Yeah, I have the same worries. And from the teardown videos I've been watching on youtube I noticed some custom ASICs in the pixel pipeline. Given this industry trend overall to move this way there will be almost no (reasonable) way "tap into" anything that resembles a video feed going forward. But there's still opportunity here as their camera@TV approach is very DIY so perhaps I can help them distill that into a more consistent and scalable solution on their end.
Thanks all for the advice! It was really helpful to get all your views on this. -Brian On Wed, Jul 27, 2022 at 3:08 PM Kevin McClaning via TriEmbed < [email protected]> wrote: > I worry that each TV would become its own reverse-engineering adventure, > due to differing chip sets. Also, the internal chip sets will change as > time progresses. Even the same model of TV may have an entirely different > internal structure. > > Sorry to say it, but I think their web cam solution is probably the best > one. Maybe add some 3D printed love to give them more standardized camera > mounts for the various TVs types. Also, appropriate lenses may allow for > cameras that don't have to stick out so much from the screen. > > The thing you can count on from EVERY TV is that it will display a picture > and its menus to the user. > > K > > > On 7/27/22 14:51, Brian Chamberlain via TriEmbed wrote: > > Interesting π€ idea. I will ask them if they've looked into it. Thanks! > -Brian > > > On Wed, Jul 27, 2022 at 2:35 PM Trampas Stern <[email protected]> wrote: > >> It might be better to look and see if you can capture the frame buffer >> and send over the network, think remote desktop. I have not looked at the >> SmartTV API but it might include this capability for app developers. >> >> Trampas >> >> On Wed, Jul 27, 2022 at 2:29 PM Brian Chamberlain via TriEmbed < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Hi Scott, Thanks for the advice and suggestions (and very cool >>> diagram BTW). This client makes media/software for smartTVs. So part of >>> their development process is that they need to test their content/software >>> on actual TVs. They have a solution for testing Roku's, AppleTV, game >>> consoles, etc...since those all have HDMI outputs. But there's a whole list >>> of major brand TV's and models they want to be able to test in a >>> similar/consistent way. Their engineering staff is remote so I'm guessing >>> they'd want to rack and stack these modded TV's somewhere so they can >>> access the output of the TV via a video stream, controlled by some kind of >>> IR blaster interface... if that helps paint a better picture. >>> >>> So, at this point I'm just putting together the SOW (which would include >>> some exploratory hands-on TV teardowns and investigation) and requirements >>> gathering. My gut says that there's probably not some silver bullet >>> solution. Each of these TV's (and maybe even different revs of the same >>> models) will have very different internals. So every model/brand would be >>> it's own research project. But perhaps some have debug/diagnostic outputs >>> somewhere on the main board? Though that really feels like wishful >>> thinking. But I am also hoping there's some other entirely sane approach to >>> this. >>> >>> -Brian >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Jul 27, 2022 at 12:08 PM Scott Hall <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Brian, >>>> This is done all the time in companies, churches and schools for >>>> "electronic signage". First, with the chipsets used, the rendering of the >>>> video signals is not in a form that can be 'tapped off' to be able to make >>>> a transmittable signal, unless the motherboard of the TV is already doing >>>> that for its own features -- in other words already creating an HDMI output >>>> port. Essentially what I do when consulting with places is to get an >>>> external Roku device and forgo the internal "smart" works, then use an HDMI >>>> distributing amplifier. If you have more than one signal source, like >>>> cable, Roku, DVD, etc, then an external HDMI switch is used. You chain the >>>> devices together kind of like this: >>>> >>>> Cable ββββ βββββ TV or Monitor >>>> β βββββββ ββββββββ£ >>>> DVR/Cameraββββ’4-to-1β β1-to-4βββββ TV or Monitor >>>> β HDMI ββββββ’ Dist.β >>>> DVD Playerββββ’Switchβ β Amp βββββ TV or Monitor >>>> β βββββββ ββββββββ£ >>>> Streaming ββββ βββββ TV or Monitor >>>> Device >>>> >>>> a sample link for a 4-to-1 HDMI switch: >>>> https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00OJMAXZ2/ (really a 4-to-2 switch, as it >>>> has 2 outputs) >>>> >>>> a sample link to a 1-to-4 HDMI distribution amp: >>>> https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0180PPTNO/ >>>> >>>> link to a review of switches and dist. amps: >>>> https://www.gearhungry.com/best-hdmi-splitter/ >>>> >>>> - sgh >>>> >>>> On Wed, Jul 27, 2022 at 10:50 AM Brian Chamberlain via TriEmbed < >>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi all, Just wondering if anyone here has any TV hardware reverse >>>>> engineering experience? I have a client asking if I can pull a usable HDMI >>>>> signal off of βSmartTVsβ. Basically, they want a mirror of what is on the >>>>> display panel (menus and all). Not just one TV but multiple brands/models. >>>>> >>>>> Their current solution is pointing a web cam at the TV from a >>>>> distance. Theyβre looking for something more scalable (less space >>>>> requirements, easier setup, more TV brand selection, etc). >>>>> >>>>> My answer to them at this is, βmaybe and Iβll look into itβ. They seem >>>>> willing to pay me to do the investigation. Which sounds like fun but I am >>>>> looking to talk with anyone who might have any experience with this or >>>>> could point me in the right direction. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks! >>>>> -- >>>>> -Brian >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Triangle, NC Embedded Interest Group mailing list >>>>> >>>>> To post message: [email protected] >>>>> List info: >>>>> http://mail.triembed.org/mailman/listinfo/triembed_triembed.org >>>>> TriEmbed web site: https://TriEmbed.org >>>>> To unsubscribe, click link and send a blank message: mailto: >>>>> [email protected]?subject=unsubscribe >>>>> Searchable email archive available at >>>>> https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Scott G. Hall >>>> Raleigh, NC, USA >>>> [email protected] >>>> *Although kindness is rarely a job, no matter what you do it's always >>>> an option.* >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Triangle, NC Embedded Interest Group mailing list >>> >>> To post message: [email protected] >>> List info: >>> http://mail.triembed.org/mailman/listinfo/triembed_triembed.org >>> TriEmbed web site: https://TriEmbed.org >>> To unsubscribe, click link and send a blank message: mailto: >>> [email protected]?subject=unsubscribe >>> Searchable email archive available at >>> https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >>> >>> > _______________________________________________ > Triangle, NC Embedded Interest Group mailing list > > To post message: [email protected] > List info: http://mail.triembed.org/mailman/listinfo/triembed_triembed.org > TriEmbed web site: https://TriEmbed.org > To unsubscribe, click link and send a blank message: > mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe > <[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe> > Searchable email archive available at > https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > _______________________________________________ > Triangle, NC Embedded Interest Group mailing list > > To post message: [email protected] > List info: http://mail.triembed.org/mailman/listinfo/triembed_triembed.org > TriEmbed web site: https://TriEmbed.org > To unsubscribe, click link and send a blank message: mailto: > [email protected]?subject=unsubscribe > Searchable email archive available at > https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > >
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