Home Network Picture-in-Picture via Centralized Tuner Transcoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implementing picture-in-picture functionality in a home network is costly due to the need for multiple tuners in each video device, which increases hardware requirements and expenses.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus where a control device with a tuner and transcoding unit manages video streams for multiple video devices, allowing each device to independently play a main window while relying on the control device for transcoding and playing a sub-window, eliminating the need for multiple tuners in each device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple tuners are configured in each video device to implement picture-in-picture, then picture-in-picture functionality is achieved, but hardware cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tuner resources of multiple video devices into a shared pool managed by a central controller. Instead of each device having dedicated tuners, the system combines tuner resources at the network level, allowing any video device to access any tuner through the controller, thereby reducing total hardware while maintaining picture-in-picture capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed with universal functionality to manage multiple video devices and multiple tuners. It can allocate tuner resources dynamically to any requesting device, making the tuner system multi-functional and adaptable to different picture-in-picture scenarios without requiring dedicated hardware in each device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If each video device has multiple tuners for picture-in-picture, then independent channel reception is enabled, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller acts as an intermediary between video devices and tuners. Instead of direct connections requiring multiple tuners per device, the controller mediates resource allocation, allowing video devices to access tuner resources indirectly through standardized interfaces, thereby reducing the total number of tuners needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the resource allocation from a device-centric dimension to a network-centric dimension. By managing tuner resources at the network level through the controller rather than within individual devices, the system achieves better resource utilization and reduces the total quantity of tuners required.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of cable television technologies and provide a method, an apparatus, and a system for implementing picture in picture in a home network, which are invented to effectively save the cost. The method for implementing picture in picture in a home network includes: obtaining a video stream of a video main window from a video network and decoding and playing the video stream of the main window; receiving a picture in picture activation signal sent by a user; sending a transcoding request message to a control device, where the transcoding request message carries a number of a picture in picture video sub-window channel; receiving a video stream of the video sub-window channel, where the video stream has been transcoded and then sent by the control device; and decoding and playing the video stream of the video sub-window channel. The present invention may be used to implement a picture in picture function in a home network.