360-Degree Media Viewport Customization for Bandwidth-Aware Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 360-degree video technologies struggle to customize the viewing experience to accommodate users' diverse backgrounds, interests, and preferences while efficiently distributing large amounts of data over finite bandwidth resources, posing challenges in providing an immersive experience.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for dynamic content customization in 360-degree video using metadata to classify and customize spatial regions based on user preferences, allowing for real-time adjustment of viewports and content ratings, implemented in client devices, network edges, or home gateways, ensuring appropriate content delivery based on user profiles and preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If 360-degree video content is customized to accommodate users' diverse backgrounds, interests, and preferences, then user experience and engagement are improved, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments 360-degree video content into multiple spatial regions with different content ratings and characteristics. Each region can be independently customized and delivered based on user preferences, allowing selective customization without processing the entire video sphere. This reduces system complexity by breaking down the customization task into manageable regional units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary classification of spatial regions with metadata tags indicating content ratings and characteristics before delivery. This pre-processing allows the client device to quickly select and customize appropriate regions based on user profiles without performing complex real-time analysis, thereby reducing runtime system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If high quality 360-degree video is delivered to provide immersive experience, then viewing quality is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by delivering high-resolution video only to selected spatial regions that match user preferences and content ratings, while using lower resolution or omitting delivery for other regions. This selective quality distribution maintains immersive experience in relevant areas while significantly reducing overall bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by delivering only a subset of available spatial regions rather than the complete 360-degree content. Based on user profiles and real-time viewport detection, the system transmits only the necessary portions of the video sphere, achieving adequate viewing quality with reduced data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If real-time customization of viewports and content ratings is implemented, then user preference accommodation is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time customizationVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary classification and tagging of spatial regions with metadata during content preparation. This pre-computed metadata includes content ratings and region identifiers that enable rapid real-time customization decisions without requiring complex analysis during playback, thus minimizing processing time while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses metadata copies and references instead of duplicating full video content for different customization scenarios. The client device references pre-classified region metadata to quickly determine which spatial regions to display, avoiding time-consuming re-processing of actual video data while enabling real-time customization responses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3692721B1Customized 360-degree media viewing
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 INTERDIGITAL MADISON PATENT HLDG
  • EP3692721B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3692721B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3692721B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device may be configured to render at least one spatial region of 360-degree media content, which may include two or more spatial regions. The device may include a receiver configured to receive the 360- degree media content and metadata associated with the 360-degree content. The metadata may include a classification of a respective spatial region of the 360-degree media content. The device may further include a memory configured to store a user preference and a sensor configured to detect a user movement. The device may include a processor configured to determine that the user movement is associated with a rendering of the respective spatial region. The processor may further determine whether the classification complies with the user preference and alter the rendering of the respective spatial region if the classification violates the user preference.