International Business Machines Corporation

Michael J Koval

William W Lawton

Scott Lee Winters

John G Tyler

Bradley Dale Noe

David William Killian

Darryl Ray Polk

Chris A Dinallo

Lauren Lee Post

Gary G Allran

Martin J Paulat, Jr

George A McClain

A method and apparatus for synchronizing a data stream that contains video data in which the video data includes frames. As frames are being processed, a number of frames processed is identified along with a number of frames dropped during processing. A synchronization speed is identified using the number of frames processed and the number of frames dropped. A frame is selectively dropped from the data stream based on the synchronization speed.

Method and apparatus for processing digital data

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for synchronized presentation of analog and digital data by applying a common synchronization scheme to both types of data. Digital data is 'streamed' by transferring the data in blocks from a source to a series of memory buffers, where it accumulates for subsequent transfer to an output device driver. The control module responsible for data streaming periodically reports a temporal location within the presentation represented by the data. A supervisory module designates one of the control modules a 'master', and periodically compares the values reported by the various other control modules against that reported by the master. If a comparison exceeds a threshold tolerance value associated with each control module, a sync pulse is delivered to that control module, causing it to correct the synchronization mismatch. This approach is applied to analog sources through the use of control modules that behave in a manner consistent with the digital control modules, but which are capable of directing the operation of analog devices and re-establishing their synchronization with other data sources despite limited modes of device control. Specifically, the control modules that handle analog information also periodically report a presentation location based solely on temporal information, react to sync pulses by altering the playback rate of the analog devices they control within user-tolerable limits, and can act as master control modules.

System for synchronization with nonstreaming device controller and a

Method and apparatus for synchronizing streaming and non-streaming

A multimedia data processing system includes a memory for storing multimedia application programs and a multitasking operating system. Extensions to the operating system control data streaming from source devices to target devices to provide real-time, continuous streaming. The extensions provide central buffer management with a user buffer option, bi-level priority support for data stream handlers, support for interleaved streams, and data stream event detection and notification.

Personal computer with generalized data streaming apparatus for

A data stream is created for moving data from a source to a target in accordance with a stream protocol defined by controlling stream protocol control blocks (SPCBs) created from a predefined source SPCB and a predefined target SPCB. The controlling SPCBs include information establishing a plurality of data buffers that are used to efficiently stream or transfer data on a real-time basis. The controlling SPCBs are formed by a process of negotiation in which differences between the source and target SPCBs are reconciled in accordance with rules of negotiation. Once the data stream is created, it is then started by the application program and data is streamed until an end of stream is reached.

Data stream protocol for multimedia data streaming data processing system

A personal computer based, multimedia, data processing system includes a software solution to the problem of synchronizing two or more data streams which output data to two or more multimedia output devices. One stream is a master and each other stream is a slave. The master stream generates sync pulses that can be handled in two different synchronization methods, master-slave independent synchronization or master-driven slave synchronization. Sync pulses are generated with a predetermined granularity, and synchronization is achieved when a slave stream is out of tolerance. Adaptive resynchronization may be used to speed up or slow down a slave stream.

Growing community of inventors

Boca Raton, FL, United States of America

Michael J Koval