IP Library Granted Patent US 10,321,206
Granted Patent B2
US 10,321,206 · App. 15/394,761 · Granted Jun 11, 2019

Method for switching an audio/video application, apparatus and smart TV

Inventors: Chenglong Liu (Qingdao, CN); Zhiqiang Li (Qingdao, CN)
Assignees: QINGDAO HISENSE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.; HISENSE USA CORPORATION; HISENSE INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
H04N21/8173H04N21/4438H04N21/4516H04N21/47
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,321,206
App. No.
15/394,761
Granted
Jun 11, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Present application discloses a method for switching an audio/video (AV) application, an apparatus and a smart TV. The method includes: receiving an instruction for switching to a target AV application; starting a preset intermediate interface and setting a AV application currently in use to be a background program, where a resource occupied by the intermediate interface is less than a resource occupied by the target AV application; and when the intermediate interface has been completely loaded, triggering the AV application, which has been set to be a background program, to release an AV decoder.

Claims (50)

1. A method for switching an audio/video (AV) application, comprising:

receiving an instruction for switching to a target AV application;

starting a preset intermediate interface and setting an AV application currently in use to be a background program, wherein a resource occupied by the intermediate interface is less than a resource occupied by the target AV application;

triggering, in response to the intermediate interface has been completely loaded, the AV application, which has been set to be the background program, to release an AV decoder; and

instructing the target AV application to send a playback instruction to the AV decoder if the AV decoder is in an unoccupied state;

wherein the resource occupied by the intermediate interface being less than the resource occupied by the target AV application comprises:

the intermediate interface does not utilize the AV decoder, and/or the intermediate interface contains less interface content than the target AV application.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the instructing the target AV application to send a playback instruction to the AV decoder if the AV decoder is in an unoccupied state comprises:

if the AV decoder is in an unoccupied state, starting a playback interface of the target AV application, and instructing the target AV application to send the playback instruction to the AV decoder.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein before the instructing the target AV application to send a playback instruction to the AV decoder if the AV decoder is in an unoccupied state, the method further comprises:

starting a playback interface of the target AV application.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate interface is a blank interface.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the instructing the target AV application to send a playback instruction to the AV decoder if the AV decoder is in an unoccupied state comprises:

querying for a state of the AV decoder; and

instructing the target AV application to send the playback instruction to the AV decoder if the AV decoder is in an unoccupied state.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the querying for a state of the AV decoder comprises:

detecting whether there is any code stream output from an interface corresponding to the AV decoder during a predetermined time threshold;

wherein if no code stream output is detected, the AV decoder is unoccupied.

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the querying for a state of the AV decoder comprises:

if the AV decoder is in a busy state, continuing the querying for the state of the AV decoder according to a predetermined querying period; and

if the AV decoder is found through the querying to be in an unoccupied state, instructing the target AV application to send the playback instruction to the AV decoder.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein after the receiving an instruction for switching to a target AV application, the method further comprises:

starting an animation playback window, wherein a window layer of the animation playback window is above a window layer of an AV application; and

playing an application switching animation in the animation playback window.

9. An apparatus for switching an audio/video (AV) application, comprising:

a memory, a communication port and a processor, wherein the memory stores instructions, the processor is coupled with the memory and configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory, and the processor is configured to:

receive an instruction for switching to a target AV application via the communication port;

start a preset intermediate interface and set a AV application currently in use to be a background program, wherein a resource occupied by the intermediate interface is less than a resource occupied by the target AV application;

in response to the intermediate interface has been completely loaded, trigger the AV application, which has been set to be a background program, to release an AV decoder; and

instruct the target AV application to send a playback instruction to the AV decoder if the AV decoder is in an unoccupied state;

wherein the resource occupied by the intermediate interface being less than the resource occupied by the target AV application comprises:

the intermediate interface does not utilize the AV decoder, and/or the intermediate interface contains less interface content than the target AV application.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to:

if the AV decoder is in an unoccupied state, start a playback interface of the target AV application, and instruct the target AV application to send the playback instruction to the AV decoder.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to:

start a playback interface of the target AV application.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the intermediate interface is a blank interface.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to:

query for a state of the AV decoder; and

if the AV decoder is in an unoccupied state, instruct the target AV application to send the playback instruction to the AV decoder.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to:

detect whether there is any code stream output from an interface corresponding to the AV decoder during a predetermined time threshold; and

if no code stream output is detected, the AV decoder is unoccupied.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to:

if the AV decoder is in a busy state, continue the querying for the state of the AV decoder according to a predetermined querying period; and

if the AV decoder is found through the querying to be in an unoccupied state, instruct the target AV application to send the playback instruction to the AV decoder.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to:

start an animation playback window after the instruction for switching to a target AV application is received, wherein a window layer of the animation playback window is above a window layer of an AV application; and

play an application switching animation in the animation playback window.

17. A smart TV, comprising the apparatus for switching an AV application according to claim 9 .

Assignments (7)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 3, 2021
From: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD.
To: MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058666/0407 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 29, 2021
From: MAXELL, LTD.
To: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058255/0579 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2021
From: HISENSE VISUAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
To: MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 056681/0441 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2021
From: HISENSE USA CORPORATION; HISENSE INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
To: HISENSE VISUAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056371/0923 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 16, 2020
From: QINGDAO HISENSE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
To: HISENSE VISUAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053798/0200 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE ASSIGNEE'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 040807 FRAME 0821. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Apr 29, 2019
From: LIU, CHENGLONG; LI, ZHIQIANG
To: QINGDAO HISENSE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.; HISENSE USA CORPORATION; HISENSE INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 050523/0478 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2016
From: LIU, CHENGLONG; LI, ZHIQIANG
To: HISENSE ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; HISENSE USA CORPORATION; HISENSE INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 040807/0821 →
Priority Claims (2)
CN 2016 1 0175351 · Mar 25, 2016 · national
CN 2016 1 0175352 · Mar 25, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170280204A1 · Sep 28, 2017