Patent Application
20240406493
The present disclosure generally relates to a method and system for realizing a fast channel change feature on a set-top box with Android and similar platforms.
Cable service providers, which are also referred to as Multiple System Operators (“MSO”), or any communication or content distribution business that operates through a cable network, renders its services to its subscribers. The services can include, but are not limited to, different subscription plans for broadband Internet access and telephony. In order to consume these services, subscribers connect to a private network owned (or co-owned or rented) by the broadband cable operator which is implemented according to the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) standard. Subscribers connect their computers, routers, voice-over-IP telephones and other devices to this network through the network terminals, for example, cable modems (CM) or network gateways.
To provide television and data services, a MSO typically uses a Cable Modem Termination System (“CMTS”) for the data services and a quadrature amplitude modulation (“QAM”) multiplexer for downstream broadcast television, narrow cast and video-on-demand (VOD) traffic signals. These devices may be located at one or more hubs, which are typically connected to a head end via a network according to a networking protocol, such as Ethernet or SONET. A residential cable customer is typically connected to the CMTS and hub via a cable modem and a wireless router that may be combined in a single box which is called a gateway. In order to view, for example, video content that is transmitted through the cable modem or gateway, residential customers connect, for example, their televisions to a customer-premise equipment or customer-provided equipment (CPE), for example, to a set-top box (STB) or smart media device (SMD).
The set-top box or smart media device can be used by the subscriber to access a variety of multimedia services, including but not limited to live or linear television, digital video recorder (DVR) content, video-on-demand (VOD) content, over-the-top (OTT) content, and others. For example, set-top boxes usually play user selected content, for example, either live or with a digital video recorder (DVR). In addition, content can be accessed by remote controllers and/or via a voice or speech detection application system.
Android as a platform that started off in mobile devices and due to ease of use and user interface (UI) capabilities, is getting popular for other devices such as set-top boxes (STBs) as well. However, Android has limited capabilities when it comes to handling traditional broadcast content such as Motion Picture Experts Group-Transport Stream (MPEG-TS) content delivered over Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) and American Television Standards Committee (ATSC). For this reason, it is customary to pair Android with another platform that is better at handling media content as mentioned above.
It would be desirable to have a method and system for realizing fast channel changes to improve user experience with set-top boxes by minimizing the channel change time.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method and system for realizing fast channel change using an Android platform is described. While the system and method are illustrated for a broadcast media with input in MPEG-TS format, the method and system as disclosed herein can be applicable for other content formats.
In accordance with an aspect, a method for channel change on a set-top box with Android, the method comprising: playing, on the set-top box, a first channel with android.media.tv.tvView.tune; and prefetching and dropping, from a memory of the set-top box, one or more additional channels with an appPrivateCommand with bundle parameters.
In accordance with an another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable program code that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to channel a change on a set-top box with Android, the program code comprising instructions for: playing, on the set-top box, a first channel with android.media.tv.tvView.tune; and prefetching and dropping, from a memory of the set-top box, one or more additional channels with an appPrivateCommand with bundle parameters.
In accordance with a further aspect, a set-top box with Android, the set-top box comprising: a set-top box platform, the set-top platform including set-top box middleware and a set-top box platform driver interface; and an Android service, the Android service including an Android TV manager and a TV provider, the Android TV manager and the TV provider comprising a TV Input Framework configured to: play, on the set-top box, a first channel with android.media.tv.tvView.tune; and prefetch and drop, from a memory of the set-top box, one or more additional channels with an appPrivateCommand with bundle parameters.
Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description of exemplary embodiments are intended for illustration purposes only and are, therefore, not intended to necessarily limit the scope of the disclosure.
For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the principles of the embodiments are described by referring mainly to examples thereof. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art, that the embodiments may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In some instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the embodiments.
System for Realizing Fast Channel Change Feature with Android
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the customer-premise equipment or customer-provided equipment (CPE) in the form of a set-top box (STB) or smart media device (SMD) 120 may have a dedicated input device 160, for example, a remote controller 160 paired with the set top box 120. In general, the remote controller 160 wirelessly communicates with the set top box 120 through infrared signals or other wireless technology. A user may send a control signal to the set-top box 120 by selecting and pressing a button on the remote controller 160 to, for example, control the set-top box 120 to start playing of a selected video, pause the playing of a current video, switch channels, enter a standby state, navigate in an electronic program guide and select a program, and select a specific operation in a dialog box that pops up on a TV screen, etc.
Although the user uses the remote controller 160 to control the operation of the set-top box 120, the user may use a mobile device such as a mobile phone or a tablet computer to control the operation of the set-top box 120. In such an embodiment, the user may control the set-top box 120 by operating virtual keys displayed on the screen of the mobile device. The mobile device may communicate with the set-top box 120 through, for example, Bluetooth, WiFi, or other wireless communication protocols.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the set-top box 120 includes an Android platform with a television input framework. In embodiments, the set-top box 120 can provide, for example, video and/or data services to the plurality of devices or clients 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d. The set-top box 120 may communicate with the plurality of devices 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d over a local network 132 (for example, a local area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a personal area network (PAN), etc.) and/or wired, connected to a modem, and may communicate with an upstream wide area network (WAN) through a connection 150 to the one or more servers 110, for example, of the cable service provider 112. The one or more servers 110 can provide high-bandwidth data transfer, for example, cable television and broadband Internet access via, for example, the connection 150. The one or more servers 110 of the cable service provider 112 can be configured to deliver services, for example, cable television and/or broadband Internet.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the set-top box 120 and the plurality of devices 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d can be configured to connect via a wireless network, for example, wireless network utilizing an IEEE 802.11 specification, including a smart phone, a smart TV, a computer, a mobile device, a tablet, a router, a home security system, or any other device operable to communicate wirelessly with the set-top box 120. The set-top box 120 may provide access to an external network, such as the Internet, for any devices connected thereto via the area network 132. The area network 132 may be, for instance a local area. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the set-top box 120 with a television input framework operable to deliver, for example, data and/or video services from the one or more servers 110 of the cable service provider 112 and/or a wide area network (WAN) to one or more of the plurality of devices 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the set-top box 120 may communicate with the one or more servers 110 over a wired or a wireless connection. A wireless connection between the one or more servers 110 of the cable service provider 112 and the set-top box 120 may be established through a protected setup sequence (for example, Wi-Fi protected setup (WPS)). The protected setup sequence may include the steps of scanning multiple wireless channels for an available access point, exchanging one or more messages between a station and access point, exchanging key messages (for example, pre-shared key (PSK)) between the station and access point, and installing a key (for example, PSK) at the station.
Android was originally designed as a platform for mobile devices with some capability for playing back media content. The media content capability is oriented towards playing back content from streaming or storage sources. The support for playing back broadcast content such as Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) can be used in American Television Standards Committee (ATSC), Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) through Cable, Satellite etc. is not available with Android, and which is the objective of most of the set-top boxes (STBs). Therefore, set-top box (STB) software platforms are integrated with Android to handle playback of broadcast content while Android are configured to handle the user interface (UI) and application platforms.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the system 200 can include a third-party television application provider (TV App) 210, which can provide live television (TV) content to the set-top box 200. The Android TV Input Framework (TIF) can include an Android TV manager 220 that allows the TV inputs to communicate with an application that handles user interactions, and a TV provider 222. The TV provider 222 providing a database of channels, programs, and associated permissions. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the Android TV Input Framework (TIF) is designed to simplify delivery of live content to Android. The Android TIF can provide a standard API for manufacturers to create input modules for controlling Android TV, and enables live TV search and recommendations via metadata published by the TV Input. The STB platform-driver interface 234 can communicate with a SOC driver (system-on-chip driver) 240. The SOC driver 240 can be configured to integrate, for example, a CPU, graphics and memory interfaces, hard-disk and USB connectivity, random-access and read-only memories and secondary storage and/or their controllers on a single circuit die.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, set-top boxes (STBs) 120 generally take, for example, more than 1 second to change a channel, for example, from a first channel to a second channel. The first and second channels being part of a plurality of channels in which each of the plurality of channels are configured to receive, for example, a digital signal, which is decoded and displayed on a television. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, it would be desirable that the set-top box 120 has a fast channel change (FCC) feature that allows users to achieve shorter channel changes, and which can be implemented for a set-top box (STB) with an Android application.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the setting up of a decoding path (T1) 310 can include the time required to tear down the decoding path of the currently playing channel and setup the same for the new channel selected. The decoding path can be a pipeline/chain of devices involved in getting the content from the source to the decoding device (for example, a frontend-tuner, a frontend-demodulator, and a demultiplexer). The basic time stamp management 320 is designed to help ensure that the presentation time stamp (PTS) of packets being pushed into the decoder are close to the system time clock (STC) to attain lip-sync levels quickly. The wait time for the random access point (RAP) (T3) 330 can include, for example, a decoder waiting for RAP (Random Access Point) as the video content is generally encoded efficiently by taking advantage of the dependencies of picture frames with respect to the previous or subsequent pictures in the video stream. The time for displaying the decoded picture (T4) 340. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, by predicting possible channels that will be tuned next, the set-top box 120 can complete some of the stages, for example, stages T1, T2, and T3 before an actual channel change.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, it would be desirable to implement fast channel change as system and method that optimizes the time delays introduced due to stages T1 to T3 partly or completely depending on the capabilities of the hardware of the device. The TV input framework (TIF) application programming interfaces (APIs) on the Android platform are designed for tuning to channels and then playback of the content. The TIF APIs are not designed, for example, for preparing to tune to certain content or prefetch content. In addition, the APIs on the TV input framework (TIF) is also designed for efficiency for normal tuning rather than, for example, a fast channel change. Since Android applications uses interface android.media.tv.tvView.tune for tuning to channel, which cannot be used for prefetch as TvView.tune should be called once, the APIs of the TV input framework for Android are not designed for a fast channel change feature. In addition, with the TIF framework (for example, google code), every time when the tune method is called, the available track information will be cleared which results in an empty tracklist being reported to the TV application (TV App) provider.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a system and method are disclosed that tunes an Android application to channel through interface android.media.tv.tvView.tune. However, as set forth above, android.media.tv.tvView.tune cannot be used for prefetch since there can be multiple prefetchs while tuned to channel. For this purpose, sendAppPrivateCommand, which is a method supported in TIF framework, can be used to send private commands between the TV application provider 210 and the STB TV Input service 230. For example, the sendAppPrivateCommand can be used in STB TV Input Service to initiate prefetch and pre-tuning of channels.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the system and method for fast channel change can use the following approach:
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the bundle parameters can comprise of “playchannelUri”, “nextChannelUri” and “droppedChannelUri”. If a channel is to be pretuned, the pretuning of the channel can be done by adding a string “nextChannelUri” in the parameters. If a channel is to be dropped from the pretuned channels, the dropping of the channel can be done by adding a string “droppedChannelUri” in the parameters.
As shown in
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, if there is a channel change request in step 410, the process continues to step 412 wherein the set-top box will execute a “DeviceTuneChannel”, which can include deriving a list of prefetch channels. For example, in step 412, the list of prefetch channels can include adding one more prefetch channels (“PrefetchChannels), and a dropping of one or more channels (“Drop Channel).
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the process continues to step 422 in which a process is selected, for example, a prefetching of one or more channels, a dropping of one or more channels, and playing of a channel (onTune(UriplayChannelUri) 426. The channel play continues to step 426, which the content from the channel is displayed (onTune(UriplayChannelUri). For the prefetch channel process, the process continues to step 434 where the process communicates the prefetch channel to the set-top box software platform with an appPrivateCommand (Int Action, Bundle params) instruction. In step 436, the prefetched channel is prepared for playback. In addition, a channel can be dropped in step 430 using the appPrivateCommand 430. As shown in step 432, a previously prefetched channel can be dropped, i.e., “Remove from ReadyChannel”.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the process continues to step 428 in which the current channel, the one or more prefetch channels, and the one or more dropped channel continue back to step 406 in which the set-top box software platform has been tuned to a default channel, which will be the channel that is currently being played.
Pseudo code for Blocks
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the pseudo code for some of the blocks shown in the algorithm in
Block 404-Pseudo code for onCreateSession
Block 412-Pseudo code for deriving list of prefetch channels
Block 424, 430, 434-Pseudo code for prefetching, playing, and dropping channels
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes pretuning, on the set-top box, each of the one or more additional prefetched channels. In addition, each of the one or more additional prefetched channels can be selected based on the channel playing on the set-top box. The method can further include uploading, on the set-top box, a user guide, the user guide providing a list of channels available to the set-top box, and selecting, on the set-top box, the each of the one or more additional prefetched channels based on the channel playing on the set-top box and the user guide, the selected each of the one or more additional prefetched channels being channels adjacent to the channel playing on the set-top box from the list of channels available from the user guide.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the method further includes dropping, from the memory of the set-top box, one or more of the additional prefetched channels upon selection of a second channel for playback on the set-top box. In addition, the method can include pretuning, on the set-top box, each of the one or more additional prefetched channels if one of the one or more additional prefetched channels is selected for playback. The pretuning of each of the one or more prefetched channels can include: setting up of a decode path for each of the one or more prefetched channels; performing a basic time stamp management on each of the one or more prefetched channels; and decoding video content for each of the one or more prefetched channels.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the the first channel is a broadcast media with input in a motion picture experts group-transport stream (MPEG-TS) format.
If programmable logic is used, such logic may execute on a commercially available processing platform configured by executable software code to become a specific purpose computer or a special purpose device (for example, programmable logic array, application-specific integrated circuit, etc.). A person having ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can be practiced with various computer system configurations, including multi-core multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, computers linked or clustered with distributed functions, as well as pervasive or miniature computers that may be embedded into virtually any device. For instance, at least one processor device and a memory may be used to implement the above described embodiments.
A processor unit or device as discussed herein may be a single processor, a plurality of processors, or combinations thereof. Processor devices may have one or more processor “cores.” The terms “computer program medium,” “non-transitory computer readable medium,” and “computer usable medium” as discussed herein are used to generally refer to tangible media such as a removable storage unit 618, a removable storage unit 622, and a hard disk installed in hard disk drive 612.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described in terms of this representative computer system 600. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art how to implement the present disclosure using other computer systems and/or computer architectures. Although operations may be described as a sequential process, some of the operations may in fact be performed in parallel, concurrently, and/or in a distributed environment, and with program code stored locally or remotely for access by single or multi-processor machines. In addition, in some embodiments the order of operations may be rearranged without departing from the spirit of the disclosed subject matter.
Processor device 604 may be a special purpose or a general purpose processor device specifically configured to perform the functions discussed herein. The processor device 604 may be connected to a communications infrastructure 606, such as a bus, message queue, network, multi-core message-passing scheme, etc. The network may be any network suitable for performing the functions as disclosed herein and may include a local area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), a wireless network (e.g., “Wi-Fi”), a mobile communication network, a satellite network, the Internet, fiber optic, coaxial cable, infrared, radio frequency (“RF”), or any combination thereof. Other suitable network types and configurations will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. The computer system 600 may also include a main memory 608 (e.g., random access memory, read-only memory, etc.), and may also include a secondary memory 610. The secondary memory 610 may include the hard disk drive 612 and a removable storage drive 614, such as a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, a flash memory, etc.
The removable storage drive 614 may read from and/or write to the removable storage unit 618 in a well-known manner. The removable storage unit 618 may include a removable storage media that may be read by and written to by the removable storage drive 614. For example, if the removable storage drive 614 is a floppy disk drive or universal serial bus port, the removable storage unit 618 may be a floppy disk or portable flash drive, respectively. In one embodiment, the removable storage unit 618 may be non-transitory computer readable recording media.
In some embodiments, the secondary memory 610 may include alternative means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into the computer system 600, for example, the removable storage unit 622 and an interface 620. Examples of such means may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (e.g., as found in video game systems), a removable memory chip (e.g., EEPROM, PROM, etc.) and associated socket, and other removable storage units 622 and interfaces 620 as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art.
Data stored in the computer system 600 (e.g., in the main memory 608 and/or the secondary memory 610) may be stored on any type of suitable computer readable media, such as optical storage (e.g., a compact disc, digital versatile disc, Blu-ray disc, etc.) or magnetic tape storage (e.g., a hard disk drive). The data may be configured in any type of suitable database configuration, such as a relational database, a structured query language (SQL) database, a distributed database, an object database, etc. Suitable configurations and storage types will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art.
The computer system 600 may also include a communications interface 624. The communications interface 624 may be configured to allow software and data to be transferred between the computer system 600 and external devices. Exemplary communications interfaces 624 may include a modem, a network interface (e.g., an Ethernet card), a communications port, a PCMCIA slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via the communications interface 524 may be in the form of signals, which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signals as will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art. The signals may travel via a communications path 626, which may be configured to carry the signals and may be implemented using wire, cable, fiber optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, a radio frequency link, etc.
The computer system 600 may further include a display interface 602. The display interface 602 may be configured to allow data to be transferred between the computer system 600 and external display 630. Exemplary display interfaces 602 may include high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), digital visual interface (DVI), video graphics array (VGA), etc. The display 630 may be any suitable type of display for displaying data transmitted via the display interface 602 of the computer system 600, including a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, liquid crystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED) display, capacitive touch display, thin-film transistor (TFT) display, etc.
Computer program medium and computer usable medium may refer to memories, such as the main memory 508 and secondary memory 510, which may be memory semiconductors (e.g., DRAMs, etc.). These computer program products may be means for providing software to the computer system 500. Computer programs (e.g., computer control logic) may be stored in the main memory 608 and/or the secondary memory 610. Computer programs may also be received via the communications interface 624. Such computer programs, when executed, may enable computer system 600 to implement the present methods as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, may enable processor device 604 to implement the methods illustrated by
The processor device 604 may comprise one or more modules or engines configured to perform the functions of the computer system 600. Each of the modules or engines may be implemented using hardware and, in some instances, may also utilize software executed on hardware, such as corresponding to program code and/or programs stored in the main memory 608 or secondary memory 610. In such instances, program code may be compiled by the processor device 604 (e.g., by a compiling module or engine) prior to execution by the hardware of the computer system 600. For example, the program code may be source code written in a programming language that is translated into a lower level language, such as assembly language or machine code, for execution by the processor device 604 and/or any additional hardware components of the computer system 600. The process of compiling may include the use of lexical analysis, preprocessing, parsing, semantic analysis, syntax-directed translation, code generation, code optimization, and any other techniques that may be suitable for translation of program code into a lower level language suitable for controlling the computer system 600 to perform the functions disclosed herein. It will be apparent to persons having skill in the relevant art that such processes result in the computer system 600 being a specially configured computer system 600 uniquely programmed to perform the functions discussed above.
Techniques consistent with the present disclosure provide, among other features, systems and methods for realizing fast channel change features with Android. While various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed system and method have been described above it should be understood that they have been presented for purposes of example only, not limitations. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practicing of the disclosure, without departing from the breadth or scope.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2021/127035 | 10/28/2021 | WO |
