Signaling aspect ratio changes in media content

Abstract

A system and method for signaling an aspect ratio change of media content is provided. The system obtains a video stream to be transmitted to an electronic device and determines aspect ratio information associated with content contained in the video stream. The system further determines a change in aspect ratio of the content based on the aspect ratio information. The change in aspect ratio can be from a first value at a first timestamp to a second value at a second timestamp over the duration of the content. The system signals information indicating the determined change to the electronic device.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE / INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 886,960, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on August 12, 2022. Each of the above applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002]

[0002] Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to streaming and playback of content, and more particularly, to systems and methods for signaling changes in aspect ratio of media content. [Background technology]

[0003]

[0003] Services based on OTT formats, ATSC, or other similar broadcast standards typically support multiple aspect ratios. In some cases, the aspect ratio of video content may change suddenly while the video content is being rendered. This sudden change in the aspect ratio of the video content may degrade the user's viewing experience or cause discomfort due to the sudden discontinuity. Typically, the aspect ratio change occurs between 4:3 and 16:9 content (e.g., between SD video and HD video). Some television systems (e.g., US Cable and US Broadcast TV) typically use active format descriptions to indicate the format of content within a video to a display device. However, none of the conventional approaches attempt to minimize the interruption caused by aspect ratio changes at transition points.

[0004]

[0004] The limitations and disadvantages of conventional methods will become apparent to those skilled in the art by comparing the described system with certain aspects of the present disclosure illustrated in the remainder of this application with reference to the drawings. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005]

[0005] A system and method for signaling changes in aspect ratio of media content is provided, as substantially shown in and / or described in connection with at least one figure, and more fully set forth in the claims.

[0006]

[0006] These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure can be understood by considering the following detailed description of the disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are designated by like reference numerals throughout. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network for signaling changes in aspect ratio of media content, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system for signaling changes in aspect ratio of media content, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1A-1C illustrate exemplary timelines for signaling changes in aspect ratio of media content, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1A-1C illustrate exemplary scenarios in which content is rendered according to different aspect ratios on a display screen, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 6 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operations for signaling a change in aspect ratio of media content, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008]

[0014] Implementations described below can be found in disclosed systems and methods for signaling aspect ratio changes in media content. When executed on a system installed in a broadcast transmission station or media server, such methods can preempt upcoming changes in the aspect ratio of video content and automatically signal information indicating such upcoming changes to electronic devices (such as Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) receivers, OTT devices, or TVs). To signal the information, the system can obtain a video stream to be transmitted to the electronic device and can further determine aspect ratio information associated with content that can be included in the video stream. The system can then determine a change in the aspect ratio of the content based on the aspect ratio information. The change can be from a first value at a first timestamp to a second value at a second timestamp over the duration of the content. The system can signal information indicating the determined change to the electronic device.

[0009]

[0012] Services based on OTT formats, ATSC, or other similar broadcast standards typically support multiple aspect ratios. In some cases, the aspect ratio may change suddenly while the video content is being rendered. This sudden change in the aspect ratio of the video content may degrade the user's viewing experience or cause discomfort due to the sudden discontinuity. None of the conventional approaches attempt to minimize interruptions at transition points (points where the aspect ratio changes) in the rendering of the content.

[0010]

[0015] The disclosed system can signal information about an upcoming change in content aspect ratio to an electronic device before the content is rendered in a different aspect ratio on a display. The signaled information can include a timestamp by which the aspect ratio change can be scheduled. Based on the signaled information, the electronic device can recognize the change in advance and can apply transition effects to modify the content during the transition period to reduce the abruptness of the content's transition to the new aspect ratio. The electronic device can use various techniques to minimize viewing interruptions due to the aspect ratio change. As an example, the original content can fade out and the video content with the new aspect ratio can fade in.

[0011]

[0016] 1 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary network for signaling aspect ratio changes of media content, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, a network environment 100 is shown. The network environment 100 includes a system 102, an electronic device 104, a display screen 106, a server 108, and a communication network 110.

[0012]

[0017] System 102 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and / or code that may be configured to determine changes in aspect ratio of content included in a video stream and signal information indicative of the determined changes to electronic device 104. Example implementations of system 102 may include, but are not limited to, a broadcast station, an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) transmitter, an Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) transmitter, a content delivery network (CDN) server, a distribution and signaling server, or a media server for an OTT service.

[0013]

[0018] The electronic device 104 may include suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that can be configured to receive a video stream and information indicating a change in aspect ratio of content contained in the video stream. While the content is being rendered on the display, the electronic device 104 may apply a transition effect based on the information. In some embodiments, the electronic device 104 may include a display screen 106. Example implementations of the electronic device 104 may include, but are not limited to, a smart television (TV), an Internet Protocol TV (IPTV), a digital media player (DMP), a microconsole, a set-top box, an over-the-top (OTT) player, an ATSC receiver, a digital media streamer, a media extender / regulator, a digital media hub, a smartphone, a personal computer, a laptop, a tablet, a wearable electronic device, or other display device capable of receiving, decoding, and playing content encapsulated in a broadcast signal from a cable or satellite network, an over-the-air broadcast, or an Internet-based communication signal.

[0014]

[0019] The display screen 106 may include suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that can be configured to render content contained in the received video stream. The display screen 106 may be a touchscreen that allows a user to provide user input via the display screen 106. The display screen 106 may be implemented through several known technologies, such as, but not limited to, at least one of a liquid crystal display (LCD) display, a light emitting diode (LED) display, a plasma display, or an organic LED (OLED) display technology, or other display device. According to an embodiment, the display screen 106 may refer to the display screen of a head-mounted device (HMD), a smart glasses device, a see-through display, a projection display, an electrochromic display, or a transparent display.

[0015]

[0020] In one embodiment, the display screen 106 may be integrated within the electronic device 104. In another embodiment, the display screen 106 may be communicatively coupled to the electronic device via an external connection (e.g., via the communications network 110).

[0016]

[0021] The server 108 may include suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and code that may be configured to store the video stream, aspect ratio information, and aspect ratio change(s) of content contained in the video stream. The server 108 may also be configured to store timing information for the change(s) and information to be shared with the electronic device 104. In some embodiments, the server 108 may also be configured to store content to be rendered on the display screen 106. The server 108 may be implemented as a cloud server that may perform operations through web applications, cloud applications, HTTP requests, repository operations, file transfers, etc. Other examples of the server 108 may include, but are not limited to, a media server, a database server, a file server, a web server, an application server, a mainframe server, a cloud server, or other types of servers. In one or more embodiments, the server 108 may be implemented as multiple distributed cloud-based resources using a number of techniques known to those skilled in the art.

[0017]

[0022] The communication network 110 may include a communication medium through which the system 102, the electronic device 104, the display screen 106, and the server 108 can communicate with each other. The communication network 110 may include a wired or wireless communication network. Examples of the communication network 110 may include, but are not limited to, the Internet, a cloud network, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) network, a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), or a metropolitan area network (MAN). The various devices in the network environment 100 may be configured to connect to the communication network 110 according to various wired and wireless communication protocols. Examples of such wired and wireless communication protocols may include, but are not limited to, at least one of Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol (TCP / IP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Zig Bee, EDGE, IEEE 802.11, Light Fidelity (Li-Fi), 802.16, IEEE 802.11s, IEEE 802.11g, multi-hop communication, wireless access point (AP), device-to-device communication, cellular communication protocols, and Bluetooth (BT) communication protocols.

[0018]

[0023] During operation, the system 102 can be configured to obtain a video stream to be transmitted to the electronic device 104. According to an embodiment, the video stream can correspond to uncompressed video or compressed video. The compressed video can correspond, for example, to lightly encoded content or mezzanine encoded content. The video stream can include content (e.g., video data and audio data) and metadata associated with the video stream. Depending on the type of service, the video stream can be prepared and packaged for transmission to a user device (e.g., the electronic device 104). For example, the video stream can be packaged and prepared as an ATSC 3.0 video stream for a broadcast standard such as ATSC 3.0.

[0019]

[0024] According to an embodiment, the video stream may be a future portion of a larger video stream to be transmitted to the electronic device 104. The portion of the larger video stream may have been previously transmitted to the electronic device 104 via an active streaming connection or a broadcast signal (e.g., an OTA signal, including a DTV signal).

[0020]

[0025] Upon acquisition, the system 102 can be configured to determine aspect ratio information associated with content contained in the acquired video stream. For example, the system 102 can determine the aspect ratio information from metadata. Details regarding determining aspect ratio information are shown, for example, in FIG. 3.

[0021]

[0026] The system 102 can further be configured to determine a change in aspect ratio of the content based on the aspect ratio information. The change in aspect ratio can be from a first value at a first timestamp to a second value at a second timestamp over the duration of the content. Details regarding determining such a change are shown, for example, in FIG. 3 . The system 102 can then signal information indicating the determined change to the electronic device 104. Such information can be signaled as in-band metadata (i.e., metadata included in the video stream) or as out-of-band metadata that can be separate from the video stream. In either case, the information can be signaled before the content of the video stream is rendered on the display screen 106. Once received, such information can enable the electronic device 104 to anticipate the change and apply appropriate transition effects to the content while rendering it on the display screen 106.

[0022]

[0027] In an embodiment, the system 102 can be configured to update the video stream to include information in metadata associated with the video stream. The system 102 can be further configured to transmit the updated video stream to the electronic device 104. The information can be signaled via the updated video stream.

[0023]

[0028] In some cases, the metadata may indicate a particular aspect ratio (e.g., 16:9), but the actual active video may have a different aspect ratio (e.g., 21:9, i.e., theater content). In such cases, the electronic device 104 (e.g., a TV) may detect horizontal regions (i.e., bar(s)) above and below the active display area of ​​the electronic device 104. The electronic device 104 may determine the aspect ratio of the active video based on the vertical height of the bar(s) and may apply a transition effect when a change or transition occurs in the active video. For example, the change or transition may correspond to a television commercial that may be inserted at a particular slot in the playback duration of the active video. It may be assumed that the aspect ratio of the commercial is not the same as the aspect ratio of the actual active video (e.g., 21:9). The transition effect may be applied to the playback duration to reduce the abruptness (or suddenness) of the aspect ratio change and improve the viewing experience of the active video.

[0024]

[0029] Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system for signaling a change in aspect ratio of media content, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The description of Figure 2 is provided with reference to elements of Figure 1. Referring to Figure 2, a block diagram 200 of system 102 is shown. System 102 may include circuitry 202 capable of performing multiple operations for signaling a change in aspect ratio of media content. System 102 may further include memory 204, input / output (I / O) devices 206, and a network interface 208. Circuit 202 may be communicatively coupled to memory 204, I / O devices 206, and network interface 208.

[0025]

[0030] Circuitry 202 may include suitable logic, circuits, and interfaces that can be configured to execute program instructions associated with various operations to be performed by system 102. Circuitry 202 may include one or more processing units. These processing units may be implemented as individual processor units, integrated processor units, or clusters of processors that collectively perform the functions of one or more processing units. Circuitry 202 may be implemented based on several processor technologies known in the art. Example implementations of circuitry 202 may include an x86-based processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, a microcontroller, a central processing unit (CPU), and / or other control circuitry.

[0026]

[0031] The memory 204 may include suitable logic, circuits, interfaces, and / or code that may be configured to store the video stream, the aspect ratio information, the first value, the first timestamp, the second value, the second timestamp, and information to be signaled to the electronic device 104. The memory 204 may also be configured to store updated video streams and timing information associated with the changes. Example implementations of the memory 204 may include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state drive (SSD), a CPU cache, and / or a secure digital (SD) card.

[0027]

[0032] The I / O device(s) 206 may include suitable logic, circuitry, and interfaces that may be configured to receive user input(s) and provide output based on the received user input(s). The I / O device(s) 206 may also render content. The I / O device(s) 206 may include a variety of input and output devices that may be configured to communicate with the circuit 202. Examples of the I / O device(s) 206 may include, but are not limited to, a display device, an audio rendering device, a touchscreen, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick, and a microphone.

[0028]

[0033] The network interface 208 may include suitable logic, circuits, and interfaces configurable to facilitate communication between the circuit 202, the electronic device 104, the display screen 106, and the server 108 via the communications network 110. The network interface 208 may be implemented using various known technologies to support wired or wireless communication between the system 102 and the communications network 110. The network interface 208 may include, but is not limited to, an antenna, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a coder-decoder (CODEC) chipset, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, or local buffer circuitry. The network interface 208 may be configured to communicate via wireless communication with a network, such as the Internet, an intranet, or a wireless network (e.g., a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), etc.). The wireless communications may be configured to use one or more of a number of communications standards, protocols, and technologies, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, or IEEE 802.11n), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Light Fidelity (Li-Fi), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi-MAX), email protocols, instant messaging, and short message service (SMS).

[0029]

[0034] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example timeline for signaling changes in aspect ratio of media content, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 will be described with reference to elements of Figures 1 and 2. Referring to Figure 3, a diagram 300 is shown that includes a timeline 302. Also shown is an electronic device 304 and a display screen 306. The electronic device 304 and the display screen 306 may be example implementations of the electronic device 104 and the display screen 106, respectively, of Figure 1. Also shown with reference to Figure 3 is video stream content 308.

[0030]

[0035] The system 102 can be configured to acquire a video stream. A video stream is typically a standard digital container format for transmission and storage of audio, video, program, and system data. As an example, the video stream can be an encoded stream (e.g., a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) encoded stream ready for delivery to an end user). According to an embodiment, the video stream can correspond to uncompressed video or compressed video. The compressed video can correspond, for example, to lightly encoded content or mezzanine encoded content.

[0031]

[0036] The system 102 can acquire video streams from a server, such as a broadcast station or content provider server, a content delivery network, an edge server, an ad server, or a combination thereof. The acquired video streams can include content 308 and metadata associated with the video stream. In some embodiments, the metadata can be associated with the content 308 and can include aspect ratio information associated with the content 308. The aspect ratio information can include a series of aspect ratio values ​​for the duration of the content 308. For a timestamp within the duration, the aspect ratio can be described as the ratio of the width to the height of the content 308 at the timestamp.

[0032]

[0037] According to an embodiment, the circuit 202 can be configured to determine aspect ratio information from metadata associated with the content 308. Based on the aspect ratio information, the circuit 202 can be configured to determine a change in aspect ratio of the content 308. The determined change in aspect ratio can be from a first value (e.g., 4:3) at a first timestamp (T1) 310 to a second value (e.g., 16:9) at a second timestamp (T2) 312 over the duration of the content 308.

[0033]

[0038] In some scenarios, the change may be determined while the content is being encoded for the video stream. In such cases, the circuit 202 may be configured to analyze the content 308 and determine a change in the aspect ratio of the content 308 based on the analysis. The analysis may include determining resolution values ​​of video frames (included in the content 308) at different timestamps and comparing successive resolution values. If a resolution value is determined to be different from a previous resolution value, that resolution value may correspond to a change in aspect ratio. A timestamp (or appropriate frame identifier) ​​corresponding to the change in aspect ratio (or such resolution value) may be determined to identify the video frame (and beyond which all successive video frames of the content 308 have that resolution value).

[0034]

[0039] Based on the determined change, the circuit 202 can be configured to generate information 314 indicative of the determined change. By way of example and not limitation, the generated information 314 can include a flag, a second value of the aspect ratio, and timing information. The flag can indicate the determined change and can be set to true. The timing information can include a second timestamp (T2) 312 at which the first value of the aspect ratio changes to the second value of the aspect ratio.

[0035]

[0040] The circuit 202 may be further configured to signal the generated information 314 to the electronic device 304. In one embodiment, the information 314 indicating the change may be signaled to the electronic device 304 before the video stream is transmitted to the electronic device 304. In one embodiment, the information 314 may be transmitted to the electronic device 304 at a time corresponding to an intermediate timestamp (T′ or T prime) 316 between the first timestamp (T1) 310 and the second timestamp (T2) 312. In another embodiment, the information 314 indicating the change may be transmitted to the electronic device 304 along with the video stream. In such a case, the circuit 202 may be configured to update the video stream to include the information 314 in its metadata. The circuit 202 may transmit the updated video stream to the electronic device 304. In this case, the information 314 may be signaled via the updated video stream.

[0036]

[0041] The electronic device 304 can receive the updated video stream. Upon receipt, the electronic device 304 can detect a change based on information included in the updated video stream. Based on the detected change, the electronic device 304 can be configured to control the display screen 306 to render content 308 included in the received video stream. The electronic device 304 can apply a transition effect to at least one content portion of the rendered content 308 or media rendered immediately before the content 308 is rendered. The transition effect can be applied based on the information 314 to reduce the abruptness of a change in the aspect ratio of the content. Details regarding the application of transition effects are shown, for example, in FIG. 4.

[0037]

[0042] In some embodiments, the signaled information 314 may also include a transition effect to be applied to the content portion. The signaled information 314 may also include a timestamp at which a transition effect should be applied to the content portion while rendering the content portion on the display screen 306. The transition effect may include, but is not limited to, an alpha rendering animation, an anamorphic zooming animation, or an animation.

[0038]

[0043] In an exemplary scenario, the duration of the content may be one hour. The timeline 302 may correspond to the duration of the content 308 (i.e., the timeline may be one hour). The timeline displays a first timestamp (T1) 310 and a second timestamp (T2) 312. The aspect ratio of the content 308 may change from a first value at the first timestamp (T1) 310 to a second value at the second timestamp (T2) 312. As an example, the first aspect ratio value may be 4:3 and the second aspect ratio value may be 16:9. From the first timestamp (T1) 310 to the second timestamp (T2) 312, the circuit 202 may control the display screen 306 of the electronic device 304 to render the content in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Just before the second timestamp (T2) 312 (e.g., at or just after the intermediate timestamp (T') 316), the circuit 202 can control the display screen 306 of the electronic device 304 to apply a transition effect to at least one content portion of the rendered content 308 or media that can be rendered just before the content 308 can be rendered. After the second timestamp (T2) 312, the circuit 202 can control the display screen 306 of the electronic device 304 to render the content 308 in a 16:9 aspect ratio.

[0039]

[0044] According to an embodiment, the circuitry 202 can be configured to determine an active display area that may be available on the display screen 306 of the electronic device 304 for rendering of the content 308. Specifically, the circuitry 202 can determine an aspect ratio of the active display area. Information can be signaled to the electronic device 304 further based on the active display area. This can be performed in scenarios where the active display area may change (e.g., the player window is resizable) or where the active display area (i.e., the player size) is set to a custom size, i.e., a size different from the default player window size or full screen size.

[0040]

[0045] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary scenario in which content is rendered according to different aspect ratios on a display screen, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The description of FIG. 4 will be provided in conjunction with elements of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. Referring to FIG. 4, a scenario diagram 400 is shown. Also shown is an electronic device 402 including a display screen 404. Views of the display screen 404 are shown at times T1, T2, T3, and T4. The electronic device 402 may be an exemplary implementation of the electronic device 104, and the display screen 404 may be an exemplary implementation of the display screen 106. In a playback timeline, time T1 may precede time T2, which may precede time T3, which may precede time T4.

[0041]

[0046] At time T1, the electronic device 402 may receive a video stream. The electronic device 402 may receive the video stream from the system 102, which may be implemented in a broadcast station or server 108 (in the case of an OTT service). The received media stream may include content 406 and metadata associated with the content 406. The metadata may include aspect ratio information, which may indicate the aspect ratio of the content 406 included in the media stream, as well as other properties of the content 406 (such as the names of one or more actors, the genre of the content, the duration of the content, etc.). At time T1, the aspect ratio of the content 406 may be a first aspect ratio (e.g., 4:3). The electronic device 402 may control the display screen 404 to render the content 406 included in the media stream in the first aspect ratio.

[0042]

[0047] After time T1, the system 102 can be configured to determine aspect ratio information associated with the content and determine a change in the aspect ratio of the content based on the aspect ratio information. The determined change in aspect ratio can be from a first value (e.g., 4:3) at a first timestamp (i.e., T1) to a second value (e.g., 10:9) at a second timestamp (T4). Based on the detected change, the system 102 can be configured to signal information indicating the change to the electronic device 402 at time T1. In another embodiment, the system 102 can be configured to update the video stream. The updated video stream can indicate the detected change. The system 102 can transmit the updated video stream to the electronic device 402.

[0043]

[0048] The electronic device 402 can receive the updated video stream and can detect the change based on information included in the updated video stream. As described above, the change in aspect ratio can be from a first value at a first timestamp to a second value at a second timestamp.

[0044]

[0049] From time T2 to T3, the electronic device 402 can be configured to control a display (i.e., display screen 404) to render content included in the received video stream. Within the duration T2-T3, the electronic device 402 can apply a transition effect to at least one content portion of the rendered content or media that can be rendered immediately before the content is rendered. The transition effect can be applied immediately before a second timestamp (i.e., T4). By way of example and not limitation, the transition effect can include alpha rendering animation, anamorphic zooming animation, animation, etc. As shown, for example, fade-out and fade-in animations are applied to the content 406.

[0045]

[0050] In one embodiment, a transition effect can be applied based on the signaled information. Specifically, at time T2, content 406 having a first aspect ratio value can fade out. Similarly, at time T3, content 406 having a second aspect ratio value can fade in.

[0046]

[0051] At time T4, the electronic device 402 can be configured to control the display screen 404 to display a portion of the content corresponding to a second aspect ratio. As shown, for example, content 406 having a second aspect ratio (i.e., 10:9) is rendered on the display screen 404.

[0047]

[0052] A transition effect can be applied immediately before the aspect ratio changes to reduce the abruptness (or suddenness) of the aspect ratio change and improve the viewing experience of the content 406.

[0048]

[0053] Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating example operations for signaling a change in aspect ratio of media content, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 is described with reference to elements of Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4. Referring to Figure 5, a flowchart 500 is shown. Operations 502 through 510 can be implemented in any computing device, such as system 102 or circuit 202. Operations can begin at 502 and proceed to 504.

[0049]

[0054] At 504, a video stream can be obtained to be transmitted to the electronic device 104. In one or more embodiments, the circuit 202 can be configured to obtain a video stream to be transmitted to the electronic device 104. Details of obtaining the first video stream are shown, for example, in FIGS.

[0050]

[0055] At 506, aspect ratio information associated with content that may be included in the video stream may be determined. In one or more embodiments, circuit 202 may be configured to determine aspect ratio information associated with content that may be included in the video stream. Details regarding determining aspect ratio information are shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0051]

[0056] At 508, a change in aspect ratio of the content can be determined based on the aspect ratio information, where the change in aspect ratio can be from a first value at a first timestamp to a second value at a second timestamp over the duration of the content. In one or more embodiments, the circuit 202 can be configured to determine a change in aspect ratio of the content based on the aspect ratio information, where the change in aspect ratio can be from a first value at a first timestamp to a second value at a second timestamp over the duration of the content. Details regarding the determination of the change are shown, for example, in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4.

[0052]

[0057] At 510, information that may be indicative of the determined change may be signaled to the electronic device 104. In one or more embodiments, the circuitry 202 may be configured to signal information indicative of the determined change to the electronic device 104. Details about the first ML model 106A are shown, for example, in Figures 1, 3, and 4. Control may proceed to an end.

[0053]

[0058] Various embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium and / or storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions executable by a machine and / or computer, such as system 102. The computer-executable instructions may cause the machine and / or computer to perform operations that may include obtaining a video stream to be transmitted to an electronic device (such as electronic device 104). The operations may further include determining aspect ratio information associated with content included in the video stream. The operations may further include determining a change in aspect ratio of the content based on the aspect ratio information. The change in aspect ratio may be from a first value at a first timestamp to a second value at a second timestamp over the duration of the content. The operations may further include signaling information indicating the determined change to the electronic device.

[0054]

[0059] An example aspect of the present disclosure may include a system (such as system 102 of FIG. 1) that may include a circuit (such as circuit 202 of FIG. 2). The circuit may be configured to obtain a video stream to be transmitted to an electronic device (such as electronic device 104 of FIG. 1). The obtained video stream includes metadata associated with the video stream. The circuit may determine, from the metadata, aspect ratio information associated with content included in the video stream. The circuit may further determine a change in aspect ratio of the content based on the aspect ratio information. In an embodiment, the circuit may determine the change based on an analysis of the content. The change in aspect ratio may be from a first value at a first timestamp to a second value at a second timestamp over the duration of the content. The circuit may further signal information indicating the determined change to the electronic device.

[0055]

[0060] According to an embodiment, the circuitry can be configured to update the video stream to include the information in the metadata and further to transmit the updated video stream to the electronic device, in such a scenario, the information can be signaled via the updated video stream.

[0056]

[0061] According to an embodiment, an electronic device can be configured to receive an updated video stream. The electronic device can be configured to detect changes based on information included in the updated video stream. The electronic device can be configured to control a display screen (such as display screen 106 of FIG. 1 ) to render content included in the received video stream. The electronic device can be further configured to apply a transition effect to at least one content portion of the rendered content or media that can be rendered immediately before the content is rendered. The transition effect can be applied based on the information. The information can include a transition effect to apply to the content portion. The transition effect can include alpha rendering animation, anamorphic zooming animation, or animation.

[0057]

[0062] According to an embodiment, the information may include a flag that may be set to true to indicate the change, a second value of the aspect ratio, and timing information that includes a second timestamp at which the first value of the aspect ratio changes to the second value of the aspect ratio. In an embodiment, the information indicating the change may be signaled to the electronic device before the video stream is transmitted to the electronic device.

[0058]

[0063] According to an embodiment, the circuitry can determine an active display area that may be available on a display screen of the electronic device for rendering of content. The circuitry can be further configured to signal information to the electronic device based on the active display area.

[0059]

[0064] The present disclosure can be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a combination of hardware and software. The present disclosure can be implemented in a centralized manner in at least one computer system, or in a distributed manner where different elements can be distributed across several interconnected computer systems. Any computer system or other apparatus adapted to perform the methods described herein can be suitable. The combination of hardware and software can be a general-purpose computer system including a computer program that, when loaded and executed, can control the computer system to perform the methods described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in the form of hardware including portions of integrated circuits that also perform other functions.

[0060]

[0065] The present disclosure may also be embodied in a computer program product, which includes all features that enable the implementation of the methods described herein and which is capable of executing these methods when loaded into a computer system. A computer program in this context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having information processing capabilities to perform a particular function, either directly, or after a) conversion into another language, code or notation, or b) reproduction in a different content form, or both.

[0061]

[0066] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications can be made and equivalents substituted without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or content to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Therefore, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but rather, it is intended to include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 100 Network Environment 102 System 104 Electronic Devices 106 display screen 108 servers 110 Communication Network 200 Block Diagram 202 circuits 204 memory 206 Input / Output (I / O) Devices 208 Network Interface 300 Figures 302 Timeline 304 Electronic Devices 306 Display Screen 308 Contents 310 First Timestamp (T1) 312 Second Timestamp (T2) 314 Information 316 Intermediate Timestamp (T' or T Prime) 400 Scenario Diagram 402 Electronic Devices 404 Display Screen 406 Content 500 Flowchart 502 start 504 Get the video stream to send to the electronic device 506 Determine the aspect ratio information associated with the content contained in the video stream 508. Determine a change in aspect ratio of the content based on the aspect ratio information, the change in aspect ratio being from a first value at a first timestamp to a second value at a second timestamp over the duration of the content. 510 signaling information indicating the determined change to an electronic device

Claims

1. 1. A system comprising: Obtaining a video stream to be transmitted to an electronic device; determining aspect ratio information associated with content included in said video stream; determining a change in aspect ratio of the content based on the aspect ratio information; the change in the aspect ratio is from a first value at a first timestamp to a second value at a second timestamp over the duration of the content; signaling information indicative of the determined change to the electronic device; and a circuit configured to: A system comprising:

2. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the video stream includes metadata associated with the video stream, and the aspect ratio information is determined from the metadata.

3. The circuit comprises: updating the video stream to include the information in the metadata; transmitting the updated video stream to the electronic device, the information being signaled via the updated video stream; further configured to:

3. The system of claim 2.

4. The electronic device is receiving the updated video stream; detecting the change based on the information contained in the updated video stream; controlling a display screen to render the content contained in the received video stream; applying a transition effect to at least one content portion of the rendered content or media rendered immediately before the content is rendered, the transition effect being applied based on the information; and configured to:

4. The system of claim 3.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the information includes the transition effect to be applied to the content portion.

6. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the transition effect comprises an alpha rendering animation, an anamorphic zooming animation, or an animation.

7. The information is a flag that is set to true to indicate the change; the second value of the aspect ratio; and timing information including the second timestamp at which the first value of the aspect ratio changes to the second value of the aspect ratio; Including, 2. The system of claim 1 .

8. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine the change further based on an analysis of the content.

9. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the information indicating the change is signaled to the electronic device before the video stream is transmitted to the electronic device.

10. The circuit comprises: determining an available active display area on a display screen of the electronic device for rendering the content; signaling the information to the electronic device based on the active display area; further configured as follows:

2. The system of claim 1 .

11. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the video stream corresponds to uncompressed video or compressed video.

12. 1. A method comprising: obtaining a video stream to be transmitted to an electronic device; determining aspect ratio information associated with content included in said video stream; determining a change in aspect ratio of the content based on the aspect ratio information, the change in aspect ratio is from a first value at a first timestamp to a second value at a second timestamp over the duration of the content; signaling information indicative of the determined change to the electronic device; A method comprising:

13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the video stream includes metadata associated with the video stream, and the aspect ratio information is determined from the metadata.

14. updating the video stream to include the information in the metadata; transmitting the updated video stream to the electronic device, the information being signaled via the updated video stream; 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

15. receiving, by the electronic device, the updated video stream; detecting, by the electronic device, the change based on the information contained in the updated video stream; controlling, by the electronic device, a display screen to render the content contained in the received video stream; applying, by the electronic device, a transition effect to at least one content portion of the rendered content or media rendered immediately before the content is rendered, the transition effect being applied based on the information; 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

16. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the information includes the transition effect to be applied to the content portion.

17. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the transition effect comprises an alpha rendering animation, an anamorphic zooming animation, or an animation.

18. The information is a flag that is set to true to indicate the change; the second value of the aspect ratio; and timing information including the second timestamp at which the first value of the aspect ratio changes to the second value of the aspect ratio; Including, 13. The method according to claim 12.

19. 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining the change based on an analysis of the content.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a system, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations including: Obtaining a video stream to be transmitted to an electronic device; determining aspect ratio information associated with content included in said video stream; determining a change in aspect ratio of the content based on the aspect ratio information; the change in the aspect ratio is from a first value at a first timestamp to a second value at a second timestamp over the duration of the content; signaling information indicative of the determined change to the electronic device; and Including, 1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

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