[TriEmbed] Project advice: SmartTV hacking
Kevin McClaning
mcckevin at mcclaning.com
Wed Jul 27 14:08:01 CDT 2022
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 🤔 idea. I will ask them if they've looked into it. Thanks!
> -Brian
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 27, 2022 at 2:35 PM Trampas Stern <trampas at gmail.com> 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
> <triembed at triembed.org> 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
> <scottghall1 at gmail.com> 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 ──→╖ ╓───→ TV or Monitor
> ╠══════╗ ╔══════╣
> DVR/Camera──→╢4-to-1║ ║1-to-4╟───→ TV or Monitor
> ║ HDMI ╟───→╢ Dist.║
> DVD Player──→╢Switch║ ║ Amp ╟───→ TV or Monitor
> ╠══════╝ ╚══════╣
> Streaming ──→╜ ╙───→ 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 <triembed at triembed.org> 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 “SmartTVs”. 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. They’re looking for something more
> scalable (less space requirements, easier setup, more
> TV brand selection, etc).
>
> My answer to them at this is, “maybe and I’ll look
> into it”. 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
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>
> --
> Scott G. Hall
> Raleigh, NC, USA
> scottghall1 at gmail.com
> /Although kindness is rarely a job, no matter what you do
> it's always an option./
>
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