# US 8,275,232 B2 · Apparatus and method of transmitting / receiving multimedia playback enhancement information, VBI data, or auxiliary data through digital transmission means specified for multimedia data transmission > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,275,232 B2 - Document ID: US8275232B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/143,852 - Filed: 2008-06-23 - Published: 2009-12-24 - Granted: 2012-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-23 - Assignees: Mediatek Inc. - Inventors: Kuan-Chou Chen; Hua Wu; Chih-Hao Hsiao; Chi-Chin Lien; Ting-Hsun Wei; Ching-Chieh Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8275232B2 ## CPC - H04N 5/76: Television signal recording - H04N 7/08: Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band {, e.g. by time division (H04N7/007 takes precedence)} - G09G 5/006: {Details of the interface to the display terminal (specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04)} - G09G 2370/04: Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller - G09G 2370/12: Use of DVI or HDMI protocol in interfaces along the display data pipeline - H04N 5/85: on discs or drums - H04N 7/088: the inserted signal being digital - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract A data transmission interface apparatus is provided for communicating with another data transmission interface apparatus through a digital transmission means specified for multimedia data transmission. The data transmission interface apparatus has at least a processor for processing multimedia data; and a data converting circuit, coupled to the processor, for converting a plurality of first multimedia data sets into a plurality of second multimedia data sets; and for converting a plurality of first auxiliary data sets into a plurality of second auxiliary data sets. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A data transmission interface apparatus, communicating with another data transmission interface apparatus through a digital transmission means for transmitting multimedia data, the data transmission interface apparatus comprising: a processor, for processing multimedia data; and a data converting circuit, coupled to the processor, for converting a plurality of first multimedia data sets generated from the processor into a plurality of second multimedia data sets; and for converting a plurality of first auxiliary data sets into a plurality of second auxiliary data sets; wherein the digital transmission means complies with a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) specification, and the second auxiliary data sets are transmitted through transmission minimized differential signaling (TMDS) channels via an undefined packet having a packet type that is not defined in the HDMI specification with which the digital transmission means complies. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The data transmission interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first auxiliary data set and the second auxiliary data set comprise video playback enhancement information selected from a group consisting of a repeat first field flag, progressive sequence information, progressive frame information, an interlace flag, motion/still information, top/bottom information, and a video mute command. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The data transmission interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first auxiliary data set and the second auxiliary data set comprise audio playback enhancement information selected from a group consisting of audio equalizer information, bass management information, dynamic range control information, virtual surround information, lyrics information, album information, and an audio mute command. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The data transmission interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first auxiliary data set and the second auxiliary data set comprise VBI data selected from a group consisting of CGMS-A information, APS information, XDS information, Gemstar information, V-chip information, time code information, and PDC information. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The data transmission interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first auxiliary data set and the second auxiliary data set include video information selected from a group consisting of closed caption information, subtitling information, data broadcasting information, EPG information, and channel name information. ### Claim 6 A data transmission interface apparatus, communicating with another data transmission interface apparatus through a digital transmission means for transmitting multimedia data, the data transmission interface apparatus comprising: a processor, for processing multimedia data; and a data converting circuit, coupled to the processor, for converting a plurality of first multimedia data sets generated from the processor into a plurality of second multimedia data sets; and for converting a plurality of first auxiliary data sets into a plurality of second auxiliary data sets; wherein the digital transmission means complies with a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) specification, the second auxiliary data sets are transmitted through a display data channel via an undefined packet having a packet type that is not defined in the HDMI specification, and each of the first auxiliary data sets and the second auxiliary data sets comprises at least one of video playback enhancement information, audio playback enhancement information, vertical blanking interval (VBI) data, and video information. ### Claim 7 A data transmission interface apparatus, communicating with another data transmission interface apparatus through a digital transmission means for transmitting multimedia data, the data transmission interface apparatus comprising: a processor, for processing multimedia data; and a data converting circuit, coupled to the processor, for converting a plurality of first multimedia data sets generated from the processor into a plurality of second multimedia data sets; and for converting a plurality of first auxiliary data sets into a plurality of second auxiliary data sets; wherein the digital transmission means complies with a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) specification, the second auxiliary data sets are transmitted through a consumer electronics control channel via an undefined packet having a packet type that is not defined in the HDMI specification, and each of the first auxiliary data sets and the second auxiliary data sets comprises at least one of video playback enhancement information, audio playback enhancement information, vertical blanking interval (VBI) data, and video information. ### Claim 8 A transmitter, comprising: a video processor, for selectively combining a plurality of multimedia data sets and a plurality of auxiliary data sets to generate a plurality of resultant video data sets, wherein the multimedia data sets correspond to a main video signal or a sub-picture video signal, and the auxiliary data sets correspond to accessory video display data; and a data converting circuit, coupled to the video processor, for converting the resultant video data sets into a plurality of converted multimedia data sets; wherein the converted multimedia data sets are outputted through a digital transmission means specified for multimedia data transmission, the digital transmission means complies with a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) specification and comprises transmission minimized differential signaling (TMDS) channels, and the auxiliary data sets are transmitted through the TMDS channels via an undefined packet having a packet type that is not defined in the HDMI specification. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The transmitter of claim 8, wherein the accessory video display data is selected from a group consisting of closed caption information, subtitling information, data broadcasting information, EPG information, and channel name information. ### Claim 10 A method for transmitting multimedia data, the method comprising the following steps: (a) receiving video data sets and auxiliary data sets, wherein the auxiliary data sets comprise accessory video display data; (b) selectively combining accessory video display data with the video data sets so as to generate resultant video data sets; (c) converting the resultant video data sets into converted multimedia data sets; (d) converting the auxiliary data sets not combined with the video data sets in step (b) into converted auxiliary data sets; and (e) transmitting the converted multimedia data sets and the converted auxiliary data sets according to a digital transmission means, wherein the digital transmission means complies with a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) specification and is selected from a group consisting of transmission minimized differential signaling (TMDS) channels, a display data channel, and a consumer electronics control channel, and wherein the converted auxiliary data sets are transmitted through the TMDS channels via an undefined packet having a packet type that is not defined in the HDMI specification. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the converted auxiliary data sets are transmitted through the TMDS channels via an undefined packet. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the converted auxiliary data sets are transmitted through the TMDS channels via a reserved bit of well-defined packet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the converted auxiliary data sets are transmitted through the display data channel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the converted auxiliary data sets are transmitted through the consumer electronics control channel.