AUTOMATIC AUDIO AND VIDEO SYNCHRONIZATION

1 . A method for automatic audio and video output synchronization, the method comprising:

calculating a video delay time period based on a signal processing routine to generate the video display signal; and

automatically setting an audio delay to approximate the video delay time period.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating the video display signal using the signal processing routine; and

generating an audio display signal after a time interval of the video delay time period.

3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:

providing the video display signal to a video display device.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the video display device is a digital television.

5 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:

providing the audio display signal an audio display device, wherein the audio display device is a plurality of speakers.

6 . The method 1 further comprising:

determining a plurality of slave devices;

determining the signal processing routine based on a plurality of slave devices; and

routing video information via a specified path using the plurality of slave devices.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein at least one of the slave devices is also a master-capable device.

8 . The method of claim 6 wherein the master device and the plurality of slave devices are in operative communication across a network.

9 . The method of claim 1 including determining a master device from a plurality of master-capable devices; and

using the master device, determining a signal processing routine to generate a video display signal.

10 . An apparatus for automatic audio and video output synchronization, the apparatus comprising:

a memory device operative to store to a plurality of executable instructions; and

at least one processing device operably coupled to the memory device such that the at least one processing device is operative to, in response to the executable instructions:

calculate a video delay time period based on a signal processing routine to generate a video display signal; and

automatically set an audio delay approximate to the video delay time period.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the processing device is operably coupled to the master device and the plurality of slave devices across a network.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one processing device is disposed within a computing system and the master device is disposed within the computing system.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the slave devices are video processing devices.

14 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one processing device is operably coupled to an audio processing device such that the audio delay may be programmed in the audio processing device.

15 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one processing device is operative to, in response to the executable instructions, determine a master device from a plurality of master-capable devices; and using the master device, determine a signal processing routine to generate a video display signal using a plurality of slave devices.

16 . A method for automatic audio and video output synchronization, the method comprising:

determining a master device from a plurality of master-capable devices;

determining a plurality of slave devices;

using the master device, determining a signal processing routine to generate a video display signal, the signal processing routine based on a plurality of slave devices;

calculating a video delay time period based on the signal processing routine to generate the video display signal;

using the master device, automatically setting an audio delay approximate to the video delay time period; and

generating an audio display signal after a time interval of the video delay time period.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

generating the video display signal using the signal processing routine; and

providing the video display signal to a video display device.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the video display device is a digital television.

19 . The method of claim 16 further comprising:

providing the audio display signal an audio display device, wherein the audio display device is a plurality of speakers.

20 . The method of claim 16 wherein the master device and the plurality of slave devices are in operative communication across a network.

21 . A system for automatic audio and video output synchronization, the system comprising:

a plurality of operably coupled slave devices;

a master device operably coupled to the plurality of slave devices, the master device operative to determine a signal processing routine based on at least one of the plurality of slave devices and the master device operative to calculate a video delay time period based on the signal processing routine;

one of the plurality of slave devices operative to receive a video input signal and at least one of the plurality slave devices operative to generate a video output signal; and

an audio receiver operably coupled to receive an audio input signal and generate an audio output signal delayed by a time period approximate to the video delay period.

22 . The system of claim 21 wherein the processing device is operably coupled to the master device and the plurality of slave devices across a network.

23 . The system of claim 21 wherein the at least one processing device is disposed within a computing system and the master device is disposed within the computing system.

24 . The system of claim 21 wherein the slave devices are video processing devices.

25 . The system of claim 21 wherein the at least one processing device is operably coupled to an audio processing device such that the audio delay may be programmed in the audio processing device.