Captions Data Conversion via Sliding Window

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Computing devices and content platforms may not support certain formats of embedded captions data, requiring captions data to be delivered in a separate file or data stream, which is not desirable.

Innovation Solution

The embedded captions data is converted on a segment-by-segment basis to a compatible format, using a sliding window and lookback process to capture corresponding captions data from adjacent segments, ensuring real-time presentation for live streaming content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If embedded captions data is used for content delivery, then captions can be presented without accessing separate files, but compatibility issues arise when devices or platforms do not support certain caption formats

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecaptions presentationVSAvoidformat compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the format parameter of captions data by converting between different caption formats (e.g., CEA-608 to WebVTT) to match the requirements of different devices and platforms, thereby resolving compatibility issues while maintaining embedded delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

A captions conversion service acts as an intermediary between the content delivery system and the client device, receiving embedded captions in one format and converting them to formats compatible with the target device before delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If captions data is converted on a segment-by-segment basis, then format compatibility can be achieved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveformat compatibilityVSAvoidconversion processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs captions conversion in advance before content delivery, pre-converting captions to compatible formats so that when content is streamed, the conversion has already been completed, eliminating processing delays during playback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The captions conversion service operates continuously in the background, maintaining an ongoing conversion process that ensures captions are always ready in the required format without interrupting content delivery or requiring additional processing time during stream playback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of information

If captions data is extracted from adjacent segments using sliding window process, then captions overlapping segment boundaries can be captured, but complexity of the conversion process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecaptions data completenessVSAvoidconversion process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conversion process is divided into discrete segments handled by individual conversion modules, each responsible for specific time segments. The sliding window mechanism systematically processes adjacent segments in a structured manner, making the complex task of capturing overlapping captions manageable and systematic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250126331A1Systems, methods, and apparatuses for captions data conversion

Publication Date: 2025.04.17 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for captions data handling, conversion between formats, and presentation are described herein. Segments of a content item may contain captions data in different formats, where conversion between one format to another may be required when one format is not compatible with a computing device or presentation settings. The captions data may be converted to a compatible format(s). The embedded captions data may be converted on a segment-by-segment basis and/or in real-time for streaming content.