Abstract:
This invention is to use standard and very popular UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair) cables, such as CAT-5, CAT-6 and CAT-7 cables to extend the original high-definition digital audio/video signals over long distance between HDMI/DVI compliant sources and HDMI/DVI compliant displays. It can be either an extension between one source and one display, or a distribution between one source and multiple displays.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60956684, filed on the 18 th  day of Aug. 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the transport of the high-definition video/audio from a source to one or more display(s). 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    HDMI and/or DVI are designed to transmit all-digital, uncompressed high-definition video/audio data over HDMI and/or DVI cables in real time. Due to their high bandwidth requirement, the transmission distance is limited. One way to transmit digital video data over long distances is to compress the video/audio content and thus greatly reduce the bandwidth requirement. Once this is done, the data can be transmitted over data networks such as the IP network. The following patent applications address various aspects of compressed video/audio content transmission over data networks.
       US20060242669   Display node for use in an audiovisual signal routing and distribution system.   US20060117371   Method for effectively implementing a multi-room television system.   US20070103204   Method and apparatus for conversion between quasi-differential signaling and true differential signaling.       
 
         [0010]    One drawback is that the video/audio quality is usually degraded during compression and decompression. In addition, it is usually costly to implement high ratio compression. 
         [0011]    Another way to accomplish this task is to transmit the original signal over different cables or media such as optical fiber or Shielded Twisted Pairs (STP). Optical fibers are the ideal media for carrying the original video signals over long distances, but due to their high cost, they are only used for high-end equipment. STP cables are relatively cheaper compared to optical fibers, but they are still expensive to deploy. UTP cables cost much less and are the most commonly available, much easier to deploy communication media used in standard building infrastructure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention is the use of Unshielded Twisted Pairs (UTP) to transmit all-digital, high-definition video/audio data between HDMI and/or DVI devices. Compared to STP, UTP cable is much cheaper and easier to install; more importantly, it can use the existing cable pre-routed in most buildings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows one typical point-to-point application of an embodiment of the present invention in which one video source is extended to one display over one or two UTP cable/cables. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  depicts one typical point-to-multi-point application of an embodiment of the present invention in which one video source is extended to multiple displays over UTP cables. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates one typical point-to-multi-point application of an embodiment of the present invention in which one video source is extended to multiple displays over UTP cables through a distributor. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    In  FIG. 1 , video source  101  is connected with HDMI or DVI connector  102  as the video output port. Typically, the source is the DVD player, HD DVD player, Blu-ray player, cable TV set-top box, satellite TV set-top box or computer. 
         [0017]    The proper cable  103  matches the video port  102  on the video source  101  and the video port  104  on the transmitter  105 . Typically, the proper cable  103  is a straight HDMI cable, straight DVI cable, HDMI to DVI adapter cable, or DVI to HDMI adapter cable. 
         [0018]    The transmitter  105  based on the present invention includes the drivers/receivers and/or signal converters needed to transmit and receive the digital video and control signals over UTP cable/cables  107 . Typically, it has a HDMI or DVI (depending on the targeted applications) connector  104  as a video and control signals input and output port, and one or two RJ45 UTP connect/connectors  106  as video and control signals output and input port/ports. 
         [0019]    The UTP cable or cables  107  are usually one or two CAT-5, CAT-6, CAT-7 or other special UTP cable/cables. 
         [0020]    The receiver  109  based on the present invention includes the drivers/receivers and/or signal converters needed to transmit and receiver the digital video signals and control signals over UTP cable or cables  107 . Typically, the receiver  109  has one or two RJ45 UTP connector/connectors  108  as video and control signals input and output ports, and a HDMI or DVI (depending on the targeted applications) connector  110  as a video and control signals input and output port  113 . 
         [0021]    The proper cable  111  matches the video port  112  on the display  113  and the video port  110  on the receiver  109 . Typically, the cable  111  is a straight HDMI cable, straight DVI cable, HDMI to DVI adapter cable, or DVI to HDMI adapter cable. 
         [0022]    The display  113  is to display the target application, such as video. Typically, the display is a HDTV, including LCD TV, Plasma TV, and DLP TV, or computer monitor, including LCD display and other flat-panel displays. 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 2 , the video source  201  is connected with HDMI or DVI connector  202  as the video output port. Typically, the video source  201  is a DVD player, HD DVD player, Blu-ray player, the cable TV set-top box, satellite TV set-top box or computer. 
         [0024]    The proper cable  203  matches the video port  202  on the video source  201  and the video port  204  on the transmitter  205 . Typically, the cable  203  is a straight HDMI cable, straight DVI cable, HDMI to DVI adapter cable, or DVI to HDMI adapter cable. 
         [0025]    The transmitter  205  based on the present invention includes the drivers/receivers and/or signal converters needed to transmit and receive the digital video and control signals over UTP cable or cables  207 . Typically, it has a HDMI or DVI (depending on the targeted applications) connector  204  as a video and control signals input and output port, and multiple RJ45 UTP connectors  206  as video and control signals output and input ports. 
         [0026]    The UTP cable or cables  207  are usually one or two CAT-5, CAT-6, CAT-7 or other special UTP cable/cables. 
         [0027]    The receiver  208  based on the present invention includes the drivers/receivers and/or signal converters needed to transmit and receive the digital video and control signals over UTP cable or cables  207 . Typically, the receiver has one or two RJ45 UTP connector/connectors  209  as video and control signals input and output ports, and a HDMI or DVI (depending on the targeted applications) connector  210  as a video and control signals input and output. 
         [0028]    The proper cable  211  matches the video port  213  on the display  212  and the video port  210  on the receiver  208 . Typically, the proper cable  211  is a straight HDMI cable, straight DVI cable, HDMI to DVI adapter cable, or DVI to HDMI adapter cable. 
         [0029]    The display  212  is to display the target application, such as video. Typically it is a HDTV, including LCD TV, Plasma TV, and DLP TV, or computer monitor, including LCD display and other flat-panel displays. 
         [0030]    The video source  301  has a HDMI or DVI connector  302  as its video output port. Typically, the video source  301  is a DVD player, HD DVD player, Blu-ray player, the cable TV set-top box, satellite TV set-top box or computer. 
         [0031]    The proper cable  303  matches the video port  302  on the video source  301  and the video port  304  on the transmitter  305 . Typically, the cable  303  is a straight HDMI cable, straight DVI cable, HDMI to DVI adapter cable, or DVI to HDMI adapter cable. 
         [0032]    The transmitter  305  based on the present invention includes the drivers/receivers and/or signal converters needed to transmit and receive the digital video and control signals over UTP cable or cables  306 . Typically, it has a HDMI or DVI (depending on the targeted applications) connector  304  as a video and control signals input and output port, and multiple RJ45 UTP connectors  307  as the video and control signals output and input ports. 
         [0033]    The UTP cable or cables  306  are usually one or two CAT-5, CAT-6, CAT-7 or other special UTP cable/cables. 
         [0034]    The receiver  313  based on the present invention includes the drivers/receivers and/or signal converters needed to transmit and receive the digital video and control signals over UTP cable or cables  311 . Typically, it has one or two RJ45 UTP connector/connectors  312  as video and control signals input and output ports, and a HDMI or DVI (depending on the targeted applications) connector  314  as a video and control signals input and output port. 
         [0035]    The proper cable  315  matches the video port on the display  317  and the video port on the receiver  313 . Typically, it is a straight HDMI cable, straight DVI cable, HDMI to DVI adapter cable, or DVI to HDMI adapter cable. 
         [0036]    The display  317  is to display the video. Typically, it is a HDTV, including LCD TV, Plasma TV, and DLP TV, or computer monitor, including LCD display and other flat-panel displays. 
         [0037]    The distributor  309  based on the present invention includes the drivers and receivers and/or signal converters needed to receive and transmit video and control signals over UTP cables  306  to multiple receivers  313 . Also, it may include a decoder and encoder for the video and control signals so it can re-generate the proper video and control signals. Typically it has one or two RJ45 UTP connectors  308  to connect to the transmitter (3) and multiple of RJ45 UTP connectors  310  to connect to the multiple receivers  313 .