System, method, and apparatus for content delivery format control

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system, method and apparatus for implementing a content delivery system that includes at least one bi-directional distribution system between a generalized content source and a generalized content sink. The bi-directional distribution system enables the content source and the content sink to coordinate with each other to determine the capabilities of the content distribution system, the content source, and the content sink, and to best control the content format accordingly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the relevant art(s) to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a generalized content delivery system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram that illustrates a process that statically formats content for distribution in a content delivery system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram that illustrates a process that dynamically formats content for distribution in a content delivery system.

FIG. 4 illustrates a conventional high-definition content delivery system.

FIG. 5 illustrates a wireless high-definition content delivery system that can be used to replace the system of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 5 wherein capabilities of the content sink are cached at the content source.

FIG. 7 is a diagram that illustrates a process for statically formatting content for distribution in the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates a basic EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) structure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) extension to the basic EDID structure of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a diagram that illustrates a process for dynamically formatting content for distribution in the embodiment of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 5 wherein the content sink modifies the reporting of its capabilities based on knowledge of the content distribution system capabilities.

FIG. 12 is a diagram that illustrates a process for dynamically formatting content for distribution in the embodiment of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a diagram that illustrates a process for dynamically controlling content in a content delivery system.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the format of content to be delivered from a content source to a content sink over a content distribution system, the method comprising: (a) determining display capabilities of the content sink;(b) determining transmission capabilities and/or a quality of the content distribution system; and(c) adjusting the format of the content to be delivered to the content sink according to at least the determined display capabilities of the content sink and the determined transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises: adjusting the format in which content is to be delivered to the content sink according to the determined display capabilities of the content sink, the determined transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system, and capabilities of the content source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises: (i) transmitting a query to the content sink; and(ii) receiving a response to the query from the content sink;wherein the response includes one or more parameters associated with the display capabilities of the content sink.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the response includes an Extended Display Identification Data (EDID)/Enhanced EDID (E-EDID) structure associated with the content sink.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (a) further comprises: (iii) caching the EDID/E-EDID structure; and(iv) asserting a Hot Plug Detect (HPD) signal to cause a controller of the content source to read the cached EDID/E-EDID structure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises: (i) transmitting a query to the content sink; and(ii) receiving a response to the query from the content sink;wherein the response includes one or more parameters that characterize the transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises: (i) receiving an unsolicited message from the content sink;wherein the message includes one or more parameters that characterize the transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises determining a transmission capability and/or quality of one of a wired, wireless, or optical interface.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: periodically repeating steps (b) and (c).

10. The method of claim 9, wherein steps (b) and (c) are repeated at a periodic rate that is based on an expected volatility of the content distribution system.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: repeating steps (b) and (c) responsive to detected events in the content distribution system.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising: delivering the content to the content sink; andrepeating steps (b) and (c) at least once during the duration of content delivery.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises: converting the format of the content to be delivered to the content sink from a first format that is supported by a generator of the content to a second format, wherein the second format is determined based on the transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system.

14. A method for facilitating control by a content source of the format of content to be delivered from the content source to a content sink over a content distribution system, the method comprising: (a) determining display capabilities of the content sink;(b) determining transmission capabilities and/or a quality of the content distribution system;(c) modifying the determined display capabilities of the content sink based on the determined transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system; and(d) transmitting a message to the content source, wherein the message includes one or more parameters that characterize the modified display capabilities of the content sink.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein step (c) comprises modifying an Extended Display Identification Data (EDID)/Enhanced EDID (E-EDID) structure associated with the content sink based on the determined transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system, and wherein step (d) comprises transmitting a message to the content source that includes the modified EDID/E-EDID structure.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: caching the EDID/E-EDID structure.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: periodically repeating steps (c) and (d).

18. The method of claim 17, wherein steps (c) and (d) are repeated at a periodic rate that is based on an expected volatility of the content distribution system.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising: repeating steps (c) and (d) responsive to detected events in the content distribution system.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving content from the content source; andrepeating steps (c) and (d) at least once during the duration of content delivery.

21. A content source comprising: a content generator configured to generate content; anda media adapter communicatively connected to the content generator;wherein the media adapter is configured to determine display capabilities of a content sink communicatively connected to the media adapter, to determine transmission capabilities and/or a quality of the content distribution system, and to adjust the format of the content for delivery to the content sink over the content distribution system according to at least the determined display capabilities of the content sink and the determined transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system.

22. The content source of claim 21, wherein the media adapter is configured to adjust the format of the content according to the determined display capabilities of the content sink, the determined transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system, and capabilities of the content generator.

23. The content source of claim 21, wherein the media adapter is configured to transmit a query to the content sink and receive a response to the query from the content sink, wherein the response includes one or more parameters associated with the display capabilities of the content sink.

24. The content source of claim 23, wherein the response includes an Extended Display Identification Data (EDID)/Enhanced EDID (E-EDID) structure associated with the content sink.

25. The content source of claim 24, wherein the media adapter includes a memory, and wherein the media adapter is further configured to cache the EDID/E-EDID structure in the memory and to assert a Hot Plug Detect (HPD) signal to the content generator to cause the content generator to read the cached EDID/E-EDID structure from the memory.

26. The content source of claim 21, wherein the media adapter is configured to transmit a query to the content sink and to receive a response to the query from the content sink, wherein the response includes one or more parameters that characterize the transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system.

27. The content source of claim 21, wherein the media adapter is configured to receive an unsolicited message from the content sink, wherein the message includes one or more parameters that characterize the transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system.

28. The content source of claim 21, wherein the media adapter is configured to determine a transmission capability of one of a wired or wireless interface.

29. The content source of claim 21, wherein the media adapter is further configured to repeat the steps of determining the transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system and adjusting the format of the content at a periodic rate.

30. The content source of claim 29, wherein the media adapter is further configured to repeat the steps of determining the transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system and adjusting the format of the content at a periodic rate that is based on an expected volatility of the content distribution system.

31. The content source of claim 21, wherein the media adapter is further configured to repeat the steps of determining the transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system and adjusting the format of the content responsive to a detected event in the content distribution system.

32. The content source of claim 21, wherein the media adapter is further configured to deliver the content to the content sink and to repeat the steps of determining the transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system and adjusting the format of the content at least once during the duration of content delivery.

33. The content source of claim 21, wherein the media adapter is configured to convert the format of the content from a first format that is supported by the content generator to a second format, wherein said second format is determined based on the transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system.

34. A content sink, comprising: a content display; anda media adapter communicatively connected to the content display;wherein the media adapter is configured to determine display capabilities of the content display, to determine transmission capabilities and/or a quality of a content distribution system to which the content sink is communicatively connected, to modify the determined display capabilities of the content display based on the determined transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system, and to transmit a message to a content source, wherein the message includes one or more parameters that characterize the modified display capabilities of the content display.

35. The content sink of claim 34, wherein the media adapter is configured to modify an Extended Display Identification Data (EDID)/Enhanced EDID (E-EDID) structure associated with the content display based on the determined transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system, and to transmit a message to the content source that includes the modified EDID/E-EDID structure.

36. The content sink of claim 35, wherein the media adapter further comprises a memory and is further configured to cache the EDID/E-EDID structure in the memory.

37. The content sink of claim 34, wherein the media adapter is further configured to repeatedly perform the steps of modifying the determined display capabilities of the content display and transmitting a message to the content source that includes one or more parameters that characterized the modified display capabilities of the content display at a periodic rate.

38. The content sink of claim 34, wherein the periodic rate is based on an expected volatility of the content distribution system.

39. The content sink of claim 34, wherein the media adapter is further configured to repeatedly perform the steps of modifying the determined display capabilities of the content display and transmitting a message to the content source that includes one or more parameters that characterized the modified display capabilities of the content display responsive to detected events in the content distribution system.

40. The content sink of claim 34, wherein the media adapter is further configured to receiving content from the content source and to repeat the steps of modifying the determined display capabilities of the content display and transmitting a message to the content source that includes one or more parameters that characterized the modified display capabilities of the content display at least once during the duration of content delivery.

41. The content sink of claim 34, wherein the media adapter is configured to convert the format of content received from the content source from a first format to a second format, wherein the first format is determined based on the transmission capabilities and/or quality of the content distribution system.

42. The content source of claim 21, wherein the media adapter is configured to receive an unsolicited message from the content sink, wherein the message includes one or more parameters that characterize the display capabilities of the content sink.