What is Multiview?
For the purposes of this discussion, multiview is basically the ability to show more than one video source on a display simultaneously. For those of a certain age, you may recall picture-in-picture (PIP) televisions that included dual tuners allowing users to watch two broadcast channels at one time. The feature was popular with sports fans who wanted to watch multiple games at the same time. However, the screen configuration typically limited the second source to a very small window located in one of the four corners of the display. Fast forward to the present, you’ll find that advances in video processing technology have enhanced the capabilities of multiview and made it easier than ever to deploy. Based on these advances, it’s no surprise that multiview is finding its way into a number of comm ercial and education applications.
Applications for Multiview
In many respects, commercial and education markets have differing needs when it comes to AV technology. But multiview is one area where their interests align. One example is a presentation where video of someone speaking and their content need to be seen throughout a company’s headquarters or in overflow classrooms. Another is groups of co-workers and students sharing their material for collaboration on a business project or school assignment. The specific usage is a bit different, but the solution is similar.
Multiview Layouts
Modern video processors allow for a myriad of options when it comes to showing multiple sources on a display. Below are some common layout strategies and suggested uses.
Picture-in-picture (PIP)
This layout supports one full size source and a second source in a smaller sized window typically located in one of the four corners of the display. This layout could be used in a corporate environment where the CEO is discussing company performance during an all-hands meeting broadcast throughout the office. In an education setting, the lesson material could be shown with the instructor video in overflow classrooms.
Side-by-side
For collaboration purposes, coworkers may want to review multiple pieces of content related to a project. As the name implies, the side-by-side layout allows two sources to be placed next to each other on the display for review and discussion. Another application could be a lecturer who needs to treat two pieces of content with equal importance, such as a presentation and a sample being captured by a document camera.
Two-by-two
This layout takes the collaboration concept of side-by-side to the next level allowing participants to consider four sources at one time.
Four-split
Similar to two-by-two, the four-split layout also allows four sources to be viewed at one time on the display. However, in this case there is one relatively large view and three smaller ones. Expanding on the PIP example, this could be used in corporate presentation or educational instruction applications where multiple people on camera are covering common presentation content.
Altona Networked AV Products That Support Multiview:
Atlona’s latest OmniStream™ networked AV platform firmware includes new capabilities for encoders and decoders. It is available in newly shipping products, and as a no-cost update for existing systems. One of these new capabilities is multiview processing that allows up to four sources to be displayed on a screen using a single decoder. OmniStream delivers this capability without the additional equipment required for traditional solutions, such as a dedicated multiview processor, and offers more scalability when it comes to inputs. Below are Atlona OmniStream products that support multiview:
- AT-OMNI-111 – Networked AV Encoder
- AT-OMNI-121 – Networked AV Decoder
OmniStream encoders and decoders work together to deliver advanced multiview capabilities. The OMNI-111 single channel networked AV encoder includes dual scalers that can be configured to match the requirements of the multiview application. For example, one scaler can be setup for full-screen 4K resolution and the other for reduced PIP and split-screen multiview resolutions. The OMNI-121 decoder offers several built-in multiview layouts that can be configured and recalled as pre-sets.
OMNI-111 Encoder settings
OMNI-121 Decoder Multiview Configuration
So, if your next AV project requires presentation of more than one source at a time on a single display, consider an OmniStream networked AV solution and the multiview capabilities of its encoders and decoders. For further information, check out the OmniStream Multiview Application Guide, an in-depth resource on designing, configuring, and controlling an OmniStream system with multiview processing.