Auxiliary Bus Video Transition Effects Using Borrowed Processing Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video switchers lack the capability to provide complex transition effects on auxiliary buses beyond simple cuts, as adding more mix-effect processors (M/Es) is costly and complex, and existing lightweight M/Es are inflexible and limited in feature.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that temporarily borrows video processing units from the main switcher's routing matrix to perform transitional effects on auxiliary buses, allowing for effects like dissolves and wipes without dedicating additional processing units, by identifying unused units and reconfiguring the internal switcher routing matrix to route sources through these units for effect processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If more mix-effect processors (M/Es) are added to provide transition effects on auxiliary buses, then transition effect capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing M/Es perform multiple functions by allowing them to be temporarily allocated to auxiliary buses for transition effects when not needed for primary outputs. This enables the same processing units to serve both primary video processing and auxiliary transition effects, eliminating the need for dedicated M/Es for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically reconfigures the routing matrix to allocate M/Es to auxiliary buses only when transition effects are needed. The allocation is temporary and flexible, allowing M/Es to be reassigned based on real-time requirements, thus providing adaptability without permanent complexity increase.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated processing units are added for auxiliary bus transitions, then transition effect capability is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables existing M/Es to serve dual purposes: primary video processing for main outputs and transition effects for auxiliary buses. This resource sharing eliminates the need to purchase additional dedicated processing units, thereby reducing cost while maintaining full transition effect capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing M/Es to provide transition effects on auxiliary buses without requiring external or additional processing units. The M/Es effectively service themselves by being temporarily reallocated to auxiliary functions, making the system self-sufficient and cost-effective.
3Device complexity
If lightweight M/Es are used for auxiliary buses, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability and feature set are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows full-featured M/Es to be temporarily allocated to auxiliary buses, providing complete transition effect capabilities including dissolves, wipes, and other complex effects. This approach avoids the feature limitations of lightweight M/Es while maintaining low complexity through temporary rather than permanent allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
A mix-effects bank architecture of a video switcher having a plurality of video processing units; and an internal switcher routing matrix. The internal switcher routing matrix routing, a video source currently providing a video feed to an auxiliary output and a desired new source for the auxiliary output to a video processing unit that is not contributing towards video processing and routing an output of said video processing unit to said auxiliary output. The video processing unit that is not contributing towards video processing performs a transitional effect for the auxiliary output.