AV Network Operating State Detection via HDMI Bus Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of audio-video (AV) devices in households and networks makes it difficult to accurately determine their operating states, which is crucial for generating reliable media ratings and monitoring media consumption, as existing methods struggle to accurately identify whether AV devices are actively presenting media content.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an operating state identifier system within AV networks that monitors and analyzes messages transmitted between AV devices, extracts relevant information, and requests missing data to accurately determine the on/off status and operational modes of AV devices, such as televisions and set-top boxes, ensuring accurate media consumption data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If AV devices are configured with independent power controls and complex functionality, then device versatility and user control are improved, but determining the actual operating state becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (set-top box or monitoring device) that acts as a mediator between the user and multiple AV devices. This intermediary monitors communication traffic between devices, analyzes power state information, and determines the actual operating state of the media presentation device, thereby resolving the difficulty of tracking device states in complex AV networks
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the monitoring device continuously observes communication patterns and power state changes between AV devices. By analyzing this feedback information, the system can dynamically determine when a media presentation device is actually presenting content, even when power states are independently controlled
2Measurement precision
If multiple AV devices are monitored to ensure accurate media consumption data, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and monitoring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the monitoring function from individual AV devices and consolidates it into a separate monitoring device. This extraction allows the monitoring system to observe communication traffic and power states without adding complexity to the media presentation devices themselves, while still achieving precise measurement of actual content consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a set-top box for content delivery and as a monitoring device for tracking operating states. This universal approach reduces overall system complexity by combining functions rather than requiring separate dedicated monitoring hardware for each AV device
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for identifying an operating state of an AV device are described. An example method includes extracting, at a first AV device, data communicated via a data bus coupling a processor of the first AV device to a HDMI interface, the HDMI interface coupled to a second AV device different than the first AV device; analyzing a temporal sequence of the extracted data to determine if additional information is needed from the second AV device to identify a current operating state of the second AV device; when the temporal sequence is missing an expected message related to the current operating state of the second AV device, causing an AV network controller of the first AV device to request information from the second AV device; and analyzing a response from the second AV device including the requested information to identify the current operating state of the second AV device.