Server-Based Autoplay to Click-to-Play Content Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autoplay content on the internet, such as Flash, video, and HTML content, automatically loads and animates without user interaction, leading to increased resource usage, battery drain, and negative user experiences due to excessive data loading and slow browsing, while browser-based content blockers often require downloading entire content before blocking playback, affecting user control and network bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

A server-based content conversion system that identifies autoplay content and converts it into click-to-play content by extracting static representations and overlaying them with user interface elements, allowing users to initiate playback, thereby reducing data load and resource usage, and providing user control over content delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If autoplay content is delivered to clients, then user experience is improved through automatic content playback, but network bandwidth is consumed and device resources are drained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experienceVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The server performs preliminary conversion of autoplay content into click-to-play content before delivery. This preliminary action transforms the content format so that it only plays when users explicitly request it, thereby preventing unnecessary bandwidth consumption while maintaining user experience for those who want to view the content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of delivering autoplay content that automatically plays and consuming bandwidth, the system inverts the approach by delivering click-to-play content that remains static until user interaction. This inversion puts user control first and conserves bandwidth by only transmitting data when actually needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If autoplay content is delivered to clients, then content delivery is simplified, but device battery life is reduced due to excessive processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent deliveryVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Loss of energy

If browser-based content blockers are used to prevent autoplay, then resource usage is reduced, but user control over content playback is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource usageVSAvoiduser control

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as an intermediary between content providers and clients, converting autoplay content into click-to-play content. This intermediary solution resolves the contradiction by implementing user control at the source (server-side) rather than requiring client-side blockers, thereby maintaining full user control while reducing resource usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of manufacture

If entire content is downloaded before blocking playback, then content delivery is simplified, but network bandwidth is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent deliveryVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11269953B2Server-based conversion of autoplay content to click-to-play content

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating and providing converted content. In one aspect, a system includes a content database that receives content from content providers and stores original content comprising animating content and converted content associated with the original content; a converter system that: receives the original content from the content database; generates the converted content, comprising: for a particular original content, identifying and extracting, from the particular original content, a static representation; overlaying the static representation with UI elements; and storing a particular converted content that comprises the static representation overlaid with the UI elements; and transmits the converted content to the content database; a content distribution system that: receives a request for content; identifies a first original content from the content database; receives a first converted content associated with the first original content; and provides the first converted content.