Concurrent Remote Media Playback in Browsers with Precise Seeking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for playing multiple video streams in web browsers struggle with determining the frame to start playback when seeking to an unknown time, especially for network-based streaming of surveillance videos, which are inefficient and complex.
Innovation Solution
A web browser-based method for concurrently playing multiple remotely stored media files by determining the relative start time of each media file and synchronizing playback, using a controller to manage media players and adjust playback states based on metadata and user interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If video files are retrieved and stored in advance locally, then playback can be performed with full access to all frames and precise seeking capability, but storage space requirements increase significantly and efficiency decreases for surveillance videos with hours or days of duration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments video content into discrete keyframes that are stored remotely instead of storing complete video files. The system retrieves only the necessary keyframes based on playback time and camera ID, rather than loading entire video files into local storage. This segmentation approach maintains seeking precision while dramatically reducing storage space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing video content to extract and store keyframe information remotely before playback. The keyframes are prepared in advance and stored in a remote database with metadata including playback time ranges, allowing the client to quickly retrieve and display the appropriate frames without storing complete video files.
2Quantity of substance
If network-based streaming is used to reduce storage requirements, then storage efficiency improves, but the ability to determine the correct frame to start playback at an unknown time becomes complex and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component - the web server with a database - that stores keyframe data and metadata remotely. This intermediary handles the complex logic of determining which frames to retrieve based on playback time and camera ID, simplifying the client-side implementation. The server acts as a mediator between the stored video data and the playback requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates simplified copies of video content in the form of keyframes with associated metadata. Instead of streaming complex video data and attempting to decode it in real-time to find the correct frame, the system copies and stores essential frame information that can be quickly retrieved and displayed, reducing both complexity and improving efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If multiple video streams are played concurrently in a web browser, then accessibility and ease of operation improve, but synchronization and coordination between multiple media players become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control logic for multiple video streams into a single web page application that manages all playback instances centrally. The web browser's inherent capabilities for handling multiple media elements are leveraged, while the application coordinates their behavior through a unified interface. This merging approach maintains browser accessibility while managing synchronization complexity through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The web-based player is designed as a universal solution that can handle multiple video streams, different camera IDs, and various playback times through a single interface. The system uses standardized web technologies (HTML5 video element, JavaScript) that provide multi-functionality across different browsers and devices, simplifying the user experience while managing the complexity of concurrent playback through a unified architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to seek a requested playback time for multiple remotely stored media files concurrently playing in a web browser running on a client computer, including providing, on a web page displayed by the web browser, a reference timeline based on metadata of each media file of a set of selected media files comprising media content. A seek instruction is received comprising a first requested playback time on the reference timeline. A subset of the media files which are to play at the first requested playback time on the reference timeline is identified based on the metadata of each media file of the set of selected media files. The media content of the subset of media files is retrieved for the first requested playback time from remote storage. The retrieved media content is output to corresponding display areas provided on the web page.