Embedded audio routing switcher

Abstract

An apparatus includes a separator for selectively separating audio from input signals including video with audio, a switcher for selectively transferring the input signals to at least one output, a multiplexed path for sending the separated audio signal to the at least one output, the at least one output being configured for selectively directing the input signals and separated audio signals.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a separator for receiving input signals, each input signal including video with embedded audio and separating the audio from input signals to generate separated audio signals;   a switcher for transferring the input signals to an output;   a multiplexer for multiplexing the separated audio signals together and transmitting the multiplexed separated audio signals over a multiplexed path to the output, the being configured for selectively outputting the input signals and the separated audio signals,   wherein the output includes a demultiplexer to provide selective outputting of one of the separated audio signals to a designated output.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one input coupled to the switcher and for receiving the input signals, the input signals comprising digital input signals, the at least one input being connected to a processor configured to equalize the digital input signals. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one input is coupled to a multiplexer to multiplex the separated audio signals. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the switcher is a serial digital switcher configured to route television signals. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the television signals include at least one of a standard definition signals and a high definition signal. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein multiplexed path includes a time division multiplexed bus. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the multiplexed path includes a path through the switcher. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the output comprises an audio only input configured to receive one of an audio signal and a time division multiplexed audio signal for outputting. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one input board configured to receive digital input signals, the digital input signals including video with embedded audio, the at least one input board including:
 a de-embed module configured to de-embed audio from each of the digital input signals; and 
 a time division multiplexer configured to multiplex all of the de-embedded audio; 
   a crosspoint matrix configured to receive the digital input signals and transfer the digital input signals to at least one output board; and   an output board,   wherein the time-division multiplexer is configured to transmit the de-embedded audio signals to the output board separately from the digital input signals via a time division multiplexed path, and wherein the output board is configured to output one of the digital input signals or one of the de-embedded audio signals to a destination in accordance with a routing control setting.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one input board includes a processor configured to equalize the digital input signals. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the output board includes an embed module to embed at least one de-embedded audio signal in one or more of the digital input signals to provide an output signal having video and embedded audio. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the output board includes a demultiplexer to provide routing of the de-embedded audio signals to a designated output. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the crosspoint matrix includes a serial digital switcher configured to route television signals. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the television signals include at least one of a standard definition signals and a high definition signal. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the time division multiplexed path includes a time division multiplexed bus. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the time division multiplexed path includes a path through the crosspoint matrix. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an audio only input configured to receive one of an audio signal and a time division multiplexed audio signal for transfer to the output board. 
     
     
       18. A method comprising the steps of:
 receiving input signals, each input signal including video with embedded audio components; 
 separating the audio components from input signals to generate a separated audio signals; 
 transferring selectively the input signals to an output; 
 multiplexing the separated audio signals; 
 sending the multiplexed separated audio signals over a multiplexed path to the output, wherein the a least one output selectively directs the input signals and the separated audio signals to a destination, wherein the output demultiplexes the multiplexed separated audio signals to direct the separated audio signals to the destination. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising equalizing the input signals. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the input signals comprise television signals that are transferred via a serial digital switcher. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the television signals include at least one of a standard definition signals and a high definition signal. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 18 , wherein multiplexed path includes a time division multiplexed bus. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the multiplexed path includes a path through a switcher. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the output comprises an audio only input configured to receive one of an audio signal and a time division multiplexed audio signal for outputting. 
     
     
       25. An audio stream routing switcher comprising:
 at least one input configured to receive a combined input stream that includes a video stream and a plurality of audio streams and to separate the plurality of audio streams from the combined input stream to generate a plurality of separated audio signals;   a router configured to route the video stream to an output; and   a multiplexer configured to multiplex at least a portion of the plurality of separated audio signals and transmit the multiplexed and separated audio signals to the output as at least one audio bit-stream transmitted separately from the video stream,   wherein the output is configured to selectively output the received video stream and at least one of the separated audio signals to a designated output,   wherein the output includes an audio signal selector configured to selectively output the at least one separated audio signal to the designated output.   
     
     
       26. The audio stream routing switcher according to claim 25, wherein the router is a crosspoint matrix coupled between the at least one input and the output. 
     
     
       27. The audio stream routing switcher according to claim 26, wherein the multiplexer is configured to transmit the portion of the plurality of separated audio signals via a path in the crosspoint matrix separately from the video stream to the output. 
     
     
       28. The audio stream routing switcher according to claim 25, wherein the audio signal selector is a transcode multiplexer configured to select the at least one separated audio signal from the portion of the plurality of separated and multiplexed audio signals. 
     
     
       29. The audio stream routing switcher according to claim 28, wherein the output further comprises an audio embedding module configured to embed the selected at least one separated audio signal in the video stream to generate a combined output stream having video and embedded audio to be outputted to the designated output. 
     
     
       30. The audio stream routing switcher according to claim 25, wherein each combined input stream is a digital video bit-stream with at least one of the plurality of audio streams embedded as audio data in a horizontal ancillary data space of the video stream. 
     
     
       31. The audio stream routing switcher according to claim 30, wherein the at least one input comprises a digital signal processor configured to de-embed the audio data from the horizontal ancillary data space to generate the at least one separated audio signal, respectively. 
     
     
       32. An audio stream routing switcher comprising:
 at least one input board configured to receive a combined input stream that includes a video stream and a plurality of audio streams, the at least one input board including a digital signal processor configured to separate the plurality of audio streams from the combined input stream to generate a plurality of separated audio signals;   a router configured to route the video stream to an output; and   a multiplexer configured to multiplex at least a portion of the plurality of separated audio signals and transmit the multiplexed and separated audio signals to the output as at least one audio bit-stream transmitted separately from the video stream,   wherein the output is configured to selectively output the received video stream and at least one of the separated audio signals to a designated output,   wherein the output includes an audio signal selector configured to selectively output the at least one separated audio signal to the designated output.   
     
     
       33. The audio stream routing switcher according to claim 32, wherein the router is a crosspoint matrix coupled between the at least one input and the output. 
     
     
       34. The audio stream routing switcher according to claim 33, wherein the multiplexer is configured to transmit the portion of the plurality of separated audio signals via a path in the crosspoint matrix separately from the video stream to the output. 
     
     
       35. The audio stream routing switcher according to claim 32, wherein the audio signal selector is a transcode multiplexer configured to select the at least one separated audio signal from the portion of the plurality of separated and multiplexed audio signals. 
     
     
       36. The audio stream routing switcher according to claim 35, wherein the output further comprises an audio embedding module configured to embed the selected at least one separated audio signal in the video stream to generate a combined output stream having video and embedded audio to be outputted to the designated output. 
     
     
       37. The audio stream routing switcher according to claim 32, wherein each combined input stream is a digital video bit-stream with at least one of the plurality of audio streams embedded as audio data in a horizontal ancillary data space of the video stream. 
     
     
       38. The audio stream routing switcher according to claim 37, wherein the digital signal processor is further configured to de-embed the audio data from the horizontal ancillary data space to generate the at least one separated audio signal, respectively.