Anchored Location Sharing for Multimedia Streaming Timelines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multimedia streaming technologies lack a mechanism to signal and share anchored location information on the presentation timeline, preventing users from efficiently jumping to specific locations or sharing multimedia content consumption experiences.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for generating, sharing, and utilizing anchored location information within multimedia content streamed over a network, allowing users to mark and share specific locations with visual indicators, comments, and associated data, enabling seamless navigation and social sharing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional linear streaming is used, then the system is simple and compatible with existing standards, but users cannot efficiently navigate to specific locations or share consumption experiences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multimedia content into distinct locations on a presentation timeline and introduces discrete anchoring points at specific locations. Users can create individual anchors at different timeline positions, allowing non-linear navigation without requiring complete restructuring of the streaming system. This segmentation enables targeted access to content portions while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary signaling mechanism that works between the existing streaming client-server architecture and the new anchoring functionality. The intermediary layer handles anchor creation, storage, and retrieval operations without fundamentally altering the core streaming protocol, thus adding navigation capability while minimizing system complexity increase.
2Adaptability or versatility
If no anchoring mechanism is provided, then the streaming protocol remains simple and standardized, but users lack the ability to bookmark or share specific content locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes preliminary signaling mechanisms in the streaming protocol that prepare the system for anchoring operations. The Media Presentation Description (MPD) file and segment metadata are structured in advance to include anchor-related information, enabling clients to efficiently create and retrieve anchors without requiring complex real-time processing or information loss.
3Reliability
If users can share anchored locations, then social interaction and content discovery improve, but additional signaling and data management mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the streaming client continuously monitors and updates anchor information based on content playback state. When users create, modify, or access anchors, the system provides feedback through updated metadata and signaling messages, ensuring accurate synchronization between anchor locations and actual content positions. This feedback loop maintains reliability while managing complexity through automated synchronization.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus to generate receive and share anchored location information and associated information on content enjoyment experience over a network. The method includes, responsive to receiving a request to stream the multimedia content over the network, determining whether anchored location information for the multimedia content has been generated. The method includes requesting the anchored location information for the multimedia content. Additionally, the method includes, responsive to receiving the anchored location information, displaying a number of visual indicators for the anchored location information on a presentation timeline for the multimedia content, and generating additional anchoring location information to be shared with other users. The content may be video content, and the location may relate to a segment of the video content.