System and method providing fixed rate transmission for digital visual interface and high-definition multimedia interface applications

A method for transmitting varying frequency dependent data, comprising:

• (a) receiving frequency dependent data having a pre-determined resolution format associated therewith;
• (b) determining timing information from the received frequency dependent data;
• (c) converting the received frequency dependent data to frequency independent data;
• (d) encoding the frequency independent data with the determined timing information;
• (e) transmitting, at a fixed rate, the timing information encoded frequency independent data to a receiver;
• (f) receiving the timing information encoded frequency independent data;
• (g) extracting timing information from the timing information encoded frequency independent data;
• and
• (h) re-creating, based upon the extracted timing information, frequency dependent data having the pre-determined resolution associated therewith.

A system for transmitting graphical data generated by a graphical data source to a display device, comprising:

• a communication channel;
• a first circuit to receive frequency dependent data from the graphical data source, having a resolution format and a data clock frequency associated therewith, and to generate timing information encoded frequency independent data therefrom;
• and
• a first transmitter, operatively connected to said communication channel, to transmit the timing information encoded frequency independent data at a fixed rate;
• a second circuit, operatively connected to said communication channel, to receive the timing information encoded frequency independent data;
• a third circuit, operatively connected to said second circuit, to extract timing information from the timing information encoded frequency independent data and to re-create, based upon the extracted timing information, frequency dependent data having the pre-determined resolution associated therewith;
• and
• a second transmitter, operatively connected to said third circuit, to transmit the frequency dependent data having the pre-determined resolution associated therewith to a display device.

A system for transmitting graphical data generated by a graphical data source to a display device, comprising:

• a communication channel;
• said communication channel including,
• an optical fiber,
• a sheath, surrounding said optical fiber, to protect said optical fiber, and
• a tension member, located within said sheath, to provide tensile stiffness for said optical fiber;
• a first circuit to receive frequency dependent data from the graphical data source, having a predetermined resolution format and a data clock frequency associated therewith, and to generate timing information and frequency independent data therefrom;
• a first transmitter, operatively connected to said communication channel, to transmit the timing information along said tension member at a fixed rate and the frequency independent data along said optical fiber at a fixed rate;
• a second circuit, operatively connected to said communication channel, to receive the timing information and the frequency independent data;
• a third circuit, operatively connected to said second circuit, to extract, based upon the received timing information, frequency dependent data having the pre-determined resolution associated therewith;
• and
• a second transmitter, operatively connected to said third circuit, to transmit the frequency dependent data having the pre-determined resolution associated therewith to a display device.

A method for transmitting varying frequency dependent data, comprising:

• (a) receiving frequency dependent data and associated data clock signal;
• (b) converting the frequency dependent data to frequency independent data;
• (c) determining a ratio of a number of data clock cycles to a number of reference clock cycles;
• (d) transmitting the determined ratio;
• (e) transmitting, at a fixed rate, frequency independent data and header data to a receiver, the fixed rate being a frequency less than the frequency of the associated data clock signal;
• (f) receiving the frequency independent data and the determined ratio;
• and
• (g) converting the frequency independent data to frequency dependent data based upon the received determined ratio.

A system for transmitting data between a remote central computing facility and a local workstation, comprising:

• a remote central computing facility including a plurality of primary processing devices;
• an electrical/optical interface, operatively connected to said remote central computing facility, to provide an individual communication channel for each primary processing device;
• a plurality of communication cables operatively connected to said electrical/optical interface;
• and
• a local workstation operatively connected to a communication cable;
• said communication cables, each including,
• an optical fiber,
• a sheath, surrounding said optical fiber, to protect said optical fiber, and
• a tension member, located within said sheath, to provide tensile stiffness for said optical fiber;
• said electrical/optical interface including,
• a first circuit to receive frequency dependent data from a graphical data source associated with a first primary processing device, having a predetermined resolution format and a data clock frequency associated therewith, and to generate timing information and frequency independent data therefrom, and
• a first transmitter, operatively connected to a communication channel associated with said first primary processing device, to transmit, at a fixed rate, the timing information and the frequency independent data along said optical fiber;
• said local workstation including a workstation interface;
• said workstation interface including,
• a circuit, operatively connected to said communication cable, to receive the timing information and the frequency independent data,
• an extraction circuit, operatively connected to said circuit, to extract, based upon the received timing information, frequency dependent data having the pre-determined resolution associated therewith, and
• a display circuit, operatively connected to said extraction circuit, to transmit the frequency dependent data having the pre-determined resolution associated therewith to a display device.