Abstract:
A Video and Audio Front End Assembly and Method. The device and method of this invention takes advantage of the hardware improvements available in personal computing machines that enable higher speed bus communications and much greater computational capacity. The system converts many of the processes needed to convert analog video and audio inputs so that they are displayable by a personal computer from a hardware integrated circuit to a set of software routines. The system combines a simplified hardware front-end interface between the computer and the analog input signals and a very flexible set of software applications running on the host computer. The hardware front end employs an integrated circuit device that is much lower in complexity and cost than the conventional audio/video decoder integrated circuit. The software back end provides performance that is equal to the prior hardware-based systems, while also having the substantial benefit of being upgradable at virtually no cost to respond to changing user requirements and technological evolutions in the decoding arena.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to computer hardware and software and, more specifically, to a Video and Audio Front End Assembly and Method.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     Video and audio data signal streams have historically been created, transmitted and displayed in analog format. Most televisions today still accept video and audio signals in analog form and display them without conversion into digital form With the advent of digital televisions and the growing wave of digital broadcast signals, the long-term evolution will be towards creating video in digital format and then maintaining the digital form throughout the transmission and display processes.  
         [0005]     That being said, there remains a significant portion of analog video and audio data, both in recorded form and in broadcast form. To use this data in a digital display device, such as a conventional computer, the analog data stream must be converted into digital form. This analog to digital conversion is being done by video decoding assemblies, usually found as subassemblies or “cards” plugged into the “motherboard” of the computer.  FIG. 1  depicts the general functionality of a conventional video decoding assembly  10 .  
         [0006]     The decoding assembly  10  accepts an analog video (and audio) input stream  12 , and converts it into a digital video stream in a standard display format  14 . Examples of standard display formats include NTSC (adopted in the United States) and PAL (adopted in Europe). While both of these formats are analog, they are not compatible because of their differences in color modulation, field rates, line rates, format and resolution, a signal in PAL format cannot be displayed by a display device designed for NTSC format and vice versa. If we turn to  FIG. 2 , we can examine the video decoding assembly more closely.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram depicting the subassemblies contained within the conventional video decoding assembly  10 . The assembly  10  is typically a circuit substrate  16  having an input receptacle  18  for accepting the analog video/audio input stream  12 . The circuit substrate  16  (or “card”) has a plug-in interface built into its bottom edge so that it can be plugged into a “bus” located on the motherboard of the host computer. In order to handle the high-volume data flow of today&#39;s digital video, the typical assembly  10  is built to interface with a PCI Parallel bus  32  provided on the motherboard. The conventional PCI Parallel Bus handles a 32-bit or 64-bit data stream (which is the maximum provided on conventional motherboards). New high-performance peripherals require the use of a modem high-speed serial transport such as the PCI Express bus to handle higher data throughput and lower system costs. A PCI Express bus has one or more Lanes of differential transmit and receive pairs, requiring only four signals per Lane while achieving higher data throughput than the parallel 32-bit or 64-bit legacy PCI bus. Examples of devices that use the PCI Express bus include Gigabit Ethernet, Graphics Processors, and IEEE 1394B interfaces.  
         [0008]     The assembly  10  has an analog front end (not shown) that receives and conditions the incoming analog video signal  12 . Once conditioned, the analog data is passed through an analog-to-digital converter  22 . The now-digitized signal then passes through a Channel Matched Filter device  26  and a device for Separating the Audio and Video streams  28  from the input signal stream. The video and audio data streams are then passed to the Video Decoder Device  30 V for conversion into the final standardized digital format for display, and to the Audio Decoder Device  30 A for conversion into the final standardized audio format for sound. The outputs of the video decoder device  30 V and audio decoder device  30 A (which are the outputs of the video and audio decoder assembly), denoted here by  14 V and  14 A, pass through the PCI parallel bus  32  to the host computer  34 . A video display software application  36 V running within the host computer  34  displays the output  14 V of the device  30 V on the computer&#39;s display and plays the output  14 A of the device  30 A on the computer&#39;s sound system Alternatively, certain devices  30 V and  30 A will scale the video and process the audio output within the device  44 , and not within the host computer.  
         [0009]     The problem with the conventional hardware-based video decoding approach is that these devices  30 A,  30 V (“chips”) are very expensive as compared to the other circuits the make up the host computer and its input interfaces. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the video decoder devices are not cross-compatible with other digital formats. An NTSC device  30 V cannot produce video in PAL format. As a result, devices must either designed to support a single standard, or to support multiple standards with additional hardware at greater cost. What is needed is a method for decoding analog video that does not require expensive video and audio decoder devices  30 A,  30 V and further can provide digital video and audio output in a standardized format that can be chosen (and changed) “on the fly” through software operating on the host computer  34 , rather than through hardware replacement.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the prior devices and methods, it is an object of the present invention to provide a Video and Audio Front End Assembly and Method. The device and method of this invention should take advantage of the hardware improvements available in personal computing machines that enable higher speed bus communications and much greater computational capacity. The system should transfer many of the processes needed to convert analog video and audio inputs so that they are displayable on a personal computer from being hardware-based to being software-based. The system should combine a simplified hardware front-end interface between the computer and the analog input signals and a very flexible set of software applications running on the host computer. The hardware front end should employ an integrated circuit device that has much lower complexity and cost than the conventional audio/video decoder integrated circuit. The software back end should provide performance that is equal to or greater than the prior hardware-based systems, while also having the substantial benefit of being upgradable virtually without cost to respond to changing user requirements and technological evolutions in the decoding arena.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts the general functionality of a conventional video decoding assembly;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram depicting the subassemblies contained within the conventional video decoding assembly;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts the general functionality of a preferred embodiment of the video and audio front end assembly of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram depicting the device elements making up the video and audio front end assembly of  FIG. 3  accepting a combined Low-IF video and sound input, in combination with the host computer and its software applications for interfacing with the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram depicting the device elements making up the video and audio front end assembly of  FIGS. 3 and 4  accepting separate video and sound inputs in CVBS and SIF formats, in combination with the host computer and its software applications for interfacing with the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram depicting the device elements making up the video and audio front end assembly of  FIGS. 3-5  accepting separate video and sound inputs in CVBS and stereo formats, in combination with the host computer and its software applications for interfacing with the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram depicting the device elements making up the video and audio front end assembly of  FIGS. 3-6  accepting separate video and sound inputs in S-video and stereo formats, in combination with the host computer and its software applications for interfacing with the present invention; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram depicting the device elements making up the video and audio front end assembly of  FIGS. 3 and 4  accepting separate video and sound inputs in CVBS and SIF formats, in combination with the host computer and its software applications for interfacing with the present invention  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a Video and Audio Front End Assembly and Method.  
         [0021]     The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  depicts the general functionality of a preferred embodiment of the video and audio front end assembly  40  of the present invention. Like the prior art, the assembly  40  of the present invention accepts analog video/audio data input  12 . Unlike the prior art, however, the output is raw digitized video  38 V and audio  38 A in a (device) standard format (generically  38 ). The format  38  referred to here is not decoded digital video and audio in a standard format, but is rather digitized analog data that has not been fully decoded, but rather has been converted into an internally standardized format so that it can be further decoded in downstream equipment Now tuning to  FIG. 4 , we can examine the assembly of the present invention more closely.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram depicting the device elements making up the video and audio front end assembly  40  of  FIG. 3  accepting a combined Low-IF video and sound input, in combination with the host computer  34  and its software applications  44 V,  44 A and  36 V,  36 A for interfacing with the present invention. The circuit substrate  16  has a plurality of functional elements bonded electrically to it, including an interface to a PCI Express bus  42  (serial bus), rather than the regular PCI bus (parallel) used by the conventional video decoder assembly.  
         [0023]     The analog input signal  12  enters the circuit at the input receptacles  18 , where it is handled by a conventional analog front end (not shown) and analog to digital converter  22 . Next, the signal is processed by the channel matched filter device  26  and separating/conversion device  28 . Each of the aforementioned devices are essentially the same as are found in the conventional system.  
         [0024]     What is new is that instead of now being decoded by video and audio decoder devices, the digitized analog data exiting the separating/conversion device  28  enters the data framing devices  41 A and  41 V (for framing of the separated, digitized audio and video data). The data framing devices  41 A and  41 V do not convert the raw digital data into standardized displayable digital video and playable digital audio, but instead only frames the raw digital data into a (device-configured) standard format,  38 V and  38 A, so that it can be easily manipulated by downstream software into decoded and displayable digital video and playable digital audio.  
         [0025]     The framed raw digitized data  38 V,  38 A leaves the video and audio front end assembly  40  via the PCI Express bus  42  (4 bit vs 32 bit) on the host computer&#39;s  34  motherboard. The actual decoding of the raw digitized data is handled by video decoding  44 V and audio decoding  44 A software applications running on the host computer  34 . The  20  decode applications  44 A and  44 V convert the raw digitized data into the standardized display format (e.g. PAL or NTSC formats). The display software application  36 V and sound software  36 A then displays the digital video on a display device associated with the host computer  34  (e.g. the computer&#39;s monitor) and plays the sound through speakers operatively connected to the computer  34 .  
         [0026]     There are several substantial benefits to using hardware only to do “front end” conversions of the incoming analog video/audio data. First, the most expensive hardware device on the circuit substrate is eliminated. Second, by not taking the decoding process past data digitization and framing, there has been no commitment to any particular video display format. As a result, a single video and audio front end assembly architecture can support the creation of decoded digital video in virtually any standard display format (i.e. one card can generate video in either PAL or NTSC format). Third, since the video decoding is handled by the decode software application ( 44 V and  44 A, collectively  44 ), the system is completely upgradable at any time in the future. Using a strictly hardware based system would not permit such upgrades. Third, under certain circumstances, as discussed below, where separate analog audio and video streams are inputted to the assembly  40 , the device of  FIGS. 3-8  can optimize the processing flow even more.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram depicting the device elements making up the video and audio front end assembly of  FIGS. 3 and 4  accepting separate video and sound inputs in CVBS and SIF formats, in combination with the host computer  34  and its software applications  44 V,  44 A and  36 V,  36 A for interfacing with the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  depicts the general functionality of a preferred embodiment of the video and audio front end assembly  40  of the present invention as it handles separated audio and video data streams  12 A (SIF) and  12 V (CVBS), respectively. The assembly  40  is equipped to handle such pre-separated analog data streams much differently than the prior art. Under the prior art, all steps are executed on the incoming analog stream, whether separated or not because they are necessary in order to complete decoding. This slows down the data flow unnecessarily. In the device of the present invention (as discussed below), the separate analog streams, when present, will only undergo simple processing before being passed to the host computer for decoding. Under these circumstances, employment of the front end system of  FIG. 6  becomes even more valuable.  
         [0029]     When, as here, separate input streams  12 V and  12 A are received at the assembly  40 , channel matching and separation steps are unnecessary. In response, the assembly  40  directs the digitized data stream directly to the data framing devices  41 V and  41 A to be packaged in the assembly-specific standard format.  
         [0030]     Once received by the host cpu  34 , he framed digital data  38 V,  38 A is operated upon by the audio decode application  44 A and the video decode application  44 V, just as a mixed analog input signal would have been. The display and sound applications  36 V and  36 A then display and emit the video and audio, respectively. By transferring so much of the signal processing to the host computer  34 , the assembly  40  has created efficiencies, processing speeds and flexibility that hasn&#39;t and isn&#39;t available through conventional hardware-intensive decoding assemblies.  FIG. 6  provides another operational example of the device and method of the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram depicting the device elements making up the video and audio front end assembly  40  of  FIGS. 3-5  accepting separate video and sound inputs in CVBS and stereo formats, in combination with the host computer  34  and its software applications  44 V,  44 A and  36 V,  36 A for interfacing with the present invention.  
         [0032]     Here, since the analog audio is already in separate, playable analog form, very little processing is necessary. Once packaged at  41 A, the audio decode application  44 A simply processes the stereo data and then the sound application  36 A emits the sound through the host computer. Since the video is in CVBS format (as was the case in the example of  FIG. 5 ), the same simplified video processing is conducted as was conducted in the system of that Figure.  FIG. 7  gives another example of analog input stream format  FIG. 7  is a block diagram depicting the device elements making up the video and audio front end assembly  40  of  FIGS. 3-6  accepting separate video and sound inputs in S video and stereo formats, in combination with the host computer  34  and its software applications  44 V,  44 A and  36 V,  36 A for interfacing with the present invention.  
         [0033]     Here, the S-Video analog video input signal (abbreviated as Y and C) are already highly processed for display. As such, not only is no signal separation required, but the video decode application  44 V also only conducts a subset of the available processing steps to the packaged digital video stream  38 V. As a result, further speed optimization is obtained with this new approach to decoding analog audio and video as compared to the prior hardware-based systems. Finally turning to  FIG. 8 , we can examine the situation involving yet another set of analog input formats.  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram depicting the device elements making up the video and audio front end assembly  40  of  FIGS. 3 and 4  accepting separate video and sound inputs in CVBS and SIF formats, in combination with the host computer  34  and its software applications  44 V,  44 A and  36 V,  36 A for interfacing with the present invention Here, the incoming video is in YUV format, which is actually displayable on analog equipment. Under these circumstances, virtually processing occurs by either the assembly  40  or the applications  44 V and  44 A. The display and emission of the video and audio requires almost no processing power from the host  34 , and virtually nothing but digitizing, packaging and sending to the PCI express bus has been conducted by the assembly  40 .  
         [0035]     In summary, the assembly  40  and associated host-based decode software applications  44  are flexible and responsive to the input stream format. The form of the packaged output data streams  38 V and  38 A may be less- or more-highly processed, responsive to the format of the analog input stream(s). The prior art audio/video decoders assemblies were not this responsive—since the decoder chips are hardwired, their operational sequences are not very flexible. As a result, there is really no gain by providing subcircuits that can deactivate certain processing steps because the modified data would have to use a separate decoder chip to prepare it for display or emission by the host computer. Since such functionality would mandate duplication of the decoder chip(s), there would not be any cost advantage at all.  
         [0036]     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.