Patent ID: 7424558
Filing Date: 2008-09-09
Classification: G06F,G09G

Abstract:
1. A packet based method of coupling a multimedia source device to a multimedia sink device, the method comprising: providing a coupling device including a signal cable comprising (i) a bi-directional auxiliary channel arranged to transfer information between the multimedia source device and the multimedia sink device and (ii) an unidirectional main link arranged to transport multimedia data packets from the multimedia source device to the multimedia sink device, the signal cable not including a clock line; coupling the multimedia sink device to the multimedia source device by way of the coupling device; and automatically configuring the coupling device, including setting the operational mode of the coupling device to digital if both of the multimedia source device and the multimedia sink device support digital data; packetizing only the video data to form a packetized video data stream formed of a number of video data packets; and passing the video data packets by way of the unidirectional main link from the multimedia source device to the multimedia sink device, and wherein control signals are passed over only the auxiliary channel such that substantially all unidirectional main link bandwidth is used for transmission of video data only.