Looks like this is one of those cases that working remotely leads to overengineering. I wonder if it's cheaper/easier and more versatile to hire a local guy who would do QA and device troubleshooting all day long.
Huan Truong tnhh.net On Jul 28, 2022, at 6:22 AM, Brian Chamberlain via TriEmbed <[email protected]> wrote: ο»Ώ 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 >> 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]/ > _______________________________________________ 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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