US 9843786

US patent 9843786, titled "Transport of stereoscopic image data over a display interface," was originally assigned to Koninklijke Philips NV and is currently assigned to General Video LLC. The patent's sole inventor is Nicoll Burleigh Shepherd. The application was filed on September 6, 2016, and the patent was issued on December 12, 2017.

Abstract:
The patent describes a digital display interface (40) that connects a first audio-visual device (10) to a second audio-visual device (20) for transmitting stereoscopic image data. Components of the stereoscopic image data are multiplexed and inserted into existing image data-carrying elements, potentially reusing deep color modes. Signaling information, essential for identifying or decoding the stereoscopic image data, is carried in auxiliary data elements. The stereoscopic image data can be distributed between image data-carrying elements and auxiliary data-carrying elements. These auxiliary data elements can be transmitted during horizontal or vertical blanking periods, specifically as HDMI Data Island Packets. Additionally, stereoscopic image data can be transmitted over an auxiliary data channel, which may be part of the primary cable, a separate cable, or a wireless link.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Interface Part - Sender Side): This claim describes an interface component within a source audio-visual device. This component can operate in two distinct modes. In a first mode, it formats standard 2D image data. In a second mode, active at different times, it formats multiplexed components of a stereoscopic (3D) image. The interface part transmits signaling information (contained within auxiliary data elements, such as HDMI Data Island Packets) to the receiving device. This signaling information indicates which mode is in use and provides details about the specific multiplexing scheme and stereoscopic image format, enabling the receiving device to correctly decode the 3D content.
• Claim 13 (Interface Part - Receiver Side): This claim describes an interface component within a receiving audio-visual device (e.g., a display). It receives formatted image data and processes it in one of two modes. In a first mode, it extracts pixel data for a 2D image. In a second mode, active at different times, it demultiplexes components of a stereoscopic image. The interface part receives signaling information (also in auxiliary data elements) that specifies the active mode and the multiplexing scheme, allowing the processor to determine the appropriate decoding method for the stereoscopic image format.
• Claim 17 (Method - Sender Side): This claim outlines a method performed by an interface part in a first audio-visual device for formatting image data. The method involves receiving image data and formatting it according to either a first mode (generating 2D image data) or a second mode (generating multiplexed stereoscopic image components). The second mode operates at different times than the first. Crucially, the method includes sending signaling information (within auxiliary data elements) that identifies the current mode and provides details about the multiplexing scheme, guiding the second audio-visual device in decoding the stereoscopic image format.
• Claim 18 (Method - Receiver Side): This claim details a method performed by an interface part in a receiving audio-visual device for processing image data. The method involves receiving formatted image data and extracting it by either a first mode (extracting 2D image data) or a second mode (demultiplexing stereoscopic image components). The second mode operates at different times. The method includes receiving signaling information (in auxiliary data elements) that identifies the mode and contains information about the multiplexing scheme, which is then used to determine the correct decoding scheme for the stereoscopic image format.

Legal Status and Litigation:
US patent 9843786 is currently "Active" and has an anticipated expiration date of December 15, 2028.

According to available information, the patent is involved in several litigation cases:

• Multiple US cases have been filed in the Texas Eastern District Court.
• Multiple US cases have been filed in the Texas Western District Court.
• One US case has been filed in the Delaware District Court.
• A PTAB Inter Partes Review (IPR2025-01037) was filed but listed as "Not Instituted - Procedural" with Intel Corp., Dell, Inc., and Dell Technologies, Inc. as opponents, effective May 23, 2025.
• First worldwide family litigation has also been filed.

No specific dockets for the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) in 2026 were found during the search, although ongoing district court cases could potentially lead to CAFC appeals in the future.US patent 9843786, titled "Transport of stereoscopic image data over a display interface," was originally assigned to Koninklijke Philips NV and is currently assigned to General Video LLC. The patent's sole inventor is Nicoll Burleigh Shepherd. The application was filed on September 6, 2016, and the patent was issued on December 12, 2017.

Abstract:
The patent describes a digital display interface (40) that connects a first audio-visual device (10) to a second audio-visual device (20) for transmitting stereoscopic image data. Components of the stereoscopic image data are multiplexed and inserted into existing image data-carrying elements, potentially reusing deep color modes. Signaling information, essential for identifying or decoding the stereoscopic image data, is carried in auxiliary data elements. The stereoscopic image data can be distributed between image data-carrying elements and auxiliary data-carrying elements. These auxiliary data elements can be transmitted during horizontal or vertical blanking periods, specifically as HDMI Data Island Packets. Additionally, stereoscopic image data can be transmitted over an auxiliary data channel, which may be part of the primary cable, a separate cable, or a wireless link.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Interface Part - Sender Side): This claim describes an interface component within a source audio-visual device. This component can operate in two distinct modes. In a first mode, it formats standard 2D image data. In a second mode, active at different times, it formats multiplexed components of a stereoscopic (3D) image. The interface part transmits signaling information (contained within auxiliary data elements, such as HDMI Data Island Packets) to the receiving device. This signaling information indicates which mode is in use and provides details about the specific multiplexing scheme and stereoscopic image format, enabling the receiving device to correctly decode the 3D content.
• Claim 13 (Interface Part - Receiver Side): This claim describes an interface component within a receiving audio-visual device (e.g., a display). It receives formatted image data and processes it in one of two modes. In a first mode, it extracts pixel data for a 2D image. In a second mode, active at different times, it demultiplexes components of a stereoscopic image. The interface part receives signaling information (also in auxiliary data elements) that specifies the active mode and the multiplexing scheme, allowing the processor to determine the appropriate decoding method for the stereoscopic image format.
• Claim 17 (Method - Sender Side): This claim outlines a method performed by an interface part in a first audio-visual device for formatting image data. The method involves receiving image data and formatting it according to either a first mode (generating 2D image data) or a second mode (generating multiplexed stereoscopic image components). The second mode operates at different times than the first. Crucially, the method includes sending signaling information (within auxiliary data elements) that identifies the current mode and provides details about the multiplexing scheme, guiding the second audio-visual device in decoding the stereoscopic image format.
• Claim 18 (Method - Receiver Side): This claim details a method performed by an interface part in a receiving audio-visual device for processing image data. The method involves receiving formatted image data and extracting it by either a first mode (extracting 2D image data) or a second mode (demultiplexing stereoscopic image components). The second mode operates at different times. The method includes receiving signaling information (in auxiliary data elements) that identifies the mode and contains information about the multiplexing scheme, which is then used to determine the correct decoding scheme for the stereoscopic image format.

Legal Status and Litigation:
US patent 9843786 is currently "Active" and has an anticipated expiration date of December 15, 2028.

According to available information, the patent is involved in several litigation cases:

• Multiple US cases have been filed in the Texas Eastern District Court.
• Multiple US cases have been filed in the Texas Western District Court.
• One US case has been filed in the Delaware District Court.
• A PTAB Inter Partes Review (IPR2025-01037) was filed but listed as "Not Instituted - Procedural" with Intel Corp., Dell, Inc., and Dell Technologies, Inc. as opponents, effective May 23, 2025.
• First worldwide family litigation has also been filed.

A review of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) scheduled cases for April, May, and June 2026 did not reveal any dockets specifically listing US patent 9843786. It is possible that ongoing district court cases related to this patent could lead to CAFC appeals in the future, but no such appeals are currently scheduled for 2026 based on the provided information.