Modular and scalable digital multimedia mixer

Abstract

A modular multimedia platform includes a chassis into which a variety of modular input/output units, referred to as ports, may be inserted. The units may acquire an input signal and convert it to high precision digital information, or convert a digital signal to an analog signal and output the analog signal (or digital output may be provided). Multiple chassis can be connected together to increase the number of ports. A tag unit may be attached to any device coupled to a port. Each tag has a unique identification number to uniquely identify the device to which it is attached.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular and scalable digital multimedia mixer for control and/or operation of one or more media devices, comprising:
 a control processor adapted for operational control or processing of input from or output to said one or more media devices; and   at least one port device operable with said control processor and said one or more at media devices to provide an interface between said control processor and said at least one port device for operation of, control of, or receiving input from said one or more media devices.   
     
     
         2 . The modular and scalable digital multimedia platform according to  claim 1 , further comprising a chassis having a backplane adapted for removably interfacing with said at least one port device. 
     
     
         3 . The modular and scalable digital multimedia platform according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one port comprises a recognition module to identify a media device that is attached to said at least one port. 
     
     
         4 . The modular and scalable digital multimedia platform according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tag device associated with a media device to provide a unique identification of the associated media device. 
     
     
         5 . The modular and scalable digital multimedia platform according to  claim 4 , wherein said tag device comprises an interface to impart an identification signal onto a data signal provided to/from said media device. 
     
     
         6 . The modular and scalable digital multimedia platform according to  claim 1 , comprising plural ones of said at least one port, ones of said plural ports associated with different ones of media devices for interfacing with said different ones of media devices. 
     
     
         7 . The modular and scalable digital multimedia platform according to  claim 6 , comprising sample rate control for modifying the rate at which an individual port samples data from a media device to match a sample rate requirement. 
     
     
         8 . The modular and scalable digital multimedia platform according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more media devices are selected from the group consisting of audio devices, video devices, and lighting devices. 
     
     
         9 . The modular and scalable digital multimedia platform according to  claim 1 , wherein said port is operable to monitor for degraded functionality or failure of an associated media device. 
     
     
         10 . A modular and scalable digital multimedia platform system for control and/or operation of plural media devices, comprising:
 plural control units comprising a backplane and control processor, ones of said plural control units interfacing with one or more port device operable with said control processors and said one or more at media devices to provide an interface between said control processors and said media devices; and   synchronization processing for synchronizing operation of said plural control units with one another.   
     
     
         11 . The according to  claim 10 , further comprising permissions processing for providing permissions control of operations that an individual user or control unit may effect on one or more of said plural media devices. 
     
     
         12 . The modular and scalable digital multimedia platform according to  claim 10 , comprising sample rate control for modifying the rate at which an individual port device samples data from a media device to match a sample rate requirement. 
     
     
         13 . The modular and scalable digital multimedia platform according to  claim 10 , wherein said ports are operable to monitor for degraded functionality or failure of an associated media device. 
     
     
         14 . The modular and scalable digital multimedia platform according to  claim 10 , further comprising a tag device associated with a media device to provide a unique identification of the associated media device. 
     
     
         15 . The modular and scalable digital multimedia platform according to  claim 14 , wherein said tag device comprises an interface to impart an identification signal onto a data signal provided to/from said media device. 
     
     
         16 . A media tag unit for identifying a media input or output device attached to a platform, comprising:
 an interface for associating the media tag unit with the media input or output device; and   a modulator for imparting an identification signal to a data stream from the input device.   
     
     
         17 . The media tag unit according to  claim 16 , further comprising a non-volatile memory for storing function or characteristic information related to the media input or output device. 
     
     
         18 . The media tag unit according to  claim 16 , wherein said modulator imparts the identification signal onto the data stream in a manner so as to not affect operation of the input or output device. 
     
     
         19 . The media tag unit according to  claim 16 , further comprising a demodulator for detecting information sent to the media tag unit from a control device.