Client-Server Video Playback System for Browser Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital video playback techniques face challenges in providing consistent video playback experiences across different browsers and user devices due to browser configurations, leading to varying playback qualities and effectiveness of video advertisements.
Innovation Solution
A client-server based digital video playback system that sends a video playback request to a server including device and browser types, receives transcoded video addresses and configuration files, and selects the appropriate playback address to match device and browser versions, bypassing browser restrictions and enhancing compatibility and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional browser native video tags are used for video playback, then the implementation is simple and compatible with all browsers, but the playback quality is severely limited by browser configurations and restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary video playback system that sits between the browser and the video content. This system uses a video tag parser to extract playback information, a version identifier to determine device/browser compatibility, and a video player to execute playback. The intermediary layer translates browser requests into appropriate playback actions, bypassing browser-native video tag restrictions while maintaining compatibility across different browsers and devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different browser configurations are supported, then broader device compatibility is achieved, but playback experiences vary significantly across different browsers and devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-detecting device and browser versions, and pre-selecting appropriate video playback addresses based on compatibility information before actual playback occurs. The system obtains version information, queries compatibility data in advance, and prepares the optimal playback configuration before the user initiates playback, ensuring consistent experience across different devices without requiring real-time adjustments during playback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters of the video playback system based on device and browser characteristics. It dynamically adjusts the video playback address selection, encoding format, and playback configuration according to the detected device version, browser type, and network status. This parameter adaptation ensures optimal playback quality and consistency across diverse devices while maintaining broad compatibility.
3Ease of operation
If video playback is controlled by browser native video tags, then integration with browser is seamless, but autoplay features are restricted and pop-ups are prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the video playback control functionality from the browser's native video tag system. By using a custom video tag parser and independent video player, the system separates playback control from browser-imposed restrictions. This extraction allows the implementation of features like autoplay and custom pop-up handling that would otherwise be blocked by browser security policies, while maintaining seamless integration through the custom tag interface.
Data Source
AI summary
This patent disclosure provides various embodiments of a client-server based digital video playback system and technique. In one aspect, a process for playing internet/online videos on a user device is disclosed. This process can begin by sending a video playback request for playing an online video to the server, wherein the video playback request includes a device type and a browser type of the user device. Next, the process receives a set of video playback addresses and a set of video playback configuration files from the server, wherein the set of video playback addresses and the set of video playback configuration files are generated based on the device type and the browser type. The process subsequently selects a video playback address from the set of video playback addresses corresponding to a transcoded version of the online video that matches a device version and a browser version of the user device. The process next obtains the transcoded version of the online video from the selected video playback address, and plays the obtained video on the user device.