Dual-Port Interface for Simultaneous Multi-Channel A/V Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital video recorder (DVR) and personal video recorder (PVR) systems face limitations in recording multiple channels simultaneously due to processor overload, hardware complexity, and inability to handle encrypted video streams, leading to bandwidth issues and high hardware costs for multi-room setups, as well as difficulties in recording sporting events with variable durations.
Innovation Solution
The system employs baseband conversion of RF modulated audio/video information, direct digitization, and storage without MPEG processing, using a dual-port interface for transparent access to storage, allowing simultaneous recording of multiple channels without processor intervention and supporting encrypted content playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a processor is used as a communication hub between video storage and compressor/decompressor, then data transfer and control functions are integrated, but processor overload occurs and bandwidth processing capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the communication hub function from the processor by introducing a dedicated dual-port interface card. This interface card handles all data transfer between the compressor/decompressor engine and video storage device, freeing the processor from bandwidth-intensive operations and allowing it to focus on control and processing tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-port interface card serves as an intermediary component between the compressor/decompressor engine and video storage device. It mediates data flow by providing direct storage access through its two ports, eliminating the need for processor intervention in data transfer operations and enabling parallel processing.
2Productivity
If processor speed is increased to handle multiple channel recordings, then simultaneous recording capability improves, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the processor-based data transfer mechanism with a dedicated hardware interface card that provides direct storage access. This hardware substitution enables multiple channel recordings simultaneously without requiring proportional increases in processor speed, as the interface card handles bandwidth-intensive operations in hardware.
3Quantity of substance
If MPEG compression processing is used for video storage, then storage efficiency improves, but processor load increases and recording speed may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs MPEG compression processing in advance during video capture, before storage operations. The dual-port interface card enables this preliminary processing by providing dedicated hardware acceleration, so that compressed video data is ready for storage without delaying the recording process.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional single-port storage interface is used, then system simplicity is maintained, but simultaneous access by multiple devices is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-port interface card provides universal access capability, allowing multiple devices (processor, compressor/decompressor engine) to simultaneously access the video storage device through its two ports. This multi-functional interface supports both data transfer and direct storage access operations concurrently.
Data Source
AI summary
An audio/video storage/retrieval system and method that permits efficient and cost-effective simultaneous recording of multi-channel A/V information from a variety of sources is disclosed. The system/method may be broadly described as generally incorporating baseband conversion of source RF modulated A/V information followed by analog-to-digital conversion and storage on a storage device utilizing a dual port interface that incorporates an additional computer access port to permit transparent storage access by a computer system. Retrieval of stored A/V programming from the storage device via the dual port interface permits the stored A/V data to be converted to analog and RF modulated for presentation to an A/V presentation device. Additional A/V source and/or target selectors may be incorporated into the system/method to permit recording a plethora of A/V sources such as raw A/V signaling, OTA broadcasts, clear/encrypted cable QAM broadcasts, cable set top boxes (STBs), and the like.