Method and apparatus for networking musical instruments

Abstract

In one embodiment of a networking module, a first block receives a serial digital media signal, and provides a parallel digital media signal based on the serial digital media signal. A second block, operative with the first block, stores the parallel digital media signal in a corresponding slot in an outgoing frame, and sends the outgoing frame in response to receiving an incoming frame.

1 - 58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . A method for communicating information in a network, said method comprising:
 receiving a serial digital media signal;   generating a parallel digital media signal based on the serial digital media signal;   receiving an incoming frame;   generating an outgoing frame by storing the generated parallel digital media signal in a corresponding slot in the incoming frame; and   transmitting, by a processor, the outgoing frame in response to receipt of another incoming frame, wherein the outgoing frame includes network addressing information in addition to the generated parallel digital media signal.   
     
     
         60 . The method according to  claim 59 , wherein the incoming frame is one of a series of incoming frames, said method further comprising:
 receiving each frame at a predetermined interval;   providing a new parallel digital media signal based on the serial digital media signal during the predetermined interval; and   sending a new outgoing frame with the new parallel digital media signal each time the incoming frame is received.   
     
     
         61 . The method according to  claim 59 , wherein the digital media signal is at least one of a audio signal and a video signal. 
     
     
         62 . The method according to  claim 59 , further comprising receiving the serial digital media signal and generating the parallel digital media signal by a first block and receiving an incoming frame and storing the generated parallel digital media signal by a second block, wherein the first block comprises a first block input output interface and the second block comprises a second block input output interface operatively coupled to the first block input output interface, to provide the parallel digital media signal to the first block. 
     
     
         63 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the first block input output interface is one of a general purpose input output interface and a peripheral control interface. 
     
     
         64 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the second block comprises an interface block to interface to a computer to receive control signals to include in the outgoing frame. 
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 64 , wherein the second block comprises a processor and a memory, the memory to store a first procedure to store the parallel digital media signal in the outgoing frame and to send the outgoing frame, wherein the first procedure is downloaded from a computer. 
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the first block is a field programmable gate array, and the second block is an application specific integrated circuit. 
     
     
         67 . The method according to  claim 62 , further comprising:
 providing the serial digital media signal to the first block based on an analog media signal.   
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 62 , wherein the second block is coupled to first and second ports of a networking module, and wherein receiving the incoming frame and transmitting the outgoing frame further comprise receiving the incoming frame and transmitting the outgoing frame through the first port, said method further comprising:
 determining, by the second block, that the first port has failed;   receiving, by the second block, subsequent incoming frames from the second port; and   sending, by the second block, subsequent outgoing frames to the second port.   
     
     
         69 . A method of operating a networking module comprising:
 receiving frames synchronously at a predetermined interval in accordance with a first protocol;   determining, by a processor, when the frames are not being received at the predetermined interval; and   receiving and transmitting frames in accordance with a second protocol when a determination is made that the frames are not being received at the predetermined interval.   
     
     
         70 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium on which is stored machine readable instructions that when executed by a processor implement a method for communicating information in a network, said machine readable instructions comprising code to:
 receive a serial digital media signal;   generate a parallel digital media signal based on the serial digital media signal;   receive an incoming frame;   generate an outgoing frame through storage of the generated parallel digital media signal in a corresponding slot in the incoming frame; and   transmit the outgoing frame in response to receipt of another incoming frame, wherein the outgoing frame includes network addressing information in addition to the generated parallel digital media signal.   
     
     
         71 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 70 , wherein the incoming frame is one of a series of incoming frames, said machine readable instructions further comprising code to:
 receive each frame at a predetermined interval;   provide a new parallel digital media signal based on the serial digital media signal during the predetermined interval; and   send a new outgoing frame with the new parallel digital media signal each time the incoming frame is received.   
     
     
         72 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 70 , said machine readable instructions further comprising code to:
 receive the serial digital media signal and generate the parallel digital media signal by a first block and receive an incoming frame and store the generated parallel digital media signal by a second block, wherein the first block comprises a first block input output interface and the second block comprises a second block input output interface operatively coupled to the first block input output interface, to provide the parallel digital media signal to the first block.   
     
     
         73 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium according to  claim 70 , wherein the second block is coupled to first and second ports of a networking module, and wherein the incoming frame is received and the outgoing frame is transmitted through the first port, said machine readable instructions further comprising code to:
 determine, by the second block, that the first port has failed;   receive, by the second block, subsequent incoming frames from the second port; and   send, by the second block, subsequent outgoing frames to the second port.