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🍎 iOS

In the context of online conferencing increasingly developing, picture in picture is one of the should-have features of online meetings software.

👉 By end of this chapter, you can expect the picture in picture feature to look like this:

Approach​

  • Based on Apple Docs, we will implement AVPictureInPictureController in ViewController. So we must create a new ViewController and replace FlutterViewController
  • Configure parameters for AVPictureInPictureController
  • Create a view that displays Video if the camera is turned on, and an view when the camera is turned off
  • Get VideoFrame from WebRTC to display on the view we designed in the step above
  • Implement MethodChannel to execute from Flutter

Apply in the code​

Replace FlutterViewController by new ViewController​

  • Create a new ViewController
class WaterbusViewController: FlutterViewController {
    
    // MARK: Singleton
    static let shared = WaterbusViewController()
    
    // MARK: Public static variables
    static var pipController: AVPictureInPictureController?
    static var pipContentSource: Any?
    static var pipVideoCallViewController: Any?
    
    // MARK: Private variables
    private var pictureInPictureView: PictureInPictureView = PictureInPictureView()
    
    open override func viewDidLoad() {
        // get the flutter engine for the view
        let flutterEngine: FlutterEngine! = (UIApplication.shared.delegate as! AppDelegate).flutterEngine
        
        // add flutter view
        addFlutterView(with: flutterEngine)
        
        // configuration pip view controller
        preparePictureInPicture()
    }
    
    func preparePictureInPicture() {
        if #available(iOS 15.0, *) {
            WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController = AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController()
            (WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController as! AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController).preferredContentSize = CGSize(width: Sizer.WIDTH_OF_PIP, height: Sizer.HEIGHT_OF_PIP)
            (WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController as! AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController).view.clipsToBounds = true
            
            WaterbusViewController.pipContentSource = AVPictureInPictureController.ContentSource(
                activeVideoCallSourceView: self.view,
                contentViewController: (WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController as! AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController)
            )
        }
    }
    
    func configurationPictureInPicture(result: @escaping  FlutterResult, peerConnectionId: String, remoteStreamId: String, isRemoteCameraEnable: Bool, myAvatar: String, remoteAvatar: String, remoteName: String) {
        if #available(iOS 15.0, *) {
            if (WaterbusViewController.pipContentSource != nil) {
                WaterbusViewController.pipController = AVPictureInPictureController(contentSource: WaterbusViewController.pipContentSource as! AVPictureInPictureController.ContentSource)
                WaterbusViewController.pipController?.canStartPictureInPictureAutomaticallyFromInline = true
                WaterbusViewController.pipController?.delegate = self
                
                // Add view
                let frameOfPiP = (WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController as! AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController).view.frame
                pictureInPictureView = PictureInPictureView(frame: frameOfPiP)
                pictureInPictureView.contentMode = .scaleAspectFit
                pictureInPictureView.initParameters(peerConnectionId: peerConnectionId, remoteStreamId: remoteStreamId, isRemoteCameraEnable: isRemoteCameraEnable, myAvatar: myAvatar, remoteAvatar: remoteAvatar, remoteName: remoteName)
                (WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController as! AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController).view.addSubview(pictureInPictureView)
                
                addConstraintLayout()
            }
        }
        
        result(true)
    }
    
    func addConstraintLayout() {
        if #available(iOS 15.0, *) {
            pictureInPictureView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
            let constraints = [
                pictureInPictureView.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: (WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController as! AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController).view.leadingAnchor),
                pictureInPictureView.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: (WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController as! AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController).view.trailingAnchor),
                pictureInPictureView.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: (WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController as! AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController).view.topAnchor),
                pictureInPictureView.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: (WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController as! AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController).view.bottomAnchor)
            ]
            (WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController as! AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController).view.addConstraints(constraints)
            pictureInPictureView.bounds = (WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController as! AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController).view.frame
        }
    }
    
    func updatePictureInPictureView(_ result: @escaping FlutterResult, peerConnectionId: String, remoteStreamId: String, isRemoteCameraEnable: Bool, remoteAvatar: String, remoteName: String) {
        pictureInPictureView.setRemoteInfo(peerConnectionId: peerConnectionId, remoteStreamId: remoteStreamId, isRemoteCameraEnable: isRemoteCameraEnable, remoteAvatar: remoteAvatar, remoteName: remoteName)
        result(true)
    }
    
    func updateStateUserView(_ result: @escaping FlutterResult, isRemoteCameraEnable: Bool) {
        pictureInPictureView.updateStateValue(isRemoteCameraEnable: isRemoteCameraEnable)
        result(true)
    }
    
    func disposePictureInPicture() {
        // MARK: reset
        pictureInPictureView.disposeVideoView()
        
        if #available(iOS 15.0, *) {
            (WaterbusViewController.pipVideoCallViewController as! AVPictureInPictureVideoCallViewController).view.removeAllSubviews()
        }
        
        if (WaterbusViewController.pipController == nil) {
            return
        }
        
        WaterbusViewController.pipController = nil
    }
    
    func stopPictureInPicture() {
        if #available(iOS 15.0, *) {
            DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + .milliseconds(500)) {
                WaterbusViewController.pipController?.stopPictureInPicture()
            }
        }
    }
}
  • Extensions
extension WaterbusViewController: AVPictureInPictureControllerDelegate {
    func pictureInPictureControllerWillStopPictureInPicture(_ pictureInPictureController: AVPictureInPictureController) {
        print(">> pictureInPictureControllerWillStopPictureInPicture")
        self.pictureInPictureView.stopPictureInPictureView()
    }
    
    func pictureInPictureControllerWillStartPictureInPicture(_ pictureInPictureController: AVPictureInPictureController) {
        print(">> pictureInPictureControllerWillStartPictureInPicture")
        self.pictureInPictureView.updateLayoutVideoVideo()
    }
    
    func pictureInPictureController(_ pictureInPictureController: AVPictureInPictureController, failedToStartPictureInPictureWithError error: Error) {
        print("Unable start pip error:", error.localizedDescription)
    }
}

// create an extension for all UIViewControllers
extension UIViewController {
    /**
     Add a flutter sub view to the UIViewController
     sets constraints to edge to edge, covering all components on the screen
     */
    func addFlutterView(with engine: FlutterEngine) {
        // create the flutter view controller
        let flutterViewController = FlutterViewController(engine: engine, nibName: nil, bundle: nil)
        
        addChild(flutterViewController)
        
        guard let flutterView = flutterViewController.view else { return }
        
        // allows constraint manipulation
        flutterView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
        
        view.addSubview(flutterView)
        
        // set the constraints (edge-to-edge) to the flutter view
        let constraints = [
            flutterView.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.topAnchor),
            flutterView.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.leadingAnchor),
            flutterView.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.bottomAnchor),
            flutterView.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: view.trailingAnchor)
        ]
        
        // apply (activate) the constraints
        NSLayoutConstraint.activate(constraints)
        
        flutterViewController.didMove(toParent: self)

        // updates the view with configured layout
        flutterView.layoutIfNeeded()
    }
}
  • Replace class in Main.storyboard by WaterbusViewController:
picture in picture ios

Create a view that displays Video if the camera is turned on, and an view when the camera is turned off​

class PictureInPictureView: UIView {
    // MARK: Private
    private var myUserNameCard: UserView = UserView()
    private var remoteUserNameCard: UserView = UserView()
    private var localView: UIView = UIView()
    private var remoteView: UIView = UIView()
    private var remoteRenderer: RTCMTLVideoView?
    private var peerConnectionId: String?
    private var remoteStreamId: String?
    private var isLocalCameraEnable: Bool = false
    private var isRemoteCameraEnable: Bool = false
    
    private var pictureInPictureIsRunning: Bool = false
    
    // MARK: Funcs
    override init(frame: CGRect) {
        super.init(frame: frame)
        setupView()
    }
    
    required init?(coder: NSCoder) {
        fatalError("init(coder:) has not been implemented")
    }
}

Setup Child View

    func setupView() {
        // MARK: Setup subviews
        localView = UIView()
        localView.clipsToBounds = true
        remoteView = UIView()
        remoteView.clipsToBounds = true
        
        // MARK: add to parent view
        addSubview(localView)
        addSubview(remoteView)
        configurationLayoutConstrains()
        
        // MARK: add user card view to subviews
        self.addAvatarView()
        self.configurationLayoutConstraintUserNameCard()
    }
    
    func addAvatarView() {
        // Add local and remote avatar
        myUserNameCard = UserView()
        myUserNameCard.setUserName(userName: "You")
        myUserNameCard.contentMode = .scaleAspectFit
        localView.addSubview(myUserNameCard)
        
        remoteUserNameCard = UserView()
        remoteUserNameCard.contentMode = .scaleAspectFit
        remoteView.addSubview(remoteUserNameCard)
    }

    func setRemoteInfo(peerConnectionId: String, remoteStreamId: String, isRemoteCameraEnable: Bool, remoteAvatar: String, remoteName: String) {
        self.peerConnectionId = peerConnectionId
        self.remoteStreamId = remoteStreamId
        self.isRemoteCameraEnable = isRemoteCameraEnable
        self.remoteUserNameCard.setAvatar(avatar: remoteAvatar)
        self.remoteUserNameCard.setUserName(userName: remoteName)
    }

    func configurationLayoutConstrains() {
        // Enable Autolayout
        localView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
        remoteView.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
        
        localView.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: safeAreaLayoutGuide.topAnchor).isActive = true
        localView.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: safeAreaLayoutGuide.leadingAnchor).isActive = true
        localView.widthAnchor.constraint(equalTo: widthAnchor, multiplier: 0.5).isActive = true
        localView.heightAnchor.constraint(equalTo: heightAnchor).isActive = true
        
        remoteView.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: safeAreaLayoutGuide.topAnchor).isActive = true
        remoteView.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: safeAreaLayoutGuide.trailingAnchor).isActive = true
        remoteView.widthAnchor.constraint(equalTo: widthAnchor, multiplier: 0.5).isActive = true
        remoteView.heightAnchor.constraint(equalTo: heightAnchor).isActive = true
    }
    
    func configurationLayoutConstraintForRenderer() {
        if (self.remoteRenderer == nil) {
            return
        }
        
        self.remoteRenderer!.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
        let constraints = [
            self.remoteRenderer!.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: remoteView.leadingAnchor),
            self.remoteRenderer!.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: remoteView.trailingAnchor),
            self.remoteRenderer!.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: remoteView.topAnchor),
            self.remoteRenderer!.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: remoteView.bottomAnchor)
        ]
        self.remoteView.addConstraints(constraints)
        self.remoteRenderer!.bounds = self.remoteView.frame
    }
    
    func configurationLayoutConstraintUserNameCard() {
        myUserNameCard.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
        remoteUserNameCard.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
        
        let constraintsLocal = [
            self.myUserNameCard.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: localView.leadingAnchor),
            self.myUserNameCard.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: localView.trailingAnchor),
            self.myUserNameCard.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: localView.topAnchor),
            self.myUserNameCard.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: localView.bottomAnchor)
        ]
        let constraintsRemote = [
            self.remoteUserNameCard.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: remoteView.leadingAnchor),
            self.remoteUserNameCard.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: remoteView.trailingAnchor),
            self.remoteUserNameCard.topAnchor.constraint(equalTo: remoteView.topAnchor),
            self.remoteUserNameCard.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: remoteView.bottomAnchor)
        ]
        self.localView.addConstraints(constraintsLocal)
        self.remoteView.addConstraints(constraintsRemote)
        self.myUserNameCard.bounds = self.localView.frame
        self.remoteUserNameCard.bounds = self.remoteView.frame
    }
    
    func configurationVideoView() {
        if (remoteStreamId == nil || peerConnectionId == nil) {
            return
        }
        
        if #available(iOS 15.0, *) {
            // Remote
            if (self.isRemoteCameraEnable) {
                DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + .seconds(1)) {
                    self.addRemoteRendererToView()
                }
            }
        }
    }

Get VideoFrame from WebRTC to display on the view we designed in the step above​

    func addRemoteRendererToView() {
        self.remoteRenderer = RTCMTLVideoView()
        self.remoteRenderer!.contentMode = .scaleAspectFit
        self.remoteRenderer!.videoContentMode = .scaleAspectFill
        
        // Get RemoteMTLVideoView
        let mediaRemoteStream = FlutterWebRTCPlugin.sharedSingleton().stream(forId: self.remoteStreamId, peerConnectionId: self.peerConnectionId)
        mediaRemoteStream?.videoTracks.first?.add(self.remoteRenderer!)
        
        self.remoteView.addSubview(self.remoteRenderer!)
        self.configurationLayoutConstraintForRenderer()
    }

Implement MethodChannel to execute from Flutter​

  • iOS Side:
        pictureInPictureChannel.setMethodCallHandler({
            (call: FlutterMethodCall, result: @escaping  FlutterResult)  -> Void in
            switch (call.method) {
            case "startPictureInPicture":
                let arguments = call.arguments as? [String: Any] ?? [String: Any]()
                let remoteStreamId = arguments["remoteStreamId"] as? String ?? ""
                let peerConnectionId = arguments["peerConnectionId"] as? String ?? ""
                let isRemoteCameraEnable = arguments["isRemoteCameraEnable"] as? Bool ?? false
                let myAvatar = arguments["myAvatar"] as? String ?? ""
                let remoteAvatar = arguments["remoteAvatar"] as? String ?? ""
                let remoteName = arguments["remoteName"] as? String ?? ""
                
                WaterbusViewController.shared.configurationPictureInPicture(result: result, peerConnectionId: peerConnectionId, remoteStreamId: remoteStreamId, isRemoteCameraEnable: isRemoteCameraEnable, myAvatar: myAvatar, remoteAvatar: remoteAvatar, remoteName: remoteName)
            case "updatePictureInPicture":
                let arguments = call.arguments as? [String: Any] ?? [String: Any]()
                let peerConnectionId = arguments["peerConnectionId"] as? String ?? ""
                let remoteStreamId = arguments["remoteStreamId"] as? String ?? ""
                let isRemoteCameraEnable = arguments["isRemoteCameraEnable"] as? Bool ?? false
                let remoteAvatar = arguments["remoteAvatar"] as? String ?? ""
                let remoteName = arguments["remoteName"] as? String ?? ""
                WaterbusViewController.shared.updatePictureInPictureView(result, peerConnectionId: peerConnectionId, remoteStreamId: remoteStreamId, isRemoteCameraEnable: isRemoteCameraEnable, remoteAvatar: remoteAvatar, remoteName: remoteName)
            case "updateState":
                let arguments = call.arguments as? [String: Any] ?? [String: Any]()
                let isRemoteCameraEnable = arguments["isRemoteCameraEnable"] as? Bool ?? false
                WaterbusViewController.shared.updateStateUserView(result, isRemoteCameraEnable: isRemoteCameraEnable)
            case "stopPictureInPicture":
                WaterbusViewController.shared.disposePictureInPicture()
                result(true)
            default:
                result(FlutterMethodNotImplemented)
            }
        })

Flutter Side​

final MethodChannel _pipChannel = const MethodChannel("waterbus/picture-in-picture");
  • Start PiP
  Future<void> startPip({
    required String remoteStreamId,
    required String peerConnectionId,
    required String myAvatar,
    required String remoteAvatar,
    required String remoteName,
    required bool isRemoteCameraEnable,
  }) async {
    if (!Platform.isIOS ||
        DateTime.now().difference(_latestUpdate).inSeconds <= 2) return;

    if (_isCreatedPip) {
      if (_currentRemote == remoteStreamId) {
        _pipChannel.invokeMethod("updateState", {
          "isRemoteCameraEnable": isRemoteCameraEnable,
        });
      } else {
        _currentRemote = remoteStreamId;
        _pipChannel.invokeMethod("updatePictureInPicture", {
          "remoteStreamId": remoteStreamId,
          "peerConnectionId": peerConnectionId,
          "isRemoteCameraEnable": isRemoteCameraEnable,
          "remoteAvatar": remoteAvatar,
          "remoteName": remoteName,
        });
      }
    } else {
      _currentRemote = remoteStreamId;
      _isCreatedPip = true;
      _pipChannel.invokeMethod("startPictureInPicture", {
        "remoteStreamId": remoteStreamId,
        "peerConnectionId": peerConnectionId,
        "isRemoteCameraEnable": isRemoteCameraEnable,
        "myAvatar": myAvatar,
        "remoteAvatar": remoteAvatar,
        "remoteName": remoteName,
      });
    }

    _latestUpdate = DateTime.now();
  }
  • Stop PiP
  void stopPip() {
    if (!_isCreatedPip) return;

    _isCreatedPip = false;
    _currentRemote = '';
    _pipChannel.invokeMethod("stopPictureInPicture");
  }

Reference​