Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI • Hacker News Board

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#131

Post by dzdt » Fri, Apr 05, 2024, 7:33 PM UTC

I understand the conext to be that for a smart TV with Roku built in as the operating system, the idea is that if the TV is set to take input from a HDMI device which is idle the Roku OS might take over and display its own content. Like previews for other shows as a "screensaver" kind of thing.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#132

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Apr 05, 2024, 7:38 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#133

Post by boudin » Fri, Apr 05, 2024, 7:39 PM UTC

I had to check what roku tv was, it seems it's just a cheap (android?) tv box.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#134

Post by graypegg » Fri, Apr 05, 2024, 7:41 PM UTC

How many companies out there make TV-sized LED panels? There's a market for dumb TVs obviously. Feels like you could buy the panels, put them in a case with minimal controls, and ship. If you market it as some sort of "pro videophile grade display" you can charge the true material cost + a healthy markup without relying on the recurring ad revenue from smart TV software.

You could leave OFF common features like motion smoothing, saving you money, and it would honestly be a more "pro" TV.

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#135

Post by shimber » Fri, Apr 05, 2024, 7:44 PM UTC

Yikes, I thought HDMI was encrypted similar to DVD's "illegal number".

Here's bunnie talking about dealing with HCDP when building out the netv.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZeCvEa7OqI [starts around 14:30]

I see in the article they mention a more passive monitoring identifying "when there are pauses", but how could that hold up to any scrutiny?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-bandwidth_Digital_Content...

https://github.com/bunnie/netv-fpga

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_number

Re: Roku files patent to inject ads via HDMI

#136

Post by iamjackg » Fri, Apr 05, 2024, 7:54 PM UTC

boudin wrote: post #133

I had to check what roku tv was, it seems it's just a cheap (android?) tv box.

Not Android: they run their own OS, they've been around since forever (they predate both Chromecasts and Android TV), and according to Wikipedia they are the "leading streaming TV platform in the US in terms of market share. The Roku OS also holds a noticeable 30.5% share of the global TV streaming hours".

For a long, long time they used to be the "neutral" choice: while Amazon and Google were squabbling and removing each other's apps/products, Roku didn't have any beef with anybody and would therefore have the most complete selection of available streaming apps.