Universal Mirroring Receiver

Abstract

This invention describes software which allows a single content receiver to receive minoring streams from multiple heterogeneous platforms

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A receiver device comprising:
 a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the receiver device, cause the receiver device to:   receive a first mirroring stream from a first device and a second mirroring stream from a second device, the first and second mirroring streams conforming to different vendor-provided screen mirroring protocols;   identify, by a first protocol handler, a screen mirroring protocol of the first mirroring stream, the first mirroring stream comprising a first encoded video data and a first encoded audio data;   decode, by a first video decoder, the first encoded video data to generate a first decoded video data;   decode, by a first audio decoder, the first encoded audio data to generate a first decoded audio data;   identify, by a second protocol handler different from the first protocol handler, a screen mirroring protocol of the second mirroring stream, the second mirroring stream comprising a second encoded video data;   decode, by a second video decoder, the second encoded video data to generate a second decoded video data; output, by an audio renderer, the first decoded audio data;   receive, by a video layout manager, the first decoded video data and the second decoded video data;   produce, by the video layout manager, a single stream comprising the first decoded video data and the second decoded video data, wherein the single stream is position-optimized and scaled for displaying a combined final image on a viewing device; and   transmit the single stream to the viewing device.   
     
     
         9 . The receiver device of  claim 8 , wherein the first encoded video data and the first encoded audio data are multiplexed. 
     
     
         10 . The receiver device of  claim 8 , wherein rotation of a first mirrored content, represented by the first decoded video data, in a display area of the viewing device does not cause repositioning of a second mirrored content, represented by the second decoded video data, in the display area of the viewing device. 
     
     
         11 . The receiver device of  claim 10 , Wherein at least one of the first decoded video data and the second decoded video data in the single stream is configured to have a 1:1 aspect ratio. 
     
     
         12 . The receiver device of  claim 8 , wherein the video layout manager determines whether to simultaneously display a mirrored content, represented by the first decoded video data, and the second mirrored content, represented by the second decoded video data, on the viewing device in a single row. 
     
     
         13 . The receiver device of  claim 8 , wherein the memory stores further instructions that, when executed by the receiver device, cause the video layout manager to receive a first orientation information associated with the first decoded video data and a second orientation information associated with the second decoded video data. 
     
     
         14 . The receiver device of  claim 8 , wherein the vendor-provided screen mirroring protocols are selected from a group comprising an AirPlay protocol, a Miracast protocol, and a Google Cast protocol. 
     
     
         15 . A method of simultaneously mirroring heterogeneous mirroring streams, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a first mirroring stream from a first device and a second mirroring stream from a second device, the first and second mirroring streams conforming to different vendor-provided screen mirroring protocols;   identifying, by a first protocol handler, a screen mirroring protocol of the first mirroring stream, the first mirroring e comprising a first encoded video data and a first encoded audio data;   decoding, by the first video decoder, the first encoded video data to generate a first decoded video data;   decoding, by the first audio decoder, the first audio data to generate a first decoded audio data;   identifying, by a second protocol handler different from the first protocol handler, a screen mirroring protocol of the second mirroring stream, the second mirroring stream comprising a second encoded video data;   decoding, by the second video decoder, the second encoded video data to generate a second decoded video data;   outputting, by an audio renderer, the first decoded audio data and the second decoded audio data;   receiving, by a video layout manager, a decoded first video data;   producing, by the video layout manager, a single stream comprising the first decoded video data and the second decoded video data, wherein the single stream is position-optimized and scaled for displaying a combined final image on a viewing device; and   transmitting the single stream to the viewing device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein, in the first mirroring stream, the first encoded video data and the first encoded audio data are multiplexed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein rotation of a first mirrored content, represented by the first decoded video data, in a display area of the viewing device does not cause repositioning of a second mirrored content, represented by the second decoded video data, in the display area of the viewing device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first decoded video data and the second decoded video data in the single stream is configured to have a 1:1 aspect ratio. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the video layout manager determines whether to simultaneously display a first mirrored content, represented by the first decoded video data, and a second mirrored content, represented by the second decoded video data, on the viewing device in a single row. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprises the step of receiving, by the video layout manager, a first orientation information associated with the first decoded video data and a second orientation information associated with the second decoded video data. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the vendor-provided screen mirroring protocols are selected from a group comprising an AirPlay protocol, a Miracast protocol, and a Google Cast protocol. 
     
     
         22 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a receiver device, cause the receiver device to:
 receive a first mirroring stream from a first device and a second mirroring stream from a second device, the first and second mirroring streams conforming to different vendor-provided screen mirroring protocols;   identify, by a first protocol handler, a screen mirroring protocol of the first mirroring stream the first mirroring stream comprising a first encoded video data and a first encoded audio data;   decode, by the first video decoder, the first encoded video data to generate a first decoded video data;   decode, by the first audio decoder, the first encoded audio data to generate a first decoded audio data;   identify, by a second protocol handler different from the first protocol handler, a screen mirroring protocol of the second mirroring stream, the second mirroring stream comprising a second encoded video data;   decode, by the second video decoder, the second encoded video data to generate a second decoded video data;   output, by an audio renderer, the first decoded audio data;   receive, by a video layout manager, the first decoded video data and the second decoded video data;   produce, by said video layout manager, a single stream comprising the first decoded video data and the second decoded second video data, wherein the single stream is position-optimized and scaled for displaying a final image on a viewing device; and   transmit the single stream to the viewing device.   
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the first encoded video data and the first encoded audio data are multiplexed. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein rotation of a first mirrored content, represented by a first decoded video data, in a display area of the viewing device does not cause repositioning of a second mirrored content, represented by the second decoded video data, in the display area of the viewing device. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the first decoded video data and the second decoded video data in the single stream is configured to have a 1:1 aspect ratio. 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the video layout manager determines whether to simultaneously display a first mirrored content, represented by the first decoded video data, and a second mirrored content, represented by the first decoded video data, on the viewing device in a single row. 
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the device, cause said video layout manager to receive a first orientation information associated with the first decoded video data and a second orientation information associated with the second decoded video data.