Method for simultaneous digital processing of a plurality of audio visual data packets by using data, event, protocol and endpoint modules

US5941953A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Johannes Bergmann · Tutzing, DE
• Michael Geiger · Hersbruck, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 21, 1997
• Grant date: Aug 24, 1999
• Expiry date: Feb 21, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S707/99945
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

With the advent of multimedia in computer systems, it is necessary to integrate audio and video in the computer as data types equivalent to text and graphics. For this purpose, provision is made of program modules which carry out different tasks. In order to define the properties of each audio/video device, an endpoint module is generated for each audio/video device and then forms the interface to the remaining modules. When a data packet is to be transmitted from one device to another device, an event or a request is generated, which is evaluated by an event module, which then selects the corresponding endpoint modules and establishes a logical link between these endpoint modules. The data packet is controlled by means of a data module, which also initiates the storage of the data packet. Following termination of the transmission of the data packet, the event module searches for further requests which can, for example, be held in a queue in a waiting loop. The advantage is an upwardly hardware-neutral interface for the integrated management of the local audiovisual resources of the computer.