Cloud Video Preview Rendering with Downsampling and Progress Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current online file storage systems do not effectively provide real-time or near real-time notifications of activities within web-based collaboration environments and lack efficient file preview capabilities, especially for large files like videos, which can hinder collaboration and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a host server and conversion servers to support file previewing and real-time activity notifications, utilizing permission-based access, downsampling of video files to reduce processing time, and a progress indicator to estimate conversion time, along with a network graph engine to find the optimum conversion tools and a notification module for timely updates to users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If video files are converted to a target format for previewing, then the file can be previewed in the web-based collaboration environment, but the conversion process takes a significant amount of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video file processing by creating multiple preview versions with different resolutions (e.g., thumbnail, medium, large). The system divides the conversion task into smaller units that can be processed independently and in parallel, reducing the overall time required to provide preview functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial conversion by generating only the necessary preview portions of video files rather than converting entire high-resolution files. It creates lower-resolution proxy files that are sufficient for preview purposes but require significantly less processing time and resources.
2Productivity
If the system provides real-time notifications of activities in the collaboration environment, then user engagement improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system is integrated into the existing collaboration platform infrastructure, using shared components such as the message queue system, user profile database, and interface framework. This multi-functional approach allows real-time notifications to be provided without adding significant system complexity, as the same infrastructure supports multiple collaboration features.
3Reliability
If large video files are processed for preview, then comprehensive preview capability is achieved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different quality levels to different preview contexts. Instead of processing entire video files at high resolution, it generates localized preview segments at appropriate resolutions based on the specific preview need (thumbnail vs. medium vs. large preview), reducing overall processing time while maintaining necessary preview quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary processing by creating lower-resolution proxy files and extracting key frames before full conversion is needed. These preliminary artifacts are stored and can be quickly assembled into previews without requiring complete video file conversion, significantly reducing processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing content previews of files, including video files, stored in an online content management system with collaboration environment are disclosed. Permission to view a preview of a file is determined based upon access permissions associated with the file and/or workspace in which the file is stored and the access level of the requesting user. The system can also provide a progress indicator indicating the approximate time remaining to process the file for previewing based upon averages of times for processing previous files having similar attributes. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, for downsampling a video file to decrease the processing time for providing a preview.