Methods and apparatus for passing an on-screen display over a serial interface

摘要

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for passing an on-screen display (OSD) from a source device, such as a television terminal, to a sink device, such as a high definition television (HDTV), over a serial interface, such as an IEEE-1394 interface. The source device includes a tuner adapted for receiving an active isochronous MPEG data stream and graphic data for an OSD. A serial interface at the source device enables communication with a sink device. A processor at the source device detects an action requiring an OSD at the sink device. The source device also includes an MPEG encoder adapted for encoding the graphic data as an isochronous MPEG data stream carrying the OSD. The isochronous MPEG data stream carrying the OSD may then be passed to the sink device via the serial interface.