Method and device for encoding vibro-kinetic data onto an LPCM audio stream over an HDMI link

1. A method for encoding vibro-kinetic data onto an original LPCM audio stream to be packaged and synchronized with a video stream which is to be read by a video player, the original LPCM audio stream comprises a plurality of LPCM audio channels, the vibro-kinetic data for controlling a motion platform through a motion decoder, the method comprising:

obtaining a succession of blocks of vibro-kinetic samples from a vibro-kinetic file;

constructing a vibro-kinetic packet with each block of vibro-kinetic samples, the vibro-kinetic packet comprising a given number of bits, the bits representing at least a portion of the vibro-kinetic data;

obtaining a series of original LPCM samples from at least one of the audio channels from the original LPCM audio stream;

replacing at least the Least Significant Bit (LSB) of each LPCM sample of the series of original LPCM samples with a different one of the given number of bits of the vibro-kinetic packet to produce LPCM samples with encoded vibro-kinetic data; and

assembling a given number of LPCM samples with encoded vibro-kinetic data to reconstitute an LPCM audio channel which thereby includes the vibro-kinetic data for controlling the motion platform, the LPCM audio channel for being transported over a digital link between the DVD player and the motion decoder.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising packaging the encoded LPCM audio stream with the video stream to form part of content of a DVD.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising creating a DVD using the content.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising reading the DVD content using the DVD player.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising reading the vibro-kinetic data using the motion decoder.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising controlling the motion platform using the vibro-kinetic data read by the motion decoder.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital link comprises an HDMI link.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising compressing the LPCM audio channels using a compression algorithm.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the compression algorithm comprises an IEC61937 algorithm.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the LSB comprises more than one bit.

11. A method for modulating vibro-kinetic data onto an original LPCM audio stream to be packaged and synchronized with a video stream which is to be read by a video player, the original LPCM audio stream comprises a plurality of LPCM audio channels, the vibro-kinetic data for controlling a motion platform through a motion decoder, the method comprising:

obtaining vibro-kinetic samples from a vibro-kinetic file, the vibro-kinetic samples comprising the vibro-kinetic data;

obtaining a series of original LPCM audio samples from at least one of the audio channels from the original LPCM audio stream;

modulating the vibro-kinetic data according to the LPCM audio samples using a perceptual distance criterion to produce a modulated signal in the audio band such that the detectability of the modulated signal within the audio signal is minimized; and

producing an output LPCM audio channel by adding the modulated signal to the original LPCM audio channel, the output LPCM audio channel thereby includes the vibro-kinetic data for controlling the motion platform, the output LPCM audio channel for being transported over a digital link between the DVD player and the motion decoder.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising packaging the encoded LPCM audio stream with the video stream to form part of content of a DVD.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising creating a DVD using the content.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising reading the DVD content using the DVD player.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising reading the vibro-kinetic data using the motion decoder.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising controlling the motion platform using the vibro-kinetic data read by the motion decoder.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the digital link comprises an HDMI link.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising compressing the vibro-kinetic data prior to its modulation into LPCM audio channels using a compression algorithm.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the compression algorithm comprises one of a DPCM algorithm, a Linear Prediction algorithm, and a Vector Quantization algorithm.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising compressing the LPCM audio channels using a compression algorithm.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the compression algorithm comprises an IEC61937 algorithm.

22. A method for decoding, in real time, vibro-kinetic data encoded in a stream of LPCM audio channels, the multi-channel vibro-kinetic data being for controlling a motion platform, the method comprising:

receiving the stream of LPCM audio channels with encoded vibro-kinetic data;

detecting one or more LPCM audio channels carrying vibro-kinetic data, from the stream of LPCM audio channels;

extracting the Least Significant Bit of each LPCM sample of each LPCM audio channel carrying vibro-kinetic data;

constructing a bit stream of vibro-kinetic data with the extracted Least Significant Bits;

parsing the bit stream and detecting a sync field;

using said bit stream decoding and validating a vibro-kinetic packet;

extracting vibro-kinetic samples from the vibro-kinetic packet; and

outputting the vibro-kinetic samples to the motion platform.

23. A method for demodulating, in real time, a multi-channel vibro-kinetic signal modulated in audio channels, the multi-channel vibro-kinetic data being for controlling a motion platform, the method comprising:

receiving LPCM audio channels with modulated vibro-kinetic data;

detecting a vibro-kinetic signal modulated using a perceptual distance criterion in the LPCM audio channels;

demodulating the vibro-kinetic signal to extract the vibro-kinetic data;

constructing vibro-kinetic samples from the extracted vibro-kinetic data; and

outputting the vibro-kinetic samples to the motion platform.

24. A motion decoder for decoding, in real time, vibro-kinetic data encoded in a stream of LPCM audio channels, the vibro-kinetic data being for controlling a motion platform, the motion decoder comprising:

a receiver for receiving and reading the stream of LPCM audio channels;

a processor adapted to:

detect one or more LPCM audio channels carrying vibro-kinetic data, from the stream of LPCM audio channels;

extract the Least Significant Bit of each LPCM sample of each LPCM audio channel carrying vibro-kinetic data;

construct a bit stream of vibro-kinetic data with the extracted Least Significant Bits;

parse the bit stream and detect a sync field;

decode and validate a vibro-kinetic packet using said bit stream; and

extract vibro-kinetic samples from the vibro-kinetic packet; and

an output for outputting the vibro-kinetic samples to the motion platform.

25. A motion decoder for demodulating, in real time, a multi-channel vibro-kinetic signal included in an LPCM audio stream, the home-theatre audio stream comprising two or more LPCM audio channels, the multi-channel vibro-kinetic signal being for controlling a motion platform, the motion decoder comprising:

a receiver for receiving and reading the LPCM audio channels;

a processor adapted to detect a vibro-kinetic signal modulated using a perceptual distance criterion in the LPCM audio channels, demodulate the vibro-kinetic signal to extract the vibro-kinetic data, and construct vibro-kinetic samples from the extracted vibro-kinetic data; and

an output for outputting the vibro-kinetic samples to the motion platform.