Annotation Synchronization in Communication Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for sharing annotations between Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) in communication networks fail to synchronize annotations accurately across devices with unsynchronized clocks, leading to misalignment of comments during live broadcasts.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for sharing annotations between user media terminals in a communication network, where annotations are input, anchored to the media stream, and synchronized based on the relative start time of the media streams on both terminals, using a content sharing server or Peer-to-Peer protocol to ensure timely rendering of comments across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If annotations are shared between DVRs using conventional methods, then annotations can be added to local media content, but annotations cannot be synchronized across devices with unsynchronized clocks
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by embedding timing metadata and synchronization information into the media stream before distribution. This allows receiving DVRs to automatically synchronize annotations without requiring complex real-time clock synchronization, as the timing reference is already established in the media content itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a media guide or metadata structure as an intermediary that carries timing information between DVRs. This mediator enables annotation synchronization by providing a common time reference framework, eliminating the need for direct clock synchronization between devices while maintaining annotation accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If annotations are anchored to media content at one DVR, then annotations can be displayed at the correct position, but annotations cannot be displayed at the correct time at another DVR with different start time
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the time reference parameter from absolute device clock time to relative media stream time. By anchoring annotations to positions within the media content rather than to device clocks, the system maintains position accuracy while automatically adapting to different start times at receiving DVRs, eliminating timing offsets without loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to annotation positioning by incorporating media stream temporal position as a reference framework. Instead of relying solely on device clock time, annotations are positioned using both spatial (content position) and temporal (stream position) dimensions, enabling accurate display across devices with different start times.
3Adaptability or versatility
If DVRs operate with independent clocks for recording, then each DVR can record independently, but annotations from different DVRs will be misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of the timing reference information from the original media stream and embeds it with annotations. This copied timing reference travels with the annotations to receiving DVRs, ensuring that independent recording operations maintain reliable annotation alignment through the use of identical time references derived from the same media content.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for sharing at least one annotation between a first user media terminal (102) and a second user media terminal (104) in a communication network (100) is provided. The method includes inputting (404) the at least one annotation on the first user media terminal. Further, the method includes anchoring (406) the at least one annotation to the media stream executed on the first user media terminal at a first start time. The at least one annotation is sent (408) to the second user media terminal. The at least one annotation is received (410) at the second user media terminal. Furthermore, the at least one annotation is synchronized (412) at the second user media terminal based on a relative start time. The at least one synchronized annotation is then rendered (414) to the media stream on the second user media terminal.