Patent Publication Number: US-2009237560-A1

Title: Networked ip video wall

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to video displays, and more specifically to flexible video wall displays. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Typical video walls are standalone devices that include a common dimension display matrix, a video matrix appliance with one or more video inputs and as many video outputs as the number of display portions on the video matrix, and in some cases a management station for controlling and managing the video matrix. Such approaches also typically involve little or no Internet protocol (IP) network access. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example video wall system with localized video matrix control. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example video wall system with video matrix control in an IP network. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example video wall control system. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example digital media receiver structure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a flow diagram of an example method of controlling a video wall. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Overview 
     In one embodiment, a method can include: receiving a synchronization signal in a digital media receiver coupled to a network and a video wall; receiving media content in the digital media receiver; receiving a configuration signal via the network in the digital media receiver; and displaying a designated portion of the media content on the video wall in response to the configuration signal and the synchronization signal. 
     Example Embodiments 
     In order to overcome a fixed size video wall that may be limited by video matrix output density, constrained video wall shape (e.g., square (N×N displays), rectangular (N×M displays), etc.), non-scalability, fixed video wall content (e.g., one big message filling the video wall, different messages in display strings, different messages in “sub-video walls,” every display showing different images, etc.), and in general a standalone video matrix solution that may not leverage content distribution networking, streaming intelligence, etc., particular embodiments can include deploying video matrix functionality via an Internet protocol (IP) network. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , shown is an example  100  video wall system with localized video matrix control. A display can be video wall  108  that includes a plurality of display portions in a matrix (e.g., a first row of  110 - 00 ,  110 - 01 , and  110 - 02 , a second row of  110 - 10 ,  110 - 11 , and  110 - 12 , and a third row of  110 - 20 ,  110 - 21 , and  110 - 22 ). For example, video wall  108  can be a billboard, a stadium video board, a home-based video wall, or any other suitably large display. Video matrix  106  can receive control signals from digital media player  104 , as well as IP network  102 . Video matrix  106  can essentially divide an incoming media content signal into various displayed portions, as shown. 
     However, a display portion size is generally fixed (e.g., 4×4, 10×4, 10×16, etc.) in this approach. Thus, in order to control different display portions, or build a video wall of a shape other than, e.g., a square or rectangular shape, video matrix  106  may be changed. This might be the case even to make a relatively minor change, such as in adding or removing a line to a video display (e.g., display portion  110 - 11 ), because video matrix  106  is generally comprised of hardware. In addition, digital media player  104  can be a set-top box (STB), cable modem (CM), video player, or any other suitable type of content playing or converting device. In some cases, digital media player  104  can be embedded within video matrix  106  and/or video wall  108 . 
     In particular embodiments, an IP video wall, or a set of IP video walls, having size and shape flexibility can be provided. For example, each video wall or set of IP video walls can be enlarged or reshaped arbitrarily without changing and re-engineering the control system (e.g., the video matrix), but rather by adding distributed IP digital media receivers (e.g., IP displays, IP-STBs, etc.) coupled to an IP network. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , shown is an example  200  video wall system with video matrix control in an IP network. In this example, IP network  102  can have video matrix control functionality embedded therein or accessible thereby, which can then be provided to digital media receiver  204 . Further, management server  202  can provide control signals, such as synchronization and timing controls, via IP network  102  to digital media receiver  204 . Video wall  108  can then receive flexible video matrix-like controls from digital media receiver  204  for display. 
     In this approach, a one to one digital media receiver to display portion correspondence can be realized for increased flexibility. Video matrix functionality can essentially be moved from between a content player and the video wall to a logical aspect in IP network  102 , which can then control many players coupled to portions or to different video walls. For example, a 4×4 video wall  108  display can include 16 digital media receivers  204 , and a 4×5 video wall  108  display can simply add a 17 th  digital media receiver  204 . By controlling each display portion with each digital media receiver or player, different configurations can be supported, and based on video matrix control via IP network  102 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , shown is an example  300  video wall control system. Video wall  108  can be divided into any suitable number of display portions (e.g.,  110 - 00 ,  110 - 10 , . . .  110 -NN), and each display portion can have a corresponding digital media receiver (e.g.,  204 - 00 ,  204 - 10 , . . .  204 -NN). As one particular example, streaming server  302  can provide control signals  308  (e.g., a multicast MP2TS (MPEG-2 transport stream)) and  312  (e.g., clock signaling) to digital media receivers  204 . However, any broadcast or multicast stream over an IP network, such as a satellite stream encapsulated in IP or any other source, can be used as a source of a stream instead of streaming server  302 . In this example, synchronizer master clock  304  can provide master clock signal  310  (e.g., IEEE 1588 Master) to digital media receivers  204 , streaming server  302 , and management server  202 . Management server  202  can provide scaling configuration  306  to digital media receivers  204  for configuration of display portion  110 . 
     Particular embodiments can include: (i) a matrix of, e.g., liquid crystal display (LCD) and/or plasma displays  110 ; (ii) a matrix of IP digital media receivers  204  (e.g., IP-STB), where each is connected to a corresponding display portion  110 ; (iii) a media server (e.g., streaming server  302 ) or other stream source, and a clock master (e.g.,  304 ) to distribute and synchronize media content to digital media receivers  204 ; and (iv) a management server  202  for provisioning and management of the digital media receiver matrix ( 204 / 110 ) and the media/clock master. Management server  202  may be a master controller to control one or more video walls  108 , by essentially determining what is to be displayed on each display portion  110  at a particular time. 
     In particular embodiments, digital media receiver video buffers may be synchronized (e.g., sub-ms) between digital media receivers  204  to display an image as a “single big image” or a seamless display. For example, IEEE 1588 can be used for synchronization at the sub-ms level to create a single big image on video wall  108 . The IEEE 1588 specification can be realized in software plus relatively low cost chipset hardware while leveraging packet networking. Video walls in particular embodiments can be fed by different multimedia content (e.g., flash, 3d OpenGL (open graphics library) graphics, etc.) in addition to pure video streams, where appropriate rendering intelligence can be embedded into the receiving system. Such rendering intelligence may be part of digital media receiver  204 , and can include a dedicated chipset plus suitable firmware as part of an overall digital media receiver operating system. Therefore, a broader synchronization method (e.g., IEEE 1588v2) can be used. However, any suitable synchronization approach can be employed in particular embodiments. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , shown is an example  400  digital media receiver structure. In particular embodiments, each digital media receiver can display a “zone” or portion of incoming digital media. This can be done by each digital media receiver obtaining whole pictures and showing portions thereof, or by each digital media receiver obtaining a predetermined portion of the media content, as determined by, e.g., a configuration signal from management server  202 . In either case, scaling hardware can be leveraged in a digital media receiver graphics adapter to convey, via provisioning, which zone is to be scaled by each specific digital media receiver. Thus, scaling can include both selecting a portion for display, then re-sizing such portion for display purposes. In one particular example, video graphics controller  402  can include scaler  404  controlled by configuration controller  410 . An appropriate scaling can be used to embrace each kind of digital media (e.g., video, etc.), and scaler  404  may provide a video output for video content. 
     Video graphics controller  402  can also include video decoder  408  that receives a control signal (e.g., MP2TS with packet identification (PID)) from network/operating system (OS) layer  414 , and provides a signal to video buffer  406 . Local synchronization controller  412  can be an IEEE 1588 slave controller that can receive IEEE 1588 master clock packets from network/OS layer  414 , and provide a buffer synchronization signal to video buffer  406 . Moreover, architectures in particular embodiments can include hardware and software features, such as: (i) a SYNCoPacket (synchronization over packet standard and technologies, such as IEEE 1588) subsystem for video buffer sub-ms synchronization; and (ii) a configurable scaling circuit (e.g.,  404 ) in video graphics controller  402 . 
     Once the management server  202  has provisioned each digital media receiver  204  on a corresponding zone or display portion of responsibility, the hardware and software intelligence can display an appropriate zone of the digital media with sub-ms video buffer synchronization by the clocking source. The media server (e.g., streaming server  302 ), or another suitable stream source, can stream out video or other digital media content. Particular embodiments can also scale for many locations with a single management server or station covering the locations, and with many video walls in each location. Also, a clock master can be included in each such location. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , shown is a flow diagram  500  of an example method of controlling a video wall. The flow begins  502 , and a video buffer synchronization signal (e.g., from master clock supplier  304 ) can be received in a digital media receiver that is coupled to an IP network and a video wall ( 504 ). Simultaneously or sequentially, digital media (e.g., from streaming server  302 , or another stream source) can be received in the digital media receiver ( 506 ). Simultaneously or sequentially, a configuration signal (e.g., from management server  202 ) can also be received via the IP network ( 508 ). Such a configuration can include video matrix-like control. A designated portion of the digital media can then be displayed on the video wall in response to the configuration signal end the synchronization signal ( 510 ), completing the flow  512 . 
     Accordingly, particular embodiments can include an IP network to which different IP digital media receivers are connected, sub-ms synchronization of associated video buffers leveraging packet standard technologies (e.g., IEEE 1588v2, IEEE 802 AVB (audio video bridging), etc.) occurs, a feed of the same or related digital media content and the same master clock to the digital media receivers occurs, and a conveying to each digital media receiver of a scale configuration on a different (e.g., x, y, x′, y′) portion of the media stream for display to support a video wall. 
     Particular embodiments create an IP networked approach for building and controlling a video matrix, thus bringing: (i) flexibility in video wall size and shape (where each IP digital media receiver is substantially independent but also part of the overall system) without changing or re-engineering the video matrix; (ii) dynamic changing what and how the video wall displays (e.g., one big message filling the video wall, different messages in display strings, different messages in “sub-video walls,” etc.); and (iii) flexibility of a networked solution leveraging content distribution networking, manageability, scalability, availability, and cost. 
     Although the description has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, these particular embodiments are merely illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, any broadcast, multimedia stream, or digital media over an IP network, such as a satellite stream encapsulated in IP or any other digital media source, can be utilized in particular embodiments. 
     Any suitable programming language can be used to implement the routines of particular embodiments including C, C++, Java, assembly language, etc. Different programming techniques can be employed such as procedural or object oriented. The routines can execute on a single processing device or multiple processors. Although the steps, operations, or computations may be presented in a specific order, this order may be changed in different particular embodiments. In some particular embodiments, multiple steps shown as sequential in this specification can be performed at the same time. 
     A “computer-readable medium” for purposes of particular embodiments may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, system, or device. The computer readable medium can be, by way of example only but not by limitation, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, system, device, propagation medium, or computer memory. Particular embodiments can be implemented in the form of control logic in software or hardware or a combination of both. The control logic, when executed by one or more processors, may be operable to perform that which is described in particular embodiments. 
     Particular embodiments may be implemented by using a programmed general purpose digital computer, by using application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic devices, field programmable gate arrays, optical, chemical, biological, quantum or nanoengineered systems, components and mechanisms may be used. In general, the functions of particular embodiments can be achieved by any means as is known in the art. Distributed, networked systems, components, and/or circuits can be used. Communication, or transfer, of data may be wired, wireless, or by any other means. 
     It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. It is also within the spirit and scope to implement a program or code that can be stored in a machine-readable medium to permit a computer to perform any of the methods described above. 
     As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     Thus, while particular embodiments have been described herein, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of particular embodiments will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit.