1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device equipped with a multimedia interface and a network interface to stream, play back and manage the content, along with network-protocol-based data traffic, cross whole multimedia interface connection to an audio/video output apparatus. It also relates to using the multimedia interface to manage other devices through a screen of the audio/video output apparatus or even remotely manage value-added services.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Nowadays, High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is used as the major audio/video (A/V) transmission interface between a television (TV) and media appliances, such as Set-Top Boxes (STB), Digital Video Recorders/Personal Video Recorders (DVR/PVR), game consoles, Digital Video Disc/Blue-ray Disc (DVD/BD) players, and Over-The-Top (OTT) video devices, and mobile devices. Actually, the trends show that HDMI is getting to replace other legacy A/V interfaces while High-Definition Television (HDTV) becomes a mainstream. With HDMI supporting Ethernet (HDMI Ethernet Channel, HEC) and Consumer Electronic Control (CEC), HDMI can play a role more than simple A/V transmission interface.
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Even if HEC is implemented, a home network infrastructure is still needed to switch and/or route the network packet traffic to Internet. For example, Local Area Network (LAN) switching and/or IP routing functionality may be required to be integrated with HDMI to ease the connectivity issues, especially in a condition where broadband connection is located far away from the TV or the media appliances. On the other hand, the TV and the media appliances also can be managed by typical home network management protocols through interfacing with CEC via HDMI integrated.
Hence, how to design and integrate network accessing and management with audio/video output apparatuses through the multimedia interface supporting network data transmission becomes an important topic in this field.
It is therefore one of the objectives of the claimed invention to provide an apparatus having a multimedia interface module and a network module integrated, which not only eases internet connectivity issues but also manages devices connected to an audio/video output apparatus.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an exemplary apparatus is disclosed. The exemplary apparatus includes a multimedia interface module and a network module. The multimedia interface module has a plurality of connection ports including at least an input port and at least an output port, and supports network data transmission. The network module, coupled to the multimedia interface module via a first network protocol, is for accessing a network, wherein the multimedia interface module is arranged for selectively coupling the network module to one of the connection ports.
The exemplary multimedia interface module only transfers non network-related multimedia interface data to a multimedia-interface-enabled audio/video output apparatus for audio/video playback of an output generated from the output port of the apparatus, and network-related multimedia interface data is processed by the network module together with other network data from an external device.
Furthermore, the exemplary apparatus may also communicate with at least an external source device via a second network protocol, and the external source device does not support network-related multimedia interface data, wherein the external source device may be an HDMI device or an IP-enabled device not supporting HDMI. The exemplary apparatus may be externally coupled to, or built in, the audio/video output apparatus.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the exemplary apparatus further comprises a user interface controller, and the user interface controller is coupled to the network module, for generating a first control signal according to a user input signal, and transmitting a second control signal to an external source device coupled to the network module. The user interface controller drives a display screen to display a user interface, and the user input signal is generated according to the displayed user interface. In addition, the user interface controller also receives a sensor input signal generated from a sensor device coupled to the network module, and drives a display screen to display information of the sensor device according to the sensor input signal. In this embodiment, the exemplary apparatus may control or interact with all connected external source devices with a remote control via the display screen.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the exemplary apparatus further comprises a management module, for managing an external source device coupled to the network module or the multimedia interface switch module. The management module includes a content management unit, a device management unit, or a remote service management unit. In this embodiment, the management module performs a conversion between an HDMI support protocol and home network management protocols.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims, which refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, electronic equipment manufacturers may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not in function. In the following description and in the claims, the terms “include” and “comprise” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “include, but not limited to . . . ”. Also, the term “couple” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Accordingly, if one device is coupled to another device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections.
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In addition, the multimedia interface module 220 is arranged for selectively coupling the network module 230 to one of the connection ports. As the multimedia interface module 220 supports the network data transmission, data transmitted in the apparatus 200 may be composed of network-related multimedia interface data and non network-related multimedia interface data. When multimedia interface data is transmitted, the apparatus 200 only transfers the non network-related multimedia interface data to a multimedia-interface-enabled audio/video output apparatus (e.g., a television) for audio/video playback of an output generated from the output port OUT_1 of the apparatus 200, and at least the input port may be coupled to at least the output port in this case. The multimedia interface module 220 may couple the network module 230 to at least the input port for transmitting the network-related multimedia interface data to the network module 230. As the apparatus 200 may also communicate with at least an external source device via a second network protocol, where the external source device (e.g., a conventional laptop/notebook 280) does not support network-related multimedia interface data transmission of the multimedia interface, the network-related multimedia interface data is processed by the network module 230 together with other network data from the external source device, and the multimedia interface module 220 may couple the network module 230 to at least the output port for outputting the processed network-related multimedia interface data. In addition, the apparatus 200 may be externally coupled to or internally built in the above-mentioned audio/video output apparatus. Further description for the data transmission is detailed as follows.
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The HDMI-integrated switch-router 300 transfers non HEC-related HDMI data of the HDMI-HEC device 360 to the HDMI-enabled TV 390 for video/audio playback. HEC-related HDMI data of the HDMI-HEC device 360 is transferred to the network module 230 via Ethernet signal split by HDMI switch module 320, and is processed together with Ethernet/wireless data from the non HDMI-HEC device and the IP-enabled device 380. As the HDMI-HEC device 360 may update playback contents according to Internet 150, desired packets may be downloaded from the Internet 150 and then transferred from the network module 230 to HDMI switch module 320 via Ethernet signal. After receiving and processing the desired packets into HEC-related HDMI data by the HDMI switch module 320, the HDMI-HEC device 360 updates and transfers the non HEC-related HDMI data, thereby updating the playback contents of the HDMI-enabled TV 390. Similarly, the non HDMI-HEC device and the IP-enabled device 380 may receive and process desired packets from the Internet 150 through the network module 230, and then transfer the updated non HEC-related HDMI data to update the playback contents of the HDMI-enabled TV 390 via Ethernet signal and the HDMI switch module 320. In addition, the HDMI-HEC device 360, the non HDMI-HEC device and the IP-enabled device 380 may communicate with each other or connect to internet via Ethernet signal and the network module 230. In other words, the connection between the multimedia interface module (e.g., the HDMI switch module 320) and the network module (e.g., the network module 230) may a two-way transfer under the exemplary apparatus according to the present invention.
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In addition, the user interface controller 440 may further drive a display screen (e.g., TV 390) to display a user interface thereon via HDMI interface, and the user input signal is generated according to the displayed user interface. With the use of the remote control 495, a user may locate, configure, and/or manage external source devices through the media-appliance manager device 500. By way of example, the user may enable the CEC function by the remote control 495 to thereby manage external sources, including the HDMI-HEC-CEC device 460 and the IP-enabled device 470 not supporting CEC, and then the user interface controller 440 converts the first control signal with a CEC format into the second control signal with an IP format. In a case where the user may want to monitor carbon monoxide concentration in the house remotely, the user may only press a button on the remote control 495, and then the user interface controller 440 may receive a sensor input signal generated from a carbon monoxide sensor device (e.g., the IP-enabled device 470 implemented using the carbon monoxide sensor device) coupled to the network module 230 wirelessly, and drive the display screen to display the carbon monoxide concentration according to the sensor input signal. In this embodiment, the media-appliance manager 400 may be an aggregator for devices and services, and the media-appliance manager 400 may control or interact with all connected external source devices with the remote control 495 via the display screen.
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In summary, an apparatus, employing a multimedia interface switch module supporting network data transmission (e.g., an HDMI v1.4 switch) integrated with a network module having network functionality (e.g., network packet switching functionality, network packet routing functionality, and/or access point functionality) by a network protocol therebetween, is disclosed to allow various devices to display respective contents on an audio/video output apparatus. In addition, a media-appliance manager device is realized utilizing the format conversion between a specific control signal and a network protocol. Moreover, with the help of a management scheme added to the apparatus, the user may utilize the apparatus to manage other devices through a screen of an audio/video output apparatus or even remotely manage value-added services. Network protocol connectivity is also aggregated to an easier connection.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/390,618, which was filed on Sep. 7, 2010 and entitled “HOME NETWORK AND MANAGEMENT WITH HDMI INTEGRATED” and is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61390618 | Oct 2010 | US |