1. A method for licensing a service provider to process content using a video processing device comprising the steps of:
generating a license key indicative of a license for an amount of bandwidth;
using said license key at a video processing device to enforce said license based on whether there is sufficient licensed bandwidth available to accommodate a newly created output transport stream;
allowing processing of the newly created output transport stream if there is sufficient licensed bandwidth available; and
denying processing of the newly created output transport stream if there is insufficient licensed bandwidth available.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said license key is indicative of an amount of bandwidth for a particular feature.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:
selecting, from a plurality of video processing devices, one such device that has sufficient bandwidth to process the newly created output stream if processing of that stream is allowed; and
assigning the newly created output stream to the selected device.
4. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein processing of said newly created output stream is refused if none of said plurality of video processing devices has sufficient bandwidth to process the stream.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said generating step generates said license key from information entered by a user, said information including a feature to be licensed and an amount of bandwidth desired for that feature.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said license key is provided to said video processing device via a user interface.
7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein:
the license key provided via said user interface is compared to a license key generated locally at said video processing device; and
use of the license is denied if the keys do not match.
8. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein a user interface is provided to allow a user to create output transport streams in accordance with said license.
9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein:
a user interface is provided;
said user interface is automatically updated based on said license key to provide user access to licensed features and bandwidth; and
said user access permits the creation of output transport streams in accordance with the license.
10. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:
charging the service provider a license fee based on said amount of bandwidth.
11. Apparatus for licensing service providers to process content using a video processing device comprising:
a key generator adapted to receive license type and bandwidth information necessary to generate a license key, said key being indicative of a license for an amount of bandwidth allowed for a video processing feature;
a user interface;
a license key processor adapted to receive said key; and
a plurality of video processors;
wherein said user interface is updated by said license key processor to enable the creation of a transport stream for processing by at least one of said video processors in accordance with said license.
12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said license key processor:
allows processing of the transport stream by at least one of said video processors if there is sufficient licensed bandwidth available; and
denies processing of the transport stream if there is insufficient licensed bandwidth available.
13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said license key processor:
selects, from said plurality of video processors, one such processor that has sufficient bandwidth to process the transport stream if processing of that stream is allowed by the license; and
assigns the transport stream to the selected video processor.
14. Apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein processing of said transport stream is refused if none of said plurality of video processors has sufficient bandwidth to process the stream.
15. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said key generator is adapted to receive said license type and bandwidth information from said user interface.
16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said key generator comprises a web server.
17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said video processors each comprise a multiplexersplicer.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An acoustic sensing device comprising:
a structure with a first surface and a second surface attached to a first substrate;
wherein the structure is displaced in the presence of an acoustic pressure differential between the first and second surfaces of the structure;
wherein the structure is contained in an enclosure formed by the first substrate and a second substrate;
wherein the first substrate or the second substrate contains an opening to expose the structure to the environment.
2. The acoustic sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a capacitor, wherein a first electrode is formed by the second plate and a second electrode is formed by a conductive layer on the first substrate.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second electrode is connected to an integrated circuit on the first substrate.
4. An acoustic sensing device comprising:
a structure with a first surface and a second surface attached to a first substrate;
a second substrate attached to the first substrate;
a cap covering the first and second substrates;
wherein the structure is displaced in the presence of an acoustic pressure differential between the first and second surfaces of the structure;
wherein in the first substrate has a first opening and the second substrate has a second opening to expose the structure to the environment.
5. The acoustic sensing device of claim 4, where in the cap comprises conductive material.
6. The acoustic sensing device of claim 4, where in the cap comprises silicon.
7. An acoustic sensing device comprising:
a structure with a first surface and a second surface attached to a first substrate;
wherein the structure is displaced in the presence of an acoustic pressure differential between the first and second surfaces of the structure;
wherein the structure is positioned between the first substrate and a second substrate;
wherein the first substrate and the second substrate each contains an opening.
8. The device of claim 7, further comprising a capacitor, wherein a first electrode is formed by the second plate and a second electrode is formed by a conductive layer on the first substrate.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the second electrode is connected to an integrated circuit on the first substrate.
10. A MEMS device comprising:
an anchor attached to a first substrate;
a first plate with a first surface and a second surface;
a second plate with a third surface and a fourth surface, attached to the first plate; and
a linkage connecting the anchor to the first plate, where the first plate and second plate are displaced in the presence of an acoustic pressure differential between the first and second surfaces of the first plate;
wherein the first plate, the second plate, the linkage, and the anchor are contained in an enclosure formed by the first substrate and a second substrate;
wherein the first or second substrates contains an acoustic port to expose the first surface to the environment,
wherein at least one electrode is formed on the first substrate,
wherein the second plate moves in an opposite direction of the first plate,
wherein first and second plates are mass balanced around a rotational axis.
11. A MEMS device comprising:
an anchor attached to a first substrate;
a first plate with a first surface and a second surface;
a second plate with a third surface and a fourth surface, attached to the first plate; and
a linkage connecting the anchor to the first plate, where the first plate and second plate are displaced in the presence of an acoustic pressure differential between the first and second surfaces of the first plate;
wherein the first plate, the second plate, the linkage, and the anchor are contained in an enclosure formed by the first substrate and a second substrate;
wherein the first or second substrates contains an acoustic port to expose the first surface to the environment,
wherein at least one electrode is formed on the first substrate,
wherein the second plate moves in an opposite direction of the first plate,
wherein first and second plates are moment of inertia balanced around a rotational axis.
12. A device comprising:
A first sensor and
a second sensor; wherein the second sensor comprises
an anchor attached to a first substrate;
a first plate with a first surface and a second surface;
a second plate with a third surface and a fourth surface, attached to the first plate; and
a linkage connecting the anchor to the first plate, where the first plate and second plate are displaced in the presence of an acoustic pressure differential between the first and second surfaces of the first plate;
wherein the first plate, the second plate, the linkage, and the anchor are contained in an enclosure formed by the first substrate and a second substrate;
wherein the first or second substrates contains an acoustic port to expose the first surface to the environment,
wherein at least one electrode is formed on the first substrate.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the first sensor is at least any of a gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, and a pressure sensor.
14. The device of claim 12, where in the first sensor and the second sensor are enclosed by the first and second substrates.
15. A MEMS device comprising:
an anchor attached to a first substrate;
a first plate with a first surface and a second surface;
a second plate with a third surface and a fourth surface, attached to the first plate;
a third plate formed on the first substrate; and
a linkage connecting the anchor to the first plate, where the first plate and second plate are displaced in the presence of an acoustic pressure differential between the first and second surfaces of the first plate;
wherein the first plate, the second plate, the linkage, and the anchor are contained in an enclosure formed by the first substrate and a second substrate;
wherein the first substrate contains an acoustic port to expose the first surface to the environment,
wherein at least one electrode is formed on the first substrate,
wherein the third plate partially covers the acoustic port.