US 12,771,887 B2 · Fast switching using variable refresh rate in a repeater environment

Abstract

Fast transitioning from delivering, to a sink, a first video signal outputted by a first source to delivering, to the sink, a second video signal outputted by a second source is carried out. A repeater, connected to the sink, receives the first video signal, and delivers same to the sink. The repeater terminates delivering the first video signal, begins authentication of the second source, and delivers a temporary video signal to the sink device so that the sink remains authenticated while the second source is being authenticated. The frame rate of the temporary signal is set to a minimum variable refresh rate (VRR) supported by the sink and is less than a frame rate of the first video signal. Upon completion of authentication of the second source device, delivery of the temporary video signal is discontinued, and the second video signal is received and delivered to the sink.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for fast transitioning from receiving and delivering a first video signal outputted by a first source device to receiving and delivering a second video signal outputted by a second source device, the system comprising:

(a) a repeater device connected to a sink device, the repeater device being configured to receive the first video signal and deliver the first video signal to the sink device, the first source device and the sink device being previously authenticated, the repeater device being further configured to
(1) terminate delivering the first video signal to the sink device and begin authentication of the second source device,
(2) during the authentication of the second source device,
(A) determine that the sink device supports a variable refresh rate (VRR),
(B) set a frame rate of a temporary video signal to a minimum VRR supported by the sink device, the minimum VRR supported by the sink device being less than a frame rate of the first video signal, and
(C) deliver the temporary video signal to the sink device so that the sink device remains authenticated while the second source device is being authenticated, and
(3) upon the completion of the authentication of the second source device,
(A) discontinue delivery of the temporary video signal to the sink device, and
(B) receive the second video signal and deliver the second video signal to the sink device.

6 more elements

A video distribution network, comprising

(a) a first encoder configured to receive a first video signal from a first source device and being connectable to a data network;
and
(b) a second encoder configured to receive a second video signal from a second source device and being connectable to the data network;
(c) a system for fast transitioning from receiving and delivering the first video signal to receiving and delivering the second video signal, the system comprising
(1) a decoder that is connectable over the data network to at least one of
(A) the first encoder to receive the first video signal, or
(B) the second encoder to receive the second video signal,
(2) the decoder being connected to a sink device and having a data connection with the first encoder over the data network to receive the first video signal and deliver the first video signal to the sink device, the first encoder and the sink device being previously authenticated, the decoder being further configured to
(A) terminate the data connection with the first encoder to terminate the delivery of the first video signal to the sink device, and begin authentication of the second encoder over the data network,
(B) during the authentication of the second encoder,
(i) determine that the sink device supports a variable refresh rate (VRR),
(ii) set a frame rate of a temporary video signal to a minimum variable refresh rate supported by the sink device (minimum VRR), the minimum VRR being less than a frame rate of the first video signal, and
(iii) deliver the temporary video signal to the sink device so that the sink device remains authenticated while the second encoder is being authenticated, and
(C) upon the completion of the authentication of the second encoder,
(i) discontinue delivery of the temporary video signal to the sink device, and
(ii) receive the second video signal from the second encoder over the data network and deliver the second video signal to the sink device.

13 more elements

System for fast transitioning from receiving and delivering a first video signal outputted by a first source device to receiving and delivering a second video signal outputted by a second source device, the system comprising:

(a) a repeater device connected to a sink device, the repeater device being configured to receive the first video signal and deliver the first video signal to the sink device, the first source device and the sink device being previously authenticated in accordance with a High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) authentication protocol, the repeater device being further configured to
(1) read Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) from the sink device to obtain the minimum variable refresh rate (VRR) supported by the sink device,
(2) terminate receiving the first video signal and begin authentication of the second source device in accordance with the HDCP authentication protocol,
(3) during authentication of the second source device,
(A) determine that the sink device supports a variable refresh rate (VRR),
(B) set a frame rate of a temporary video signal to a minimum VRR supported by the sink device, the minimum VRR supported by the sink device being less than the frame rate of the first video signal, the temporary video signal including a repeating frame of video signal delivered at the minimum VRR supported by the sink device, the repeating frame of video signal being one of
(i) a last received frame of the first video signal, or
(ii) a blank frame or black frame of video signal, and
(C) deliver the temporary video signal to the sink device so that the sink device remains authenticated while the second source device is being authenticated, and
(4) upon completion of authentication of the second source device,
(A) discontinue delivery of the temporary video signal to the sink device, and
(B) receive the second video signal from the second source device and deliver the second video signal to the sink device,
(C) wherein
(i) upon a frame rate of the second video signal being different than the frame rate of the first video signal,
(I) transition, prior to the second video signal being delivered to the sink device, to the frame rate of the second video signal according to the minimum variable refresh rate (VRR) supported by the sink device, and
(II) deliver the second video signal to the sink device at the second frame rate, and
(ii) upon a resolution of the second video signal being different than a resolution of the first video signal and not being supported by the sink device,
(I) scale, prior to the second video signal being delivered to the sink device, the second video signal to a resolution supported by the sink device, and
(II) deliver the scaled video signal to the sink device upon achieving a video lock, and
(iii) upon the first video signal and the second video signal not being synchronized,
(I) transition, prior to the second video signal being delivered to the sink device, from a timing of the first video signal to a timing of the second video signal according to the variable refresh rate (VRR) and
(II) deliver the second video signal to the sink device.

19 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fast switching using variable refresh rate in a repeater environment

Life of this patent

Fast switching using variable refresh rate in a repeater environment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20