HDMI Closed Captioning Transport via IP Packets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital interfaces, such as HDMI, lack a standard method for extracting, packaging, and transporting closed captioning data, content advisories, and metadata, leading to user confusion and varying quality of closed captioning display results, as these data types are typically rendered at the source device rather than the TV, causing compatibility issues and inconvenient placement of captions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to pass closed captioning data through the HDMI interface using Internet Protocol (IP) packets or Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) signals, allowing the data to be rendered at the display device by querying the sink device's capabilities and packaging the data in IP packets with identification headers and timestamps, ensuring optimal display and convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If closed captioning data is rendered at the source device, then the data can be displayed, but user confusion and varying quality of closed captioning display results occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts closed captioning data from the source device rendering process and transports it separately through the HDMI interface to the display device. This separation allows the display device to handle caption rendering, eliminating user confusion and ensuring consistent quality across different source devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data transport mechanism using IP packets or CEC signals over the HDMI interface. This intermediary allows caption data to be transmitted from the source device to the display device without being rendered at the source, enabling the display device to control caption display and eliminate user confusion.
2Reliability
If closed captioning data is transported through HDMI interface, then consistent rendering at display device is achieved, but standard method for extracting and packaging data is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs universal data transport protocols (IP packets and CEC signals) that can carry closed captioning data through the HDMI interface. These standardized protocols provide a multi-functional solution that handles data extraction, packaging, and transmission consistently across different devices, reducing the complexity of implementing device-specific solutions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple source devices are connected to TV, then each device can provide content, but control of closed captioning functions requires multiple remotes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the HDMI interface and CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) signals as an intermediary communication channel between the display device and source devices. This allows the display device to send control commands for closed captioning functions through the same interface used for data transport, enabling single-remote control operation across multiple source devices.
Data Source
AI summary
In certain implementations, closed captioning data can be packaged in IP packets and transmitted over an HDMI interface to permit closed captioning data to be rendered at a television set or other HDMI sink closer to the TV set rather than at a source so as to more closely match the capabilities of the display device. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.