Client-Side Overlay Graphics for Quality Across Variable Bandwidth
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Broadcasters face challenges in maintaining uniform visual quality of overlay graphics on client devices due to variations in network bandwidth, leading to degraded graphic quality and viewer experience.
Innovation Solution
A system for client-side presentation of overlay graphics, where the client device personalizes and renders graphics based on server instructions, optimizing network bandwidth and maintaining quality regardless of network fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If overlay graphics are encoded on media content at the server side using adaptive bitrate streams, then media content can be delivered seamlessly, but the quality of overlay graphics degrades due to network bandwidth variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates overlay graphics from media content by delivering them through different channels: media content via adaptive bitrate streaming and overlay graphics via separate HTTP requests. This segmentation allows each to be optimized independently, preventing bandwidth constraints from degrading graphic quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The client device acts as an intermediary that receives media content and overlay graphics separately, then combines them during playback. This intermediary role allows the client to assemble the final presentation without the quality constraints that would exist if graphics were pre-encoded with the media stream.
2Adaptability or versatility
If broadcast providers install large infrastructures to handle multiple channels, then service differentiation and multi-channel handling improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The client device performs functions previously requiring server-side infrastructure, such as combining media content with overlay graphics and handling personalization. This self-service approach reduces the complexity of broadcast provider hardware while enabling multi-channel capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The client device is designed to handle multiple functions: receiving and playing media content, fetching and rendering overlay graphics, and personalizing the presentation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized hardware for each function, reducing overall system complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If overlay graphics are pre-encoded with media content, then delivery is simplified, but quality consistency cannot be maintained across varying network conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the delivery method for overlay graphics based on network conditions. Instead of static pre-encoding, the client device fetches graphics separately and renders them dynamically during playback, allowing quality to be maintained regardless of the adaptive bitrate changes affecting the media stream.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a system that identifies a tag in a media content of a media stream based on a user-attribute of a client device. A candidate time-period is identified in a playback duration of the media content based on the identified tag in the media content. Based on a degree of correlation between the identified tag in the media content and a corresponding context for the media content at the candidate time-period, an overlay-graphic item corresponding to the identified tag is presented at the candidate time-period in the media content.