HDMI Audio Metadata Classification for Media Source Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Monitoring the content source of IP/QAM hybrid set-top boxes is challenging due to the complexity of DOCSIS/MoCA specifications and the lack of inexpensive commercial off-the-shelf equipment, making it difficult to identify the currently tuned or streaming content source, especially since analog audio analysis is prone to variability and degradation.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves using HDMI audio metadata to classify media sources by extracting unique encoding classes from digital audio encoding parameters, which are embedded in the HDMI stream and can be accessed without degradation, allowing for accurate identification of media sources using professional-grade or consumer-grade HDMI analysis hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If analog audio analysis is used to identify media sources, then source identification can be performed, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to variability and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces analog audio analysis with digital HDMI metadata extraction. Instead of analyzing degraded analog audio signals, the system extracts digital encoding parameters (bit rate, sample rate, channel configuration) directly from the HDMI stream, eliminating the variability and degradation inherent in analog paths while maintaining source identification capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses digital copies of audio encoding parameters embedded in HDMI metadata rather than analyzing the actual analog audio signal. These digital parameters are exact representations of the source characteristics without the degradation that occurs in analog transmission, enabling precise source identification
2Ease of operation
If DOCSIS/MoCA specifications are analyzed to identify content sources, then source identification may be achieved, but the device complexity increases due to specification complexity and lack of inexpensive equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the necessary identification information from the complex DOCSIS/MoCA system by capturing HDMI metadata at the output interface. Instead of attempting to analyze the complex upstream signals and specifications, the system takes out the already-encoded digital parameters from the HDMI stream, which contain all necessary source identification information without requiring complex analysis equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The HDMI interface acts as an intermediary that provides access to source identification information without requiring direct analysis of the complex DOCSIS/MoCA signals. The HDMI metadata serves as a simplified mediator that carries encoding parameters from the set-top box, making source identification feasible with inexpensive equipment
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for source classification using HDMI audio metadata. An example apparatus includes a metadata extractor to extract values of audio encoding parameters from HDMI metadata obtained from a monitored HDMI port of a media device, the HDMI metadata corresponding to media being output from the monitored HDMI port; map the extracted values of the audio encoding parameters to a first unique encoding class (UEC) in a set of defined UECs, different ones of the set of defined UECs corresponding to different combinations of possible values of the audio encoding parameters capable of being included in the HDMI metadata; and identify a media source corresponding to the media output from the HDMI port based on one or more possible media sources mapped to the first UEC.