Combined Video Stream Panel Rendering for DVR Commercial Intelligibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users fast-forwarding through commercials on DVRs reduces the intelligibility and effectiveness of advertisements, leading to lost revenue for content providers and advertisers, as existing technologies fail to effectively present commercial content in a meaningful manner.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for generating a combined video stream that includes two separate video streams, one played at a normal speed and the other at a faster speed, where the combined stream adjusts playback speeds to ensure the commercial content is rendered at comprehensible speeds regardless of user input, using post-production software to process and format the streams into panels within each frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a single video stream is played at fast forward speed to allow users to skip commercials, then the playback speed increases and time is saved, but the commercial content becomes unintelligible and loses its advertising effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplayback speedVSAvoidcommercial content intelligibility
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The commercial content is segmented into multiple video streams with different playback speeds. The system divides the single commercial into a first video stream (normal speed) and a second video stream (fast forward speed), allowing users to select appropriate segments based on their viewing preference. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing both intelligible content (normal speed stream) and time-saving option (fast forward stream) simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts playback speed based on user selection. When a user selects the first video stream, playback occurs at normal speed for full intelligibility. When the user selects the second video stream, playback occurs at fast forward speed for time efficiency. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize between content comprehension and time savings based on real-time user preferences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple video streams with different playback speeds are combined, then both normal speed and fast forward speed content can be provided, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplayback speed optionsVSAvoidvideo stream processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple video streams (first stream at normal speed, second stream at fast forward speed) into a single combined video stream. This combining approach allows the system to provide multiple playback speed options while maintaining a unified delivery mechanism. The merging reduces the need for separate complex delivery infrastructure for each speed variant, thereby managing device complexity while preserving adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The combined video stream structure is designed to serve multiple functions: it can deliver content at normal playback speed for full comprehension, at fast forward speed for time efficiency, and supports user selection between modes. This multi-functional design allows a single system to handle diverse playback requirements without requiring separate specialized systems for each function, thus managing complexity while maximizing versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2232856B1Generating a combined video stream from multiple input video streams
Publication Date: 2013.09.25 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION
  • EP2232856B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2232856B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2232856B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for generating a combined video stream from multiple input video streams. A first video stream including a first product commercial generated to be played at a first playback speed and a second video stream including a second product commercial generated to be played at a second playback speed are processed. The second playback speed is faster than the first playback speed. A combined video stream is generated including a first panel in each frame to display the first video stream and a second panel in each frame to display the second video stream. When the combined video stream is played at the first playback speed the second video stream is rendered to appear at a slower speed than the second playback speed for which it was generated. When the combined video stream is played at the second playback speed the first video speed is rendered to appear at a faster speed than the first playback speed for which it was generated.