Web Browser Media Playback via Metadata Tag Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Web browsers often rely on external plug-ins to render multimedia content, which can be unavailable on devices like handheld devices, leading to issues with media playback since they do not support plug-in architectures.
Innovation Solution
A method that examines metadata tags specifying multiple formats of timed media content, allowing the Web browser to determine and use native code or available plug-ins to play back supported formats, providing fallback options if preferred formats are not supported.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Web browsers use external plug-ins to render multimedia content, then media playback capability is improved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases when plug-ins are unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the media playback functionality from external plug-ins and integrates it directly into the Web browser's native code. The browser now contains built-in support for multiple media formats (MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV for audio; MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264 for video) eliminating the need for separate plug-in processes and reducing system complexity while maintaining playback capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The Web browser is designed with universal media playback capability through native code that can handle multiple media formats simultaneously. The browser can detect supported formats and automatically select appropriate playback methods, making it universally capable of playing various media types without requiring external specialized software.
2Device complexity
If Web browsers rely on a single specified plug-in, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases when the specified plug-in is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary detection of media format support within the browser's native code before attempting playback. The browser examines the media file type and proactively determines whether it can be played using built-in capabilities, allowing fallback to alternative formats or providing user guidance before playback fails due to unavailability of a specified plug-in.
Solution Approach 2:
The browser dynamically adapts its playback strategy based on real-time detection of media format support. When a specified plug-in is unavailable or a media format is not supported, the system automatically transitions to alternative playback methods or format conversions, making the playback system flexible and resilient rather than rigid and fragile.
3Device complexity
If Web browsers use native code for media playback, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability worsens when native code does not support certain formats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs format conversion technology that changes the parameters of media files (encoding format, container type, codec) to match what the browser's native code can process. When encountering an unsupported format, the system converts the media parameters to compatible formats, enabling playback of diverse media types through a unified native code base without requiring complex external plug-ins for each format.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for presenting timed media represented by data in a markup language (e.g., HTML) including examining a tag or metadata which is capable of specifying more than one form or representation of timed media, such as different versions of a video encoded according to different video codec standards.