Audio Video Signal Conversion for Remote Tuning Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication devices require a wired connection to an analog wall socket to receive analog audiovisual streams, limiting their placement and user experience due to insufficient bandwidth in local networks for transmitting multiple audio and video channels.

Innovation Solution

A method implemented in an electronic device that receives an input signal from a first network, converts and transmits a digital stream requiring less bandwidth, allowing a tuning device to be located away from the antenna wall socket, and sends channel change requests based on user interactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If analog audiovisual streams are transmitted through local network, then tuning device can be placed remotely without wired connection to wall socket, but bandwidth is insufficient to transmit multiple audio and video channels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplacement flexibilityVSAvoidbandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the analog signal into multiple digital channels, each transmitted separately through the network. This allows the tuning device to receive only the specific channel it needs, reducing the total bandwidth requirement while enabling remote placement flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the signal parameters by converting analog signals to digital format and adjusting the data rate for each channel. This transformation enables efficient network transmission while maintaining channel quality, resolving the bandwidth constraint issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If all audio and video channels are transmitted with full quality, then channel quality is maintained, but bandwidth consumption increases beyond network capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel qualityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different quality levels to different channels based on local requirements. Each channel can be transmitted at the minimum quality necessary for acceptable performance, optimizing the balance between channel quality and bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transmits only the necessary portion of each channel's data at full quality, while other portions are transmitted at reduced quality or on-demand. This partial action approach maintains essential channel quality while significantly reducing bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3759929B1Methods for processing audiovisual streams and corresponding devices, electronic assembly, system, computer readable program products and storage media
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS SAS
  • EP3759929B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3759929B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP3759929B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a method comprising: receiving, from a first network, a input signal conveying a plurality of audio and/or video channels; sending, on a second network, a first signal comprising a first digital stream conveying a first audio and/or video channel comprised in the input signal, the first signal comprising, for a second channel of said plurality of audio and/or video channels other than the first channel, and a second digital stream comprising an identifying information of the other second channel and requiring less bandwidth than a digital stream conveying the other second audio and/or video channel of the input signal. It also relates to a method comprising : receiving via a first network a digital signal comprising a plurality of streams, one stream conveying a channel, converting the digital signal to a signal; outputting the signal to a tuning device; upon obtaining a channel identifier representative of a tuning, sending, via the first network, a channel change request comprising the channel identifier to a transmitter of the digital signal. It also relates to corresponding signal, devices, system, computer readable program products and storage media.