Abstract: A multimedia data processing system and method which transparently processes video and/or audio streams in real-time. The operation of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention does not require any intervention from, or involvement of, either the producer of the video and/or audio stream, or the client application. With such a transparent solution, video and/or audio streams can be processed seamlessly, and completely independently of the specific client application that the user chooses to use. In one embodiment, the invention uses an external service to monitor new processes and add code to these processes. The invention inserts into the system by hot-patching the software in memory and by only looking at select service calls.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for seamlessly and transparently combining or collectively processing different multimedia sources and/or destinations in the computer world, where such combining is independent of the application using and/or providing the multimedia data. A device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can accept inputs from the appliance world (e.g., with standards such as CCITT standards, SDI, NTSC, PAL, etc. or analog signals), as well as inputs from the computer world (e.g., with protocols such as USB), and communicate them cohesively to a host computer after appropriately selecting/mixing them. A device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can also receive signals using computer protocols from a host and appropriately route them to one or more output devices.

Abstract: A system and method for seamlessly switching between various bus interfaces on a device, regardless of the application using the device. The change of the bus interface being used is completely transparent to the application using the device. A system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention creates a Physical Device Object (PDO) that is unique for each device, regardless of which bus interface is used by the device. An application using that is essentially linked to this unique PDO. In one embodiment, an exhaustive list of various devices connected to the different bus interfaces is created. This is done by creating a bridge between the enumerators for the various buses and a class enumerator.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the intelligent image quality engine intelligently manages different parameters related to image quality in the context of real-time capture of image data, in order to improve the end-user experience by using awareness of the environment, system, etc., and by controlling various parameters globally. Various image processing algorithms implemented include smart auto-exposure, frame rate control, image pipe controls, and temporal filtering.

Abstract: A multimedia data processing system and method which transparently processes video and/or audio streams in real-time. The operation of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention does not require any intervention from, or involvement of, either the producer of the video and/or audio stream, or the client application. With such a transparent solution, video and/or audio streams can be processed seamlessly, and completely independently of the specific client application that the user chooses to use. In one embodiment, the invention uses an external service to monitor new processes and add code to these processes. The invention inserts into the system by hot-patching the software in memory and by only looking at select service calls.

Abstract: A multimedia data processing system and method which transparently processes video and/or audio streams in real-time. The operation of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention does not require any intervention from, or involvement of, either the producer of the video and/or audio stream, or the client application. With such a transparent solution, video and/or audio streams can be processed seamlessly, and completely independently of the specific client application that the user chooses to use. Thus a system in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention can be used with any client application of the user's choice. This allows the creation of a large number of video and/or audio effects and/or improvements to the benefit of the end-user.

Abstract: The present invention seamlessly enables a single media stream to be exposed to as many clients/applications as desired, in a manner that is completely transparent to the client/application. Further, an embodiment of the present invention combines media streams from multiple devices (e.g., webcams, microphones, etc.) into a single virtual stream that can then be accessed by as many clients as desired. In some embodiments of the above invention, each client can request a different format and frame rate. Further, in some embodiments of the present invention, the ability to provide media data from one or more sources to one or more client applications is completely transparent to the applications, as well as to the users.

Abstract: A single universal audio processing system intelligently and transparently processes audio streams in real-time. The system receives audio input from one or more sources, determines how the streams should be processed, and automatically processes them in real-time for delivery to an output system. The processing happens without any intervention from the output system, which is oblivious to this processing. A set of audio processing algorithms to accomplish acoustic echo cancellation (AEC), resampling, format conversion, channel mixing or any other desired audio processing function can be supported by a universal processing system, providing a universal solution to audio processing regardless of source or sink. In one embodiment, processing functionality is implemented in an upper filter driver created using a “framework” or software architecture that implements a conventional WDM filter and a dedicated environment for audio processing.

Abstract: A system and a process are disclosed for synchronizing asynchronous audio streams for synchronous consumption by an audio module. The system and the process receive a first audio stream and a second audio stream. The first audio stream serves as a baseline and is sent unaltered directly to the audio module. The second audio stream is split so that one split is output unaltered to a destination and the other split is input into a drift corrector. The drift corrector evaluates whether there is a drift between the first audio stream and the second audio stream. If there is drift, the second audio stream is appropriately adjusted to account for the drift. The drift-corrected second audio stream is then output to the audio module.