Distributed switching system for programmable multimedia controller

A method comprising:

• providing two or more programmable multimedia controllers in a multimedia system that includes a plurality of audio/video (A/V) devices that source or output digital media streams, each of the programmable multimedia controllers having at least a processing subsystem and a switch capable of switching the digital media streams from one or more inputs coupled to A/V devices that source digital media streams or interconnections with other programmable multimedia controllers to outputs coupled to one or more A/V devices that output digital media streams or interconnections with other programmable multimedia controllers;
• interconnecting the programmable multimedia controllers with one another using one or more point-to-point communication links capable of carrying the digital media streams and control information;
• polling the programmable multimedia controllers to determine whether more than one of the programmable multimedia controllers has a digital media source available locally;
• based on local availability of the digital media source, assigning master status to a programmable multimedia controller, wherein
• when only one of the programmable multimedia controllers has the digital media source available locally, master status is assigned to that programmable multimedia controller, and
• when more than one of the programmable multimedia controllers has the digital media source available locally, master status is assigned to one of the programmable multimedia controllers that has the digital media source available locally based on a predetermined criteria;
• and
• assigning subordinate status to at least one other programmable multimedia controller that was not assigned master status,
• wherein the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status controls its own switching functions and switching functions of the switches of programmable multimedia controllers assigned subordinate status to provide switching paths across the multimedia system from one or more A/V devices that source digital media streams coupled to one of the two or more programmable multimedia controllers, across one or more point-to-point communication links between the one of the programmable multimedia controllers to at least another of the two or more programmable multimedia controllers, and ultimately to one or more A/V devices that output digital media streams.

A multimedia system comprising:

• a plurality of audio/video (A/V) devices that source or output digital media streams;
• two or more programmable multimedia controllers coupled to the A/V devices, each of the programmable multimedia controllers having at least a processing subsystem and a switch capable of switching digital media streams from one or more inputs coupled to A/V devices that source digital media streams or interconnections with other programmable multimedia controllers to outputs coupled to one or more A/V devices that output digital media streams or interconnections with other programmable multimedia controllers;
• one or more point-to-point communication links operating as interconnections among the programmable multimedia controllers and capable of carrying digital media streams and control information;
• and
• a software routine executable by at least one of the programmable multimedia controllers that when executed is operable to:
• assign master status to a selected one of the programmable multimedia controllers and assign subordinate status to at least one other programmable multimedia controller, the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status to control its own switching functions and pass control information to the at least one other programmable multimedia controller assigned subordinate status to control switching functions of the switch of the at least one other programmable multimedia controller assigned subordinate status to provide switching paths across the multimedia system from A/V devices that source digital media streams to A/V devices that output digital media streams,
• periodically verify whether the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status is operating, and
• in response to the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status having experienced a failure, reassign master status,
• wherein the programmable multimedia controller assigned master status controls its own switching functions and switching functions of the switches of programmable multimedia controllers assigned subordinate status to provide switching paths across the multimedia system from one or more A/V devices that source digital media streams coupled to one of the two or more programmable multimedia controllers, across one or more point-to-point communication links between the one of the programmable multimedia controllers to at least another of the two or more programmable multimedia controllers, and ultimately to one or more A/V devices that output digital media streams.