user interface;

a processor;

an upgradable engine configured to interact with the processor; and

a plurality of processing modules for a plurality of downloadable applications,

wherein each downloadable application comprises at least one processing module and data for a graphical user interface, and

wherein each processing module is configured to interact with an upgradable engine to adjust at least one of a performance or a setting of audio/video (AV) equipment;

the processor being configured to perform operations comprising;

arranging an order of processing modules within at least two processing chains, wherein the arranging for each processing chain comprises,

determining an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on available system resources of the one or more processors, and

arranging the two or more processing modules in the processing chain based on the determined order;

 

forming a hierarchy of processing levels for the at least two processing chains based upon at least one of a number of processing modules in the processing chain or one or more types of processing modules in the processing chains;

dynamically arranging a processing order in the hierarchy in response to changes in the configuration of the AV equipment; and

processing audio-related data with the upgradable engine and the processing chain.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is remote from the AV equipment.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising

accessing a plurality of processing modules for a plurality of downloadable applications,

wherein each downloadable application comprises at least one processing module and data for a graphical user interface, and

wherein each processing module is configured to interact with an upgradable engine to adjust at least one of a performance or a setting of audio/video (AV) equipment;

and

arranging an order of processing modules within at least two processing chains, wherein the arranging for each processing chain comprises,

determining an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on available system resources of the one or more processors, and

arranging the two or more processing modules in the processing chain based on the determined order;

forming a hierarchy of processing levels for the at least two processing chains based upon at least one of a number of processing modules in the processing chain or one or more types of processing modules in the processing chains;

dynamically arranging a processing order in the hierarchy in response to changes in the configuration of the AV equipment; and

processing audio-related data with the upgradable engine and the processing chain.

18. A system comprising:

at least one computer; and

at least one storage medium coupled to the at least one computer having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the at least one computer, causes the at least one computer to perform operations comprising;

accessing a plurality of processing modules for a plurality of downloadable applications,

wherein each downloadable application comprises at least one processing module and data for a graphical user interface, and

wherein each processing module is configured to interact with an upgradable engine to adjust at least one of a performance or a setting of audio/video (AV) equipment; and

arranging an order of processing modules within at least two processing chains, wherein the arranging for each processing chain comprises,

determining an order of two or more of the processing modules in a processing chain based on available system resources of the one or more processors, and

arranging the two or more processing modules in the processing chain based on the determined order;

forming a hierarchy of processing levels for the at least two processing chains based upon at least one of a number of processing modules in the processing chain or one or more types of processing modules in the processing chains;

dynamically arranging a processing order in the hierarchy in response to changes in the configuration of the AV equipment; and

processing audio-related data with the upgradable engine and the processing chain.