Multimedia signal matching system and method for performing picture-in-picture function

1. A multimedia signal matching system for performing a picture-in-picture function, comprising:

at least one set-top box including a decoder for decoding signals in a predetermined reference format and for generating a control signal for performing the picture-in-picture function; and

a multimedia matching device for receiving multimedia signals in various formats from a broadcast communication network, processing the multimedia signals into the predetermined reference format in response to the control signal,

wherein said multimedia matching device includes: a reference signal processor for extracting video and audio signals from the multimedia signals to perform the picture-in-picture function; a non-reference signal processor for transcoding the multimedia signals into the predetermined reference format if the multimedia signals are in a non-reference format; and a multimedia matching module for performing the picture-in-picture function for a display of the video signals in response to the control signal and selecting an audio signal to be multiplexed into a multimedia signal format decodable by the set-top box.

2. The multimedia signal matching system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a user display device for receiving picture-in-picture applied multimedia signals from the set-top box.

3. The multimedia signal matching system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said reference signal processor further includes a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the multimedia signals in the predetermined reference format into the video and audio signals for the picture-in-picture application.

4. The multimedia signal matching system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said non-reference signal processor of the multimedia matching device includes:

an Ethernet processor for processing an Ethernet signal and extracting the multimedia signals in the non-reference format,

a video conference call signal processor processing a video conference call signal in response to the control signal; and

a decoder for transcoding the multimedia signals in the non-reference format into the predetermined reference format.

5. The multimedia signal matching system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said control signal includes a request for the picture-in-picture application.

6. The multimedia signal matching system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said multimedia matching module includes:

a picture-in-picture generator for receiving the video signals subject to the picture-in-picture application and allocating resources to generate a picture-in-picture applied video stream in response to the control signal;

an audio signal selector for receiving the audio signals and selecting an audio signal for reproduction to generate an audio signal stream in response to the control signal; and

a multiplexer for multiplexing the picture-in-picture applied video stream and the audio stream to the set-top box.

7. The multimedia signal matching system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said control signal includes a resource allocation information necessary to form picture-in-picture multimedia signals.

8. The multimedia signal matching system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said set-top box decodes signals using the same reference format of the multimedia signals outputted from the multimedia matching device.

9. A method for matching multimedia signals from different sources to perform a picture-in-picture function to one or more set-top boxes having a single decoder, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving two multimedia signals having different formats, wherein a first multimedia signal comprises a reference format signal, and a second multimedia signal comprises a video conference call signal;

receiving by a video conference call signal processor a control signal for performing the picture-in-picture function in conjunction with the second multimedia signal;

determining whether the received second multimedia signal is in a reference format;

performing transcoding to convert the second multimedia signal into the reference format if the received second multimedia signal is not in the reference format;

extracting a video and an audio signal for the picture-in-picture application when the received second multimedia signal is in the reference format; and

applying the picture-in-picture function to the extracted video signal and a video signal of the first multimedia signal and multiplexing the video signal and a selected audio signal to at least one respect set-top box of the one or more set-top boxes.

10. A method for matching multimedia signals to perform a picture-in-picture function, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a multimedia signal and a control signal for performing the picture-in-picture function;

determining whether the received multimedia signal is in a reference format;

performing transcoding to convert the signal into the reference format if the received multimedia signal is not in the reference format;

extracting video and audio signal for picture-in-picture application if the received multimedia signal is in the reference format; and

applying the picture-in-picture function to the extracted video signal and multiplexing the video signal and a selected audio signal to a set-top box, wherein the step of transcoding comprises the steps of: demultiplexing the multimedia signals and extracting a video signal subject to the picture-in-picture application, and processing the extracted video signal in response to the control signal.

11. A method for matching multimedia signals to perform a picture-in-picture function, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a multimedia signal and a control signal for performing the picture-in-picture function;

determining whether the received multimedia signal is in a reference format;

performing transcoding to convert the signal into the reference format if the received multimedia signal is not in the reference format;

extracting video and audio signal for picture-in-picture application if the received multimedia signal is in the reference format; and

applying the picture-in-picture function to the extracted video signal and multiplexing the video signal and a selected audio signal to a set-top box,

wherein said control signal includes a request for the picture-in-picture application and a resource allocation necessary to perform the picture-in-picture function.

12. A method for matching multimedia signals to perform a picture-in-picture function, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a multimedia signal and a control signal for performing the picture-in-picture function;

determining whether the received multimedia signal is in a reference format;

performing transcoding to convert the signal into the reference format if the received multimedia signal is not in the reference format;

extracting video and audio signal for picture-in-picture application if the received multimedia signal is in the reference format; and

applying the picture-in-picture function to the extracted video signal and multiplexing the video signal and a selected audio signal to a set-top box, further comprising the step of determining whether the non-reference format multimedia signals is an Ethernet signal, and if not, decoding the received multimedia signals without performing the transcoding step.

13. A multimedia signal matching system for performing a picture-in-picture function, comprising:

a multimedia matching device, coupled to at least one set-top box, configured to receive multimedia signals in various formats, said multimedia matching device including a reference signal processor for extracting video and audio signals from the multimedia signals to perform the picture-in-picture function and a non-reference signal processor for transcoding the multimedia signals into a predetermined reference format if the multimedia signals are not in the predetermined reference format; and further comprising:

a multimedia matching module for performing the picture-in-picture function for a display of the video signals and selecting an audio signal to be multiplexed into a multimedia signal format decodable by the set-top box.

14. The multimedia signal matching system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the at least one set-top box including a decoder for decoding signals in the predetermined reference format.

15. The multimedia signal matching system as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a user display device for receiving picture-in-picture applied multimedia signals from the set-top box for a subsequent display.

16. The multimedia signal matching system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said set-top box decodes signals using the same reference format of the multimedia signals outputted from the multimedia matching device.