Distributed audio and video processing

A method of processing and presenting audiovisual input data using a display device interconnected to a computing device via a local network, said method comprising:

• at said display device:
• i) sending a request from said display device to said computing device to query the signal processing capabilities of said computing device;
• ii) receiving a response identifying said signal processing capabilities of said computing device;
• iii) identifying a set of signal processing functions to be performed on audiovisual data received in a desired data format after decoding said data and prior to presenting said data;
• iv) dividing said set of signal processing functions using said response into a first group of at least one function to be performed by said computing device and a second group of at least one function to be performed by said display device based on said response and said signal processing capabilities of said computing device;
• v) instructing said computing device to:
• a) perform said first group of signal processing functions on said audiovisual input data to form externally processed data;
• b) encode said externally processed data into said selected data format;
• and
• c) transmit said externally processed data in said data format to said display device using a selected network transfer protocol over said local network;
• vi) receiving said externally processed data in said data format in said display device;
• vii) performing said second croup of signal processing functions complementary to said first signal processing function on said received externally processed data;
• and
• viii) presenting said received externally processed data on said display device.

A method of processing audiovisual input data using a display device interconnected to a computing device via a local network, said method comprising:

• at said display device:
• i) receiving said audiovisual input data in said display device using a selected transfer protocol and a selected data format;
• ii) sending a request from said display device to said computing device to query the signal processing capabilities of said computing device;
• iii) receiving a response identifying said signal processing capabilities of said computing device;
• iv) identifying a set of signal processing functions to be performed on audiovisual data received in said data format after decoding said data and prior to presenting said data;
• v) dividing said set of signal processing functions using said response into a first group of at least one function to be performed by said computing device and a second group of at least one function to be performed by said display device based on said response and said signal processing capabilities of said computing device;
• vi) instructing said computing device to:
• receive and perform said first croup of signal processing functions on a portion of said audiovisual input data to form externally processed data;
• and to encode and transmit said externally processed data to said display device in said data format;
• vii) transmitting said portion to said computing device using said transfer protocol and said data format;
• and
• viii)accepting and presenting said externally processed audiovisual data from said computing device.

A display device comprising a control circuit in communication with a display screen and a network interface for interconnection to a computing device via a local network, said display device operable to:

• i) send a request from said display device to said computing device to query the signal processing capabilities of said computing device;
• ii) receive a response identifying said signal processing capabilities of said computing device;
• iii) identify a set of signal processing functions to be performed on audiovisual data received in a selected data format after decoding said data and prior to presenting said audiovisual data;
• iv) divide said set of signal processing functions using said response into a first group of at least one function to be performed by said computing device and a second group of at least one function to be performed by said display device based on said response and said signal processing capabilities of said computing device;
• v) send instructions from said display device to said computing device to:
• perform said first group of signal processing functions on audiovisual input data to form externally processed data;
• encode said externally processed data into said data format;
• and transmit said externally processed data in said data format to said display device using a selected network transfer protocol over said local network;
• vi) receive said externally processed data transmitted in said data format;
• vii) perform said second croup of signal processing functions on said received externally processed data;
• and present said received externally processed data on said display screen.

A computing device comprising a processor in communication with memory and a network interface for interconnection to a display device via a local network, said computing device operable to:

• i) receive a request from said display device querying the signal processing capabilities of said computing device;
• ii) send a response to said display device identifying the signal processing capabilities of said computing device;
• iii) receive instructions from said display device to use a network transfer protocol and a data format supported in said computing device;
• and to perform a specific first group of signal processing functions from among a set of signal processing functions to be performed on audiovisual data in said data format after decoding said data and prior to presentation, wherein said first group of signal processing functions have been determined by said display device by dividing said set of signal processing functions using said response, are among said signal processing capabilities of said computing device, as communicated;
• iv) perform said first group of signal processing functions on audiovisual input data to form externally processed data;
• v) encode said externally processed data into said data format;
• and
• vi) transmit said externally processed data in said data format to said display device using said network transfer protocol over said local network.