HDMI Source Device One-to-Many Transmission Without Repeaters

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional HDMI systems require additional repeaters to provide media content to multiple HDMI sink devices, which complicates the architecture and authentication processes, especially when different sink devices support varying resolutions and audio qualities.

Innovation Solution

A one-to-many HDMI system architecture is introduced, where an HDMI source device directly connects to multiple sink devices via a media channel, using communication modules to modulate and demodulate transmission signals, eliminating the need for repeaters by determining a common media format supported by all sink devices based on their EDID information and encrypting content using HDCP.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional repeaters are used to provide media content to multiple HDMI sink devices, then the system can support multiple sink devices, but the architecture complexity and authentication processes are complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAbility to provide media content to multiple sink devicesVSAvoidArchitecture complexity and authentication complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the repeater component from the system architecture and replaces it with a direct one-to-many connection mechanism. The source device directly manages multiple sink devices through individual communication channels, eliminating the intermediate repeater layer that caused authentication complexity and architectural overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the communication channels between the source device and each sink device, allowing independent authentication and media format negotiation for each connection. This segmentation enables the source device to manage multiple sinks without requiring a centralized repeater, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If repeaters are used to connect multiple sink devices with different resolutions and audio qualities, then multiple device configurations are supported, but the authentication process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSupport for different resolutions and audio qualitiesVSAvoidAuthentication process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing each communication channel between the source device and individual sink devices to be independently configured according to that specific sink's capabilities. Each channel negotiates its own media format and authentication parameters, enabling support for different resolutions and audio qualities without requiring complex centralized authentication through a repeater.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If repeaters are introduced to enable one-to-many HDMI transmission, then media content can be transmitted to multiple devices, but additional hardware is required

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveOne-to-many media content transmission capabilityVSAvoidAdditional hardware components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the source device universal by enabling it to directly communicate with multiple sink devices simultaneously. The source device's communication module is designed to handle multiple independent communication channels, eliminating the need for separate repeater hardware and allowing the source device to perform the function previously requiring additional intermediate devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Device complexity

If direct one-to-many connection is implemented without repeaters, then hardware complexity is reduced, but determining common media format supported by all sink devices becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveHardware complexityVSAvoidDifficulty in determining common media format

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the source device query and determine the common media format supported by all sink devices before initiating media content transmission. The DDC controller预先 retrieves EDID information from each sink device and calculates the intersection of supported formats, ensuring that the selected format is compatible with all receivers before transmission begins, thus avoiding transmission errors and reconfiguration needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8253860B2System, method and devices for HDMI transmission using a commonly supported media format

Publication Date: 2012.08.28 SEMICON ENERGY LAB CO LTD

AI summary

A High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) system is provided. The HDMI system comprises a media channel, an HDMI source device and at least two HDMI sink devices. The HDMI source device comprises a communication module and a DDC controller. The communication module connects to the HDMI sink devices directly via the media channel for transmission of media contents. The DDC controller is used to process Extended Display Interface Data (EDID) of the HDMI sink devices. In an embodiment, the DDC controller determines a media format commonly supported by the HDMI sink devices based on the EDID of the HDMI sink devices, and the communication module uses the media format to provide the media contents.