Methods and apparatus for transmitting midi data over a lossy communications channel

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for transmitting MIDI messages between a transmitter and a receiver through a link that is susceptible to errors. The method includes parsing MIDI messages to be transmitted into a critical category and a non-critical category, and transmitting critical category MIDI messages using a reliable transmission protocol and non-critical category MIDI messages using a less reliable transmission protocol. As an example, a non-critical category of MIDI message is a Note On message, and a critical category MIDI message is a corresponding Note Off message. The step of parsing preferably includes atomizing certain MIDI messages, such as Note On/Note Off pairs, that in turn can include encapsulating the certain MIDI messages within a common transmission packet. In a presently preferred, but non-limiting embodiment of this invention the steps of parsing and transmitting occur within a mobile terminal, and the link comprises a low power, short range radio frequency link that can be a uni-directional radio frequency link, or a bi-directional radio frequency link that provides an indication from a receiver to the transmitter when MIDI data is received with an error. The mobile terminal may provide a user with knowledge of when MIDI data has been received with an error. Link error management may be adaptive as a function of at least the link quality.