HDMI Audio Metadata Mapping for Set-Top Box Source Identification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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 audio 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
1Measurement precision
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 encoding parameters directly from the digital HDMI stream, eliminating signal degradation issues and providing reliable source identification through digital data analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces HDMI metadata as an intermediary carrier of source identification information. Rather than directly analyzing the audio signal itself, the system uses encoding parameters embedded in HDMI metadata as a mediator to identify the media source, providing accurate and degradation-free source detection.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If DOCSIS/MoCA specification complexity is addressed to identify content sources, then source identification capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to lack of inexpensive commercial equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts source identification information directly from the HDMI metadata stream without requiring complex DOCSIS/MoCA protocol analysis. By taking out the essential encoding parameters from the HDMI stream, the system achieves source identification using simple, inexpensive equipment rather than complex proprietary protocol analyzers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables source identification using inexpensive commercial off-the-shelf HDMI analysis hardware rather than expensive specialized DOCSIS/MoCA monitoring equipment. The approach uses readily available HDMI capture devices to extract metadata, making the system cost-effective and accessible.
3Measurement precision
If HDMI audio metadata is used to create unique encoding classes, then source classification accuracy is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the HDMI metadata into distinct encoding parameters (audio format, bit rate, sample rate, channel configuration) and creates unique encoding classes by combining specific values from each parameter. This segmentation approach enables accurate source classification through systematic comparison of parameter combinations while maintaining manageable processing complexity through structured data organization.
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.