Audio visual architecture
An architecture is provided that is capable of supporting interconnections between components. These devices include output components, such as laserdiscs players and input components, such as speakers. Each of the output components has a source port associated with each type of output signal it can output, and each input component has a sink port associated with each type of input signal that it can input. A multitude of aspects follow from this architecture. For example, each source port can be connected to one or more input ports. The path between a source port and a sink port can be either static or dynamic. Furthermore, the dynamic path can be established through a switching mechanism. Any connection between a source port and a sink port can be either a virtual circuit or a transport medium.
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This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/322,643, filed May 28, 1999, which claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/118,668, filed Feb. 3, 1999.
This application is also related to co-pending application entitled “Audio Visual Architecture,” Attorney Docket Number MSFT-4488/183206.05, U.S. application Ser. No. filed on ______.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe described technology is related to audio/visual systems.
BACKGROUNDA large environment, such as a large building or a large house, may have many audio/video devices located throughout the environment. These AV devices may include CD players, speaker systems, computer systems, television receivers, satellite receivers, displays, and so on. In addition, many sources of media may be available. One such media is a jukebox containing a variety of compact discs. The AV devices typically provide a control panel through which the device can be controlled. For example, a CD player provides a control panel that allows a CD to be started, paused, or stopped. Typically, the interconnections between the AV devices are static. That is, when the AV devices are installed, cabling is routed between devices. For example, speaker wire may be routed between an amplifier and speakers.
A problem with such static interconnections it is very expensive and difficult to provide all the desired interconnections and to change connections. Another problem is that it is cumbersome to use only the control panels to control the devices. It would be desirable to have an architecture that would support the dynamic interconnection between devices.
SUMMARYAn architecture is provided that is capable of supporting interconnections between components. In one aspect, an audio/visual system is disclosed, where the system comprises of at least one output component having at least one source port for each type of output signal output from the output component, and at least one source port object for each source port. Furthermore, the system comprises of at least one input component having at least one sink port for each type of input signal input to the input component, and at least one sink port object for each one sink port. In this arrangement, the source ports of the output component are connectable to the sink ports of the input component via primitive circuit paths. These primitive circuit paths between the source ports and the sink ports can be static or dynamic.
In another aspect, the system may further including at least one switching mechanism having at least one input switching port and at least one output switching port, where a switching mechanism of the at least one switching mechanism enables the input switching port associated with the switching mechanism to be connected to the output switching port associated with the switching mechanism, thereby establishing at least one dynamic path between the input switching port and the output switching port.
In still a further aspect, the system may further comprise of at least one entertainment session and at least one player/recorder component associated with each entertainment session, including at least one output component, where a player/recorder component is a type of source object. The output component may include a display component or a speaker system component, where a display object represents a display component and a speaker system object represents a speaker system component. Alternatively, the system may further comprise of at least one media manager object for managing media at its location and for providing at least one appropriate object, as determined by the at least one media manager object, for the media managed by the at least one media manager object.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Each output component (e.g., laserdisc player or output software component) has a source port associated with each type of the output signal that it can output. For example, an output component may output a video signal in RGB format through one source port and may output audio signal in AES format through another source port. Each input component (e.g., speaker system or input software component) has a sink port associated with each type of input signal that it can input. For example, an input component may input a signal in RGB format through one sink port. The AV system models each port with a corresponding port object. The AV system has a corresponding primitive source port object for each source port and a corresponding primitive sink port object for each sink port.
Each source port can be connected to one or more input ports. For example, a source port that outputs a video signal can be connected to the input ports of several monitor devices. The path between a source port and a sink port can be static or dynamic. A static path may correspond to a direct connection between a source port and a sink port of the output component. A dynamic path can be established through a switching mechanism. A switching mechanism allows for its sink ports to be connected to its source ports so that a path can be established. The connection can be a virtual circuit or a transport medium. For example, a certain bandwidth of the transport medium may be allocated for the connection. The path between a source port and a sink port is referred to as a primitive circuit. A primitive circuit may be a direct path between a source port of an output component and a sink port of an input component. A primitive circuit may also be a path between a source port of an output component with an input switching port (a type of sink port) of a switching mechanism. Similarly, a primitive circuit may be a path between an output switching port (a type of source port) of a switching mechanism to a sink port of an input component. The AV system has a corresponding primitive circuit object for each path with a signal origination from a source port and/or terminating at a sink port, corresponding input switching port object for each input switching port, and an output switching port object for each output port.
The AV system may represent each path by a primitive circuit object. In this example, primitive circuit object 113 corresponds to a direct path between the left audio source port of the laserdisc player and an input switch port of the switching mechanism. The AV system represents the switching mechanism by a switch object 114. A switch object contains an input source port object 115 for each of its input switch ports and an output switch port object 116 for each of its output switch ports.
The AV system represents a path for a signal between a complete source port and a complete sink port by a virtual circuit. A signal models actual informational context that is on a path. A virtual circuit may represent static and dynamic connections.
This function returns a pointer to the owner object of the port. The owner of the port is the object that directly contains a complete port. Each port within the port hierarchy as the same owner object.
This function returns an indication as to whether this port is a complete port. isPrimitivePort( );
This function returns an indication as to whether this port is a primitive port. getParentPortPtr(portPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the parent port of this port. The parent port is that port which is the next higher port in the port hierarchy. getNumberOfChildPorts(number);
This function returns the number of child ports of this port. getChildPortPtr(number, portPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the child port designated by the passed port.
This function retains an indication whether this sink port is connected to a stream. getAvStreamPtr(streamPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the stream to which this sink port is connected. assignStream(streamPtr);
This function informs a sink port that it is to consider the signals within a stream for the purpose of assigning them to a primitive sink port. unassignStream( );
This function undoes the assigning. getNumberOfAssignments(number);
This function returns the number of assignments between a signal and a primitive sink port that was made during the assignment. getAssignmentsPtrs(number, assignedSignalPtr, toPrimitivePortPtr);
This function is passed an assignment number and returns an indication of the signal that is assigned to the primitive port. connectToAssignedStream( );
This function is used to inform a complete sink port and its container of the assigned stream so that any action appropriate to the connection can be taken, such as powering on the output component.
This function returns the usage of the signal. The usage may be, for example, left audio or the red of an RGBsignal. getSignalFormat(format);
This function returns the format of the signal. The format may be, for example, 601 video or AES audio. getParentStreamPtr(streamPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the stream which is the parent of this signal. That is, the primitive stream that is carrying the signal. getSourcePortPtr(sourcePortPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the primitive source port that is outputting this signal.
This function returns an indication as to whether this stream is a complete stream. IsPrimitiveStream( );
This function returns an indication as to whether this stream is a primitive stream. getParentStreamPtr(streamPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the stream that is the parent of this stream. getNumberOfChildStreams(number);
This function returns the number of child streams of this stream. getChildStreamPtr(number, streamPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the numbered child stream of this stream. getSourcePortPtr(sourcePortPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the source port that is producing this stream. The source port is at the same level in its hierarchy as this stream is in its hierarchy. getSourceProgramPtr(sourceProgramPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the source program that is producing this stream. getSignalPtr(signalPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the signal in this stream is a primitive stream.
This function returns a pointer to the primitive source port of this primitive circuit. getSinkPortPtr(sinkPortPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the primitive sink port of this primitive circuit.
This function returns the number connections from this input switch port to output switch ports. getConnectionPtr(number, outputSwitchPortPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the numbered output switch port that is connected to this input switch port. createConnection(outputSwitchPortPtr);
This function creates a connection from this input switch port to the passed output switch port. removeConnection(outputSwitchPortPtr);
This function removes a connection from this input switch port to the passed output switch port.
This function gets the input switch port to which this output switch port is connected.
This function returns a pointer to the complete source port that is producing the signals being routed by this virtual circuit. getCompleteSinkPort(sinkPortPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the complete source port that is receiving the signals being routed by this virtual circuit. getNumberOfPrimitiveBindings(number);
This function returns the number of bindings between primitive source ports and primitive sink ports this virtual connection. getPrimitiveBindingPtrs(number, sourcePortPtt, sinkPortPtr);
This function returns the numbered binding as a pointer to the primitive source port and a pointer to the primitive sink port.
This function returns in indication of whether this source is active. A source port is active when it is capable producing a signal. getAvStreamPtr(streamPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the stream associated with this source port. getPrimitiveCircuitPtr(primitiveCircuitPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the primitive circuit associated with this source port if this primitive source port. getNumberOfVirtualCircuits(number);
This function returns the number of virtual circuits that are associated with this source port. getViriualCircuitPtr(number, virtualCircuitPtr);
This function returns a pointer to the numbered virtual circuit. createVirtualCircuit(toSinkPortPtr);
This function creates a virtual circuit that connects this source port to the passed sink port. removeVirtualCircuit(toSinkPortPtr);
This function removes the virtual circuit that connects the source port to the passed sink port.
The output objects that correspond to the output components provide a behavior that returns the identification of a sink port object that is appropriate for assigning the signals associated with a specified stream object. For example, a speaker system object that is passed a stream that includes both video and audio signals would return an indication that only audio sink ports are to be assigned. The output objects may also provide additional behavior that is specific to the type of output component. For example, a display object may provide behavior for turning the display on and off and for controlling the contrast of the display. A speaker system object may provide behavior for controlling the volume, equalizer functions, and surround sound system controls. This additional behavior may be part of the base object class or may be provided through a derivation of that base object class.
A program pool object represents a collection of AV programs. Each AV program has a corresponding program object. An AV program conceptually corresponds to a media that can be played by a player/recorder component. For example, an AV program may represent the feed provided through a certain television channel, a musical score stored on a CD, a movie stored on a laserdisc, and so on. These AV programs can be hierarchically organized to represent more complex AV programs. For example, an AV program may include a sub-AV program corresponding to the feed from a television channel and a sub-AV program corresponding to the output of a computer program. Thus, AV programs can represent arbitrarily complex multimedia programs. The AV system represents an AV program by a program object. A program object provides the behavior to browse through the hierarchy of the AV programs represented by that program object, allows a player/recorder component to be assigned to the AV program, and provides a behavior corresponding to the loading of the AV program into the player/recorder component. A program object also has a program ID, which provides descriptive information about the AV program. For example, descriptive information may include the name of the movie that the AV program represents. A program object stores the location of the media that corresponds to the AV program. For example, if the AV program corresponds to a laserdisc in a certain laserdisc stack, then the location would indicate the stack and slot of the laserdisc within the stack. In one embodiment, the location is represented as a path within a hierarchy of locations. A program object stores the identifier of an owner, which may be the program pool object that the program object is within. A program object allows for the retrieving of its child program objects and may allow for certain criteria to be established so that only children that match the criteria are returned. A program object may also allow for retrieving of its parent program object. In one embodiment, the parent program object may be retrieved through the containing program pool by providing the location of the program object to the program pool. A program object has a program type associated with it. The program type specifies a path through a hierarchy of program types. The hierarchy of program types is described below in detail.
In one embodiment, the AV system provides a capability for resolving a program ID into many different types of references. For example, the AV system may provide a get program object function that inputs a program ID and returns a reference to a corresponding program object. The AV system may also provide a get program genre function that inputs a program ID and returns a set of program objects in the same genre. For example, a program ID for a country music song when provided to the get program genre function would return references to program objects corresponding to other country music songs. To implement such multi-resolution references, the functions may access the program object associated with the program ID to retrieve information on its genre.
A program object may provide alternate interfaces for maintenance of state. For example, a program object may provide an interface for adding and deleting properties of the program object and setting properties of the program object. An alternate interface may also provide for the adding and deleting of child program objects or for the deleting of the program object itself. These interfaces may be specific to the type of AV program represented by the program object.
A program pool has a corresponding program pool object. A program pool object provides an access port for each client that is accessing the program pool. The program pool object provides a function that receives a program ID and returns a reference to a program object corresponding to that program ID. A program pool object also allows for database cursor-like access to the program objects. For example, a query can be submitted which specifies the criteria for program objects. The program objects that match that criteria are provided in a result set. The client can access that result set using techniques such as advance to the next program object, get reference for the current program object, and return a set of references for the program objects in the result set. In one embodiment, the result set of a query may be cached at a client to reduce communications between the clients in the program pool. The program pool may also automatically update the client's cache as the set of programs that match the criteria changes. In one embodiment, the program pool provides an access control mechanism to restrict access by certain clients. The program pool may use the phantom object mechanism as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/322,455, entitled “Method and System for Tracking Clients.”
The media manager provides a mechanism for managing media at its location and for providing a player/recorder object for the media itself. For example, a media manager object may correspond to a multi-laserdisc stack. The media manager object provides a load program function that is passed a program object and that returns a player/recorder object with that program loaded. A media manager may be hierarchically organized. That is, a media manager object may have child media manager objects to an arbitrary level of nesting. Each parent media manager object may have an associated location table. The location table maps the location of a program to the media manager object that is responsible for returning the player/recorder object for that program object. A media manager object that has no child object may process the location of the program object to identify which player/recorder to associate with the program object. For example, if a media manager object represents a multi-laserdisc stack, then the media manager object may use the location associated with that program object to determine which slot within the stack contains the media for that program.
One skilled in the art would appreciate that various modifications can be made to the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, but instead the scope of an invention is specified by the following claims.
Claims
1. An audio/visual system, comprising:
- at least one output component having at least one source port for each type of output signal output from the at least one output component and at least one source port object for each of said at least one source port; and
- at least one input component having at least one sink port for each type of input signal input to the at least one input component and at least one sink port object for each at least one sink port,
- wherein each at least one source port of said at least one output component is connectable to said at least one sink port of said at least one input component via at least one primitive circuit path.
2. An audio/visual system according to claim 1, further including at least one primitive circuit object for each at least one primitive circuit path with a signal at least one of (A) originating from a source port and (B) terminating at a sink port.
3. An audio/visual system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one primitive circuit path between the at least one source port and the at least one sink port is at least one of a static path and a dynamic path.
4. An audio/visual system according to claim 1, further including at least one switching mechanism having at least one input switching port and at least one output switching port, wherein a switching mechanism of the at least one switching mechanism enables the at least one input switching port associated with the switching mechanism to be connected to the at least one output switching port associated with the switching mechanism, thereby establishing at least one dynamic path between the at least one input switching port and the at least one output switching port.
5. An audio/visual system according to claim 1, wherein a wire protocol-based approach is utilized that supports the semantics of said at least one output component and said at least one input component.
6. An audio/visual system according to claim 1, further comprising:
- at least one entertainment session; and
- at least one player/recorder component associated with each entertainment session including at least one output component, wherein a player/recorder component is a type of source object.
7. An audio/visual system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one output component includes at least one of (A) a display component and (B) a speaker system component, wherein a display object represents a display component and a speaker system object represents a speaker system component.
8. An audio/visual system according to claim 1, further comprising:
- at least one media manager object for managing media at its location and for providing at least one appropriate object, as determined by the at least one media manager object, for the media managed by the at least one media manager object.
9. A method for establishing a path between a source component and an input component in an audio/visual system comprising at least one source component having at least one source port capable of supporting each type of output signal output from the at least one source component and at least one primitive source port object for each of said at least one source port; and at least one input component having at least one sink port capable of supporting each type of input signal input to the at least one input component and a primitive sink port object for each sink port, wherein each at least one source port of said at least one source component is connectable to said at least one sink port of said at least one input component via at least one primitive circuit path, including:
- instantiating a virtual circuit object that establishes a path between the source port corresponding to the complete source port object and the sink port corresponding to the complete sink port object.
10. A method according to claim 9, further including:
- establishing a primitive circuit path using an output object that represents the source component and an input object that represents the input component.
11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the sink port and the source port are included in the same port.
12. A method according to claim 9, wherein said instantiating includes hosting the virtual circuit object by the source port.
13. A method for use in connection with an audio/visual system, comprising:
- connecting at least one source port of at least one output component to at least one sink port of at least one input component via at least one primitive circuit path;
- wherein each of said at least one output component includes at least one source port for each type of output signal output from the at least one output component and at least one source port object for each of said at least one source port, and
- wherein each of said at least one input component includes at least one sink port for each type of input signal input to the at least one input component and at least one sink port object for each at least one sink port.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein at least one primitive circuit object is generated for each at least one primitive circuit path with a signal at least one of (A) originating from a source port and (B) terminating at a sink port.
15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one primitive circuit path between the at least one source port and the at least one sink port is at least one of a static path and a dynamic path.
16. A method according to claim 13, wherein a switching mechanism having at least one input switching port and at least one output switching port connects at least one input switching port associated with the switching mechanism to the at least one output switching port associated with the switching mechanism, thereby establishing at least one dynamic path between the at least one input switching port and the at least one output switching port.
17. A method according to claim 13, wherein a wire protocol-based approach is utilized that supports the semantics of said at least one output component and said at least one input component.
18. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:
- generating at least one entertainment session; and
- associating at least one player/recorder component with each entertainment session including at least one output component, wherein a player/recorder component is a type of source object.
19. A method according to claim 13, wherein said at least one output component includes at least one of (A) a display component and (B) a speaker system component, wherein a display object represents a display component and a speaker system object represents a speaker system component.
20. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:
- generating at least one media manager object for managing media at its location and for providing at least one appropriate object, as determined by the at least one media manager object, for the media managed by the at least one media manager object.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 15, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 15, 2005
Applicant: Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, WA)
Inventor: Richard Hasha (Seattle, WA)
Application Number: 11/205,727