Multi-Stream Digital Display Interface Bandwidth Scalability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-speed digital interfaces like HDMI and DisplayPort are limited in scalability for bandwidth and number of video streams, restricting their ability to handle multiple streams efficiently and effectively utilize available bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
A high-speed communication link that transmits multiple video streams over a single lane, utilizing a combination of Physical (PHY) and link layers, and is backward compatible with existing standards, allowing for dynamic lane allocation and support for up to eight simultaneous video/audio streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If HDMI interface uses four pairs of wires to transfer video/audio stream, then transmission reliability is ensured, but scalability for higher bandwidth and multi-stream transmissions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal interface that can transmit multiple video streams and audio streams simultaneously over the same four pairs of wires. The DisplayPort protocol is designed to be multi-functional, supporting single-stream and multi-stream modes, different lane configurations (1, 2, or 4 lanes), and various resolution requirements, making it adaptable to diverse transmission needs without requiring additional physical connections
Solution Approach 2:
The interface employs dynamic lane allocation where the number of active lanes (1, 2, or 4) can be adjusted based on the bandwidth requirements of the transmitted content. The system can dynamically switch between different transmission modes and allocate bandwidth flexibly to support varying numbers of video streams and resolutions, providing adaptability without fixed hardware constraints
2Adaptability or versatility
If DisplayPort protocol uses one to four lanes for single video/audio stream, then bandwidth scalability is improved, but multi-stream transmission capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the available bandwidth into multiple independent video streams that can be transmitted simultaneously over the same physical lanes. Each video stream is treated as a separate entity that can be allocated specific bandwidth portions, allowing the system to divide the total capacity into multiple functional channels for concurrent stream transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The interface merges multiple video streams and audio streams into a unified transmission protocol that shares the same physical infrastructure. Multiple streams are combined and transmitted over the same lanes through time-division and frequency-division multiplexing techniques, maximizing bandwidth utilization while maintaining stream independence
3Adaptability or versatility
If interface supports multiple video streams over same pairs of connections, then adaptability is improved, but transmission complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary link layer protocol that manages the complexity of multi-stream transmission. This intermediary layer handles stream allocation, bandwidth management, and coordination between multiple streams, shielding the physical transmission layer from the complexity of managing multiple concurrent streams while enabling efficient resource utilization
Data Source
AI summary
Multiple video streams can be transmitted over a high speed link. A connection with a receiver can be detected by a transmitter. The transmitter can then establish a link with the receiver. Multiple streams of video data can be packed into a transfer unit. The transmitter can then transmit the transfer unit with the multiple stream video data over one or more lanes of the link to the receiver. A high speed communications link between a receiver and a transmitter can transmit data for multiple video streams over a single lane within a data link. The high speed communication link is scalable in bandwidth and video/audio streams transmitted, and backward compatible with other types of video data communication connections. The high speed link may support up to eight video/audio streams simultaneously, thereby enabling full use of data link bandwidth.