Set-Top Box Software Decoder for OTT Video Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Set-top-box devices equipped with hardware decoders are unable to decode Over-the-top (OTT) content encoded using different standards, such as SMPTE Windows Media Video, and lack metadata for recording OTT content, preventing users from recording and managing OTT video data.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a software decoder and a title generation module within the set-top-box device, which can decode OTT content and generate metadata for recording, allowing the device to route video packet data to either the hardware or software decoder based on the encoding type and provide titles for recorded content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a hardware decoder is used in the set-top-box device, then decoding speed and efficiency are improved, but the device can only decode specific encoding types and cannot handle OTT content with different encoding standards
Solution Approach 1:
A controller is introduced as an intermediary component that receives video packet data, identifies the encoding type, and routes the data to the appropriate decoder (hardware or software). This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling the hardware decoder to handle its compatible encoding types at high speed while directing incompatible OTT content to software decoders, thus maintaining both speed efficiency and encoding versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a software decoder is added to decode OTT content, then encoding compatibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The decoding functionality is segmented into distinct hardware decoder and software decoder components, each specialized for specific encoding types. The controller segments the video packet data stream by identifying encoding types and routing to the appropriate decoder segment. This segmentation allows the system to maintain encoding versatility while managing complexity through modular, specialized components rather than a single complex universal decoder.
3Adaptability or versatility
If metadata generation capability is added to the set-top-box device, then recording capability for OTT content is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The title generation module operates autonomously to generate metadata for recorded OTT content. It automatically retrieves channel identifiers from the channel map, obtains geographic location information, captures timestamp data, and synthesizes titles without requiring manual intervention or complex external processing systems. This self-service approach enables recording capability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a network interface to receive video packet data encoding video data from a remote server. The system includes a hardware decoder operable to decode a first type of encoded video data but not operable to decode a second type of encoded video data. The system also includes a software decoder to decode the second type of encoded video data. The system also includes a controller to determine whether the received video packet data includes the second type of encoded video data and to route the video packet data to the software decoder when the video packet data includes the second type of encoded video data.