Back to results
US 2013/0212613 A1Published application
Devices, Systems and Methods for Reducing Switching Time in a Video Distribution Network
AssigneeCrestron Electronics, Inc.
InventorsAdolfo Velasco, Daniel Jackson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
When switching sources, resolutions or refresh rates in a video distribution network, switching times are reduced by maintaining video lock and security authentication between a video switcher and a video sink. The scaler maintains video lock and security authentication by continuing to generate video timing data during switching events. The scaler also facilitates an aesthetically pleasing transition by generating image content data prior to and after the switching event.
Claims32
A switcher device comprising:
- (a) at least two input boards, each of the at least two input boards configured for receiving audiovisual data from a video source over a security protocol link;
- (b) a multiplexer communicatively coupled between the at least two input boards and an output board and configured for dynamically routing audiovisual data from the at least two input boards to the output board;
- and
- (c) an output board configured for
- (i) transmitting audiovisual data to a video sink over a security protocol link, and
- (ii) maintaining an authenticated interface with the video sink during a switching event.
3 more elements
A switcher device comprising:
- (a) at least two input boards, each of the at least two input boards configured for receiving audiovisual data from a video source over an HDCP link;
- (b) a multiplexer board comprising:
- (i) a multiplexer communicatively coupled between the at least two input boards and an output board and configured for dynamically routing audiovisual data from the at least two input boards to the output board, and
- (ii) a processing unit in communication with the multiplexer and the output board and configured for transmitting a switch signal to the multiplexer and a prepare signal to the output board prior to a switching event;
- and
- (c) the output board configured for transmitting audiovisual data to a video sink over and HDCP link and comprising
- (i) a receiver configured for receiving audiovisual data routed from the multiplexer,
- (ii) a scaler configured for converting audiovisual data received via the multiplexer to a native resolution of the video sink, generating video timing data at the native resolution of the video sink during the switching event, and generating image content data for a period of time until achieving video lock in response to receiving the prepare signal, and
- (iii) a transmitter configured for encrypting and transmitting generated audiovisual data to the video sink over an HDCP interface and maintaining an authenticated interface with the video sink by outputting continuous audiovisual data during the switching event.
6 more elements
An output board for a switcher device configured for transmitting audiovisual data to a video sink over a security protocol link, the output board comprising:
- (a) a receiver configured for receiving audiovisual data
- (b) a scaler configured for converting the audiovisual data to a native resolution of the video sink and configured and generating audiovisual data during a switching event;
- (c) a transmitter configured for encrypting and transmitting the output of the scaler and further configured for maintaining an authenticated interface with the video sink.
A method for reducing switching delay when switching sources in a video distribution network, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving audiovisual data at a first input board from a first video sink over a security protocol link;
- (b) routing audiovisual data from the first input board to an output board;
- (c) transmitting audiovisual data from the output board to a video sink over a security protocol link;
- (d) receiving a user control signal to switch to a second video source;
- (e) generating video timing data at the output board during a delay between receiving audiovisual data from the first input board and receiving audiovisual data from the second input board to maintain authenticity of security protocol link between the output board and the video sink;
- (f) receiving audiovisual data at a second input board from a second video sink over a security protocol link;
- (g) routing audiovisual data from the second input board to the output board;
- and
- (h) transmitting audiovisual data from the output board to the video sink over a security protocol link.
6 more elements
A computer program product for reducing switching time in a video distribution network, the computer program product comprising:
- a computer readable storage medium having computer readable code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising:
- computer readable program code configured to:
- (a) detect a user control signal to switch from a first video source to a second video source;
- (b) transmit a prepare signal to a processing unit of an output board in response to the detection of the user control signal;
- (c) detect the prepare signal;
- (d) instruct a scaler to generate audiovisual data in response to the detection of the prepare signal;
- (e) cease routing audiovisual data from a first video source to the output board;
- (f) continue generating video timing data at the scaler of the output board;
- (g) begin routing audiovisual data from a second video source to the input board;
- and
- (h) cease generating image content data upon achieving video lock.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.