Client Device Format Conversion for Closed Captioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
User devices other than set top boxes cannot process and play closed captioning content transmitted by content providers due to incompatible formats and protocols.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows a client device to receive and convert video and closed captioning content into formats and protocols supported by user devices, enabling provisioning of formatted content for playback without modifying or replacing user devices or network hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If content providers transmit closed captioning content in a standardized format, then the content can be universally transmitted across different networks, but user devices other than set top boxes cannot process and play the content due to format incompatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a client device as an intermediary between the content provider and user devices. The client device receives closed captioning content in the standardized format from the content provider, converts it to device-specific formats, and transmits the converted content to user devices. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining universal transmission format while enabling compatibility with diverse user devices without requiring hardware modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the format parameters of closed captioning content. The client device changes the format parameters (encoding, protocol, data structure) from the standardized transmission format to various device-specific formats based on the capabilities of the target user device. This allows the same content to be transmitted in one format while being playable on multiple different devices.
2Device complexity
If user devices directly receive closed captioning content from content providers, then the transmission path is simplified, but the user devices cannot process the content without modifying or replacing hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The client device serves as a software-based intermediary that performs format conversion without requiring any hardware modifications to user devices. Instead of modifying user device hardware, the intermediary handles all format conversion tasks, making content playback easy on existing devices while maintaining a simplified transmission path through software processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/hardware-based approach (modifying or replacing user device hardware to process closed captioning content) with a software-based approach. The client device uses software to perform format conversion, eliminating the need for hardware modifications and enabling ease of operation on existing devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If closed captioning content is transmitted in a device-specific format, then user devices can process and play the content directly, but set top boxes cannot display the content on display devices
Solution Approach 1:
The client device is designed with multi-functionality to handle both set top box operations and direct user device provisioning. It can receive content in standardized format, convert it for set top boxes, and also convert it for various user devices. This universal capability resolves the contradiction by enabling the same system to serve multiple device types without requiring separate format conversion systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is configured to receive, from a user device, a request for video content and closed captioning content associated with the video content; obtain, based on the request, device information that identifies a first video format that is supported by the user device; obtain the video content and the closed captioning content, where the video content conforms to a second video format, and where the closed captioning content conforms to a text format; convert the video content from the second video format to the first video format and the closed captioning content from the text format to the first video format; and transmit the converted video content and the converted closed captioning to the user device, where the converted video content and the converted closed captioning content enable the user device to play the converted video content and the converted closed captioning content without modifying the user device.