TW202416705A - Media docking device - Google Patents

Abstract

A media docking device includes an input module, an output module and a processing module. The input module is electrically connected to a media source device for receiving media data. The output module is electrically connected to a media play device. The processing module determines if an instruction from the media source device or a remote device is received. If the instruction is not received, the processing module transfers the media data to the output module to transmit to the media play device. If the instruction is received, the processing module restricts a transmission of the media data according to the instruction, such that the media data will not be completely rendered by the media play device.

Description

Media Switching Device

The present disclosure relates to a media switching device for controlling the transmission of media data.

In business office scenarios, it has become common for laptops to be connected to multiple monitors via an external docking station. Users can carry their laptops to different locations, where docking stations and monitors can be set up so that users can use larger monitors. How to make docking stations provide more functions is a topic of concern to technical personnel in this field.

The disclosed embodiment provides a media switching device, including an input module, an output module and a processing module. The input module is used to be electrically connected to a media source device and receive media data from the media source device. The output module is used to be electrically connected to a media playback device. The processing module is electrically connected to the input module and the output module to determine whether an instruction from the media source device or a remote device is received. If no instruction is received, the processing module is used to transfer the media data to the output module to transmit it to the media playback device. If an instruction is received, the processing module is used to limit the transmission of the media data according to the instruction, so that the media data will not be fully displayed on the media playback device.

From another perspective, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a media switching method applicable to a media switching device. The media switching method includes: receiving media data from a media source device; determining whether a command from the media source device or a remote device is received; if no command is received, transmitting the media data to a media playback device through an output module; and if a command is received, limiting the transmission of the media data according to the command so that the media data is not completely displayed on the media playback device.

The terms “first,” “second,” etc. used herein do not particularly refer to order or sequence, but are only used to distinguish elements or operations described with the same technical term.

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic diagrams of the appearance of a media adapter according to an embodiment. In the example of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B , the front side of the media adapter 100 includes a combo aux interface 101 and a plurality of Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces 102. The back side of the media adapter 100 includes a power interface 111, a Universal Serial Bus (type-B) 112, a display port 113 (display port, DP), a High Definition Multimedia Interface (High Definition Multimedia Interface, HDMI) 114, an Ethernet interface 115, a Universal Serial Bus interface (type-A) 116, and an audio source output interface 117. The usage scenario of the media adapter 100 is shown in FIG2 . The media adapter 100 is electrically connected to a media source device 210 and media playback devices 220 and 221. The media source device 210 is, for example, a laptop computer, the media playback device 220 is, for example, a screen, and the media playback device 221 is, for example, a projector. The media source device 210 is used to provide media data, which may include audio data and video data. These data are transmitted to the media playback devices 220 and 221 through the media adapter 100.

The above-mentioned types, quantities and locations of the interfaces on the media transfer device 100 are merely examples, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the media transfer device 100 may also be implemented as an internal circuit of an electronic device or as an external device. The present disclosure also does not limit the size and appearance of the media transfer device 100. In other embodiments, the media source device 210 may also be a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, etc.

FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the internal circuit of a media conversion device according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG3 , the media conversion device 100 includes an input module 310, a processing module 320, and an output module 330, wherein the processing module 320 is electrically connected to the input module 310 and the output module 330. The input module 310 is used to electrically connect to the media source device 210 and receive media data from the media source device 210. The output module 330 is used to electrically connect to the media playback devices 220, 221.

The input module 310 includes a video interface unit 311, a universal serial bus unit 312, an Internet unit 313, and a command receiving unit 314. The video interface unit 311 is, for example, a circuit that complies with the display port (DP), high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), or digital visual interface (DVI) specifications. The universal serial bus unit 312 is, for example, a circuit that complies with the universal serial bus (USB) specifications. The Internet unit 313 is, for example, a circuit that complies with the Ethernet specification. The command receiving unit 314 is used to receive commands from the media source device 210. In some embodiments, the command receiving unit 314 can also be a circuit structured under the video interface unit 311 or the universal serial bus unit 312. For example, the Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) is defined in the specification of the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) and can be used to transmit commands. Therefore, the command receiving unit 314 can also be hardware or firmware that complies with the Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) specification. Alternatively, the command receiving unit 314 can also be integrated with the Universal Serial Bus (USB). In some embodiments, the media adapter 100 is implemented on a circuit board, and the command receiving unit 314 can also be an integrated bus circuit (Inter-Integrated Circuit, I ² C). In some embodiments, the command receiving unit 314 can also be a display channel command interface (Display Data Channel Command Interface, DDCCI). In some embodiments, the input module 310 may also include circuits of communication standards such as cellular network (or mobile network), near field communication, infrared communication, Bluetooth, and wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi). In some embodiments, the input module 310 may also include interfaces or interfaces such as optical fiber interface and music digital interface (MIDI). In some embodiments, the universal serial bus unit 312 or other units may also be omitted. The above-mentioned various interfaces, interfaces and buses are only examples, and the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

The processing module 320 includes a processor 321 and a memory 322. The processor 321 may be a central processing unit, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a special application integrated circuit, etc. The memory 120 may be a random access memory, a read-only memory, a flash memory, etc. In some embodiments, the memory 120 may be omitted or set in the processor 321.

The output module 330 includes a video interface unit 331, an audio unit 332, a universal serial bus unit 333, a command sending unit 334, and an Internet unit 335. The video interface unit 331, the universal serial bus unit 333, the command sending unit 334, and the Internet unit 335 are similar to the video interface unit 311, the universal serial bus unit 312, the command receiving unit 314, and the Internet unit 313, respectively, but are used to transmit media data. In some embodiments, the command sending unit 334 and the Internet unit 335 can also be integrated into the command receiving unit 314 and the Internet unit 313, respectively. The audio unit 332 is, for example, a TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) or TS (Tip-Sleeve) terminal, or an interface that complies with the MIDI specification, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The remote device 340 can be communicatively connected to the Internet unit 313, and the remote device 340 is, for example, a personal computer, a server, a smart phone, etc. An application, a browser, or any suitable software is executed on the remote device 340 to provide an interface for the user, and the user can operate on this interface and issue instructions to the media conversion device 100. In some embodiments, the user can input instructions through the touch panel, mouse, keyboard, etc. included in the media source device 210, and this instruction will also be transmitted to the media conversion device 100. The input module 310 receives media data from the media source device 210. The processing module 320 determines whether the instruction is received from the media source device 210 or the remote device 340. If no instruction is received, the processing module 320 will transfer the media data to the output module 330 to transmit the media data to the media playback devices 220 and 221. If an instruction is received, the processing module 320 will limit the transmission of the media data according to the instruction, so that the media data will not be fully displayed on the media playback device 220 and/or the media playback device 221. In a usage scenario, the media switching device 100 is set in a store. When the staff wants to show the media playback devices 220 and 221 to customers, they can press the shortcut key on the keyboard, and the media source device 210 sends an instruction to the media switching device 100 to limit the transmission of the media data to prevent customers from seeing confidential images.

FIG. 4 illustrates a usage scenario of a media playback device according to another embodiment. In the usage scenario of FIG. 4 , a remote device 340 is communicatively connected to media switching devices 401-404. The media switching devices 401-404 receive media data from media source devices 421-424, respectively, and transfer the corresponding media data to media playback devices 411-414, respectively. A user can operate the remote device 340 to send a command to any one or more of the media switching devices 401-404 to avoid the complete display of the media data on the corresponding media playback devices 411-414. For example, this scenario occurs in a classroom, the user of the remote device 340 is a teacher, and the users of the media switching devices 401-404 are students. Alternatively, this scenario occurs in an office, the user of the remote device 340 is an information security personnel, and the users of the media switching devices 401-404 are other employees, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Please refer to FIG. 3 for various embodiments of limiting the transmission of media data. In some embodiments, the media data is video data, which includes multiple frames, which may correspond to different media playback devices respectively. The processing module 320 is used to modify at least one of the content, brightness, and contrast of one or more frames so that the media data is not completely displayed on the media playback devices 220 and 221. For example, the content of the frame can be changed to a completely black frame, or text, graphics, numbers, etc. can be added to the frame. Alternatively, the contrast of the frame can be reduced or the color tone can be changed so that the user cannot clearly see the original content of the frame.

In some embodiments, the video data conforms to the specifications of a digital display interface, such as a display port (DP), a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), or a digital video interface (DVI). Many parameters are defined in the digital display interface, and the processing module 320 can modify one or more of the parameters so that the video data cannot be displayed normally. For example, the transport layer of the display interface (DP) defines a blank identification code, also known as a blank area (Vertical Blanking or Horizontal Blanking). The blank identification code is used to separate data from different screens and provide parameters related to the screen. Here, the blank identification code can be deliberately modified to an incorrect content so that the screen cannot be displayed normally. For example, the parameters that can be modified include Main Stream Attribute (MSA), Secondary-Data Packet (SDP), Vertical Blanking ID (VB-ID), Mvid, Maud, Data Island Packet, etc.

In some embodiments, the video data may have a preset scrambling procedure and a preset error correction procedure. The error correction procedure is, for example, forward error correction (FEC). When no instruction is received, the processing module 320 executes the preset scrambling procedure and the preset error correction procedure. When an instruction is received, the scrambling procedure executed by the processing module 320 is different from the preset scrambling procedure, or the error correction procedure executed by the processing module 320 is different from the preset error correction procedure, so that the media data is not completely displayed on the media playback device 220, 221. For example, the jamming program is supposed to be executed by default, but the processing module 320 chooses not to execute the jamming program when receiving the instruction, or the jamming program is supposed not to be executed by default but the processing module 320 chooses to execute the jamming program. For another example, the error correction program is supposed to be executed by default, but after receiving the instruction, the processing module 320 chooses not to execute the error correction program, or the error correction program is supposed not to be executed by default but the processing module 320 chooses to execute the error correction program. The processing module 320 may also intentionally execute the jamming program or the error correction program incorrectly, so that the media playback device cannot obtain the correct video data. For example, too many error correction codes are added, or different permutations are used for scrambling, so that the media playback device believes that the video data has errors and cannot be restored.

In some embodiments, the processing module 320 may also modify the communication authentication procedure between the output module 330 and the media playback devices 220, 221, so that the connection between the output module 330 and the media playback devices 220, 221 cannot be established, so that the media data will not be completely displayed on the media playback devices 220, 221. For example, the output module 330 and the media playback devices 220, 221 both support the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) protocol, which defines that a session key must be exchanged in the communication authentication procedure. The processing module 320 may intentionally send an incorrect session key or not send a session key, so that the connection cannot be established. In the implementation of high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) or display interface (DP), the physical layer defines link training, in which the media playback device 220, 221 and the output module 330 must communicate through I ² C or AUX channels respectively to establish a channel that can normally transmit data. The processing module 320 can deliberately send an erroneous communication message so that the connection cannot be established. In addition, in the implementation of the display interface (DP), the reading and writing of the display port configuration data (DPCD) address can be used to transmit data. The processing module 320 can write erroneous information into the DPCD address so that the connection cannot be established. A person with ordinary knowledge in the art will know what kind of message must be sent between the output module 330 and the media playback device 220, 221 to establish a connection in various protocols, so as to prevent the connection from being established by intentionally sending an erroneous message or not sending a message. The above-mentioned various methods can also be used for the communication authentication procedure between the input module 310 and the media source device 210. In addition, in the implementation of the high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), the media playback device 220, 221 can also be prevented from lighting up normally or displaying a specific resolution by replying a modified status and control data channel (SCDC) value or forwarding a modified extended display identification data (EDID). For example, the specific resolution in the extended display capability identification of the media playback device 220, 221 is removed and then transferred to the media source device 210, so that the media source device 210 cannot transmit the picture of the specific resolution. Alternatively, the EDID can be modified so that the media source device 210 cannot recognize the media playback device 220, 221 or misunderstands the specifications of the display, so that the display cannot display normally or can only display a lower resolution. In some embodiments, the SCDC value can be modified to make the media playback device 220, 221 unable to display normally or can only display a lower resolution through an unregulated communication mode.

In some embodiments, the media player 220 is a screen, and the processing module 320 can issue a display command to the media player 220 to turn off the operation of at least one of the backlight module, power supply, and panel in the screen, so that the media data cannot be played on the media player 220. Alternatively, the processing module 320 can send a display command to the media player 220 to change the contrast, color tone, brightness and other parameters of the media player 220, so that the media data cannot be displayed normally. In some embodiments, the above display command can be sent through an interface such as AUX or ^I2C .

In some embodiments, the media switching device 100 may enter a multi-stream transport (MST) mode, receive media data from the media source device 210, and transmit the same media data to the media playback devices 220 and 221. In the multi-stream transport mode, a sideband message is used to transmit information, so the sideband message may be modified (e.g., modified to an error message) so that the video data is not displayed normally or completely on the media playback devices 220 and 221. Alternatively, any one or more frames in the multi-stream transport mode may be removed.

In some embodiments, the media source device 210 transmits compressed video data, and the processing module 320 may modify one or more parameters in the display stream compression (DSC) so that the video data cannot be correctly decoded by the media playback devices 220 and 221, so that the media data is not completely displayed on the media playback devices 220 and 221. For example, the picture parameter set (PPS) may be modified to change the bit rate, and in some embodiments, parameters such as the quantization parameter may be modified.

FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the internal circuit of a media switching device according to an embodiment. In the embodiment of FIG5 , the media switching device 100 further includes signal enhancement modules 511 and 512. The signal enhancement module 511 is disposed between the input module 310 and the processing module 320, and the signal enhancement module 512 is disposed between the output module 330 and the processing module 320. The signal enhancement modules 511 and 512 may include filters, equalizers, retimers, redrivers, or switches, etc. The signal enhancement modules 511 and 512 are used to execute enhancement procedures, such as noise elimination, channel compensation, and other operations. The processing module 320 can control the signal enhancement modules 511 and 512 to modify the enhancement process, such as modifying the parameters of the filter or the equalizer to reduce the signal-to-noise ratio of the media data or destroy the original signal so that the media data is not completely displayed on the media playback devices 220 and 221. The processing module 320 can control the signal enhancement modules 511 and 512 through a general-purpose input/output (GPIO) or other common interfaces.

FIG6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a media switching device according to an embodiment. In the embodiment of FIG6 , the media switching device and the signal source device are integrated together. Specifically, the electronic device 600 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 602, a graphic processing unit (GPU) 601, a platform controller hub (PCH) 603, and a media switching device 640.

The media switching device 640 is implemented as a chip installed in the electronic device 600. The media switching device 640 includes an input module 610, a processing module 620, and an output module 630. The video interface unit 611 in the input module 610 is electrically connected to the graphics processing unit 601. The command receiving and transmitting unit 612 is electrically connected to the system 604 composed of the central processing unit 602 and the platform path controller 603, wherein the system 604 and the graphics processor 601 are collectively referred to as the media source device. The command receiving and transmitting unit 612 is, for example, an integrated circuit bus circuit (Inter-Integrated Circuit, I ² C). In addition, the electronic device 600 may also include a universal serial bus unit 634 and an Internet unit 635. Different from FIG. 1 , the universal serial bus unit 634 and the Internet unit 635 are disposed outside the media switching device 640. The command sending unit 633 may also be an integrated bus circuit or other suitable communication interface. The video interface unit 611 is similar to the video interface unit 311 of FIG. 3 , and the video interface unit 631 and the audio unit 632 are similar to the video interface unit 331 and the audio unit 332 of FIG. 3 , respectively, and will not be described in detail here. In the embodiment of FIG. 6 , the processing module 620 can send a stop command to the system 604 via the command receiving and transmitting unit 612, and the software or driver running on the system 604 can control the graphics processing unit 601 to stop transmitting the media data, so that the media data will not be completely displayed on the media playback devices 220, 221, thereby achieving the purpose of limiting the transmission of media data.

Please refer back to FIG. 3 , the various means of limiting the transmission of media data described above can be executed by the processing module 320 . In other embodiments, the various means of limiting the transmission of media data can also be executed by an additional circuit (not shown) that is controlled by the processing module 320 .

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a media switching method according to an embodiment, and this method is executed by the above-mentioned media switching device. Please refer to FIG. 7. In step 701, media data from a media source device is received. In step 702, it is determined whether an instruction from a media source device or a remote device is received. If no instruction is received, in step 703, the media data is transmitted to a media playback device through an output module. If an instruction is received, in step 704, the transmission of the media data is restricted according to the instruction, so that the media data will not be fully displayed on the media playback device. Each step in FIG. 7 has been described in detail above and will not be repeated here. It is worth noting that each step in FIG. 7 can be implemented as a plurality of program codes or circuits, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the method of FIG. 7 can be used in conjunction with the above embodiments or can be used alone. In other words, other steps can be added between the steps of FIG. 7 .

In the above-mentioned media switching device and media switching method, the user can control the transmission of media data through the media source device or remotely, thereby protecting the data from leakage in some scenarios.

The units and modules mentioned in the present disclosure can be implemented by hardware or a combination of hardware and firmware. In some embodiments, the units and modules mentioned in the text can also be replaced by circuits.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as above by the embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be defined by the scope of the attached patent application.

100: Media adapter 101: Combo audio interface 102: USB interface 111: Power interface 112: USB (type-B) 113: Display interface 114: High-definition multimedia interface 115: Ethernet interface 116: USB interface (type-A) 117: Audio output interface 210: Media source device 220,221: Media playback device 310: Input module 311: Video interface unit 312: USB unit 313: Internet unit 314: Command receiving unit 320: Processing module 321: Processor 322: Memory 330: Output module 331: Video interface unit 332: Audio unit 333: Universal serial bus unit 334: Command sending unit 335: Internet unit 340: Remote device 401~404: Media switching device 411~414: Media playback device 421~424: Media source device 511,512: Signal enhancement module 600: Electronic device 601: Graphics processing unit 602: Central processing unit 603: Platform path controller 604: System 610: Input module 611: Video interface unit 612: Command receiving and transmitting unit 620: Processing module 630: Output module 631: Video interface unit 632: Audio unit 633: Command sending unit 634: Universal serial bus unit 635: Internet unit 640: Media switching device 701~704: Steps

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are schematic diagrams of the appearance of a media switching device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a use scenario of a media switching device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an internal circuit of a media switching device according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a use scenario of a media playback device according to another embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an internal circuit of a media switching device according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a setting of a media switching device according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a media switching method according to an embodiment.

100:Media switching device

210: Media source device

220,221: Media playback device

310: Input module

311: Video interface unit

312: Universal serial bus unit

313: Internet unit

314: Command receiving unit

320: Processing module

321: Processor

322:Memory

330: Output module

331: Video interface unit

332: Audio unit

333: Universal serial bus unit

334: Command sending unit

335: Internet unit

340: Remote device

Claims (10)

A media switching device includes: an input module electrically connected to a media source device and receiving media data from the media source device; an output module electrically connected to a media playback device; and a processing module electrically connected to the input module and the output module, for determining whether a command from the media source device or a remote device is received, if the command is not received, the processing module is used to transfer the media data to the output module to transmit the media data to the media playback device, if the command is received, the processing module is used to limit the transmission of the media data according to the command, so that the media data will not be fully displayed on the media playback device. A media switching device as described in claim 1, wherein the media data is video data, the video data complies with the specifications of a digital display interface, the digital display interface defines a blank identification code, and the processing module is used to modify the blank identification code so that the media data will not be fully displayed on the media playback device. A media switching device as described in claim 1, wherein the media data is video data, the video data corresponds to a default scrambling program and a default error correction program, the processing module is used to execute a scrambling program or an error correction program so that the media data is not completely displayed on the media playback device, wherein the scrambling program is different from the default scrambling program, and the error correction program is different from the default error correction program. A media switching device as described in claim 1, wherein the media data is video data, the video data includes a picture, and the processing module is used to modify at least one of the content, brightness and contrast of the picture so that the media data is not completely displayed on the media playback device. A media switching device as described in claim 1, wherein the processing module is used to modify a communication authentication procedure between the output module and the media playback device so that a connection between the output module and the media playback device cannot be established, so that the media data will not be fully displayed on the media playback device. The media switching device as described in claim 1 further includes: A signal enhancement module for performing an enhancement process on the media data, wherein the processing module is used to control the signal enhancement module to reduce the signal-to-noise ratio of the media data so that the media data will not be completely displayed on the media playback device. The media adapter device as described in claim 1, wherein the processing module is used to send a display instruction to the media playback device, thereby turning off a backlight module of the media playback device or reducing a contrast of the media playback device. A media switching device as described in claim 1, wherein the media data is video data, wherein in a multi-stream transmission mode, the processing module is used to modify a sideband message so that the video data is not completely displayed on the media playback device. A media switching device as described in claim 1, wherein the media data is compressed video data, and the processing module is used to modify a parameter in an image compression transmission so that the video data cannot be correctly decoded by the media playback device, so that the media data will not be fully displayed on the media playback device. The media switching device as described in claim 1, wherein the processing module is used to send a stop command to the media source device, so that the media source device stops sending the media data, so that the media data will not be completely displayed on the media playback device.

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