Compressed Media With Still Images Selected From Video Stream

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Solution Overview

Problem

The transmission of large video files requires significant network resources and client device capabilities, leading to slow transfer and sub-optimal video playback in environments with limited bandwidth and computing resources, such as in some geographical locations or on devices like cell phones.

Innovation Solution

A video hosting service processes source videos to select a subset of frames as still images, transcoding and encoding them along with corresponding audio data, which are then sent as a compressed media file, using a still image presentation module that considers video classification for optimal selection and encoding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If full video files are transmitted, then complete video content is delivered, but network bandwidth consumption increases and transfer speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo content completenessVSAvoidtransfer speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only essential visual information from video frames by selecting keyframes and generating difference maps that capture only the changed portions between frames. This extraction approach transmits minimal data while preserving complete video content, resolving the contradiction between content completeness and transfer speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The video stream is segmented into discrete frames, with only selected keyframes transmitted in full detail and subsequent frames transmitted as difference maps relative to their reference frames. This segmentation allows progressive reconstruction of complete video content at reduced bandwidth consumption, addressing both reliability and speed requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If full video files are transmitted, then video quality is maintained, but client device processing resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidprocessing resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes redundant visual information by transmitting only difference maps that capture changes between frames rather than complete frame data. This extraction maintains perceived video quality while significantly reducing the processing burden on client devices, as the receiver only needs to compute simple pixel differences rather than decode full video streams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the representation parameters of video data by encoding frames as difference maps with reference to previous frames. This parameter transformation reduces the complexity of client-side processing while maintaining video quality, as the receiver reconstructs frames by applying minimal difference operations to reference frames.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If video streaming is implemented, then continuous playback is enabled, but power consumption and processing power requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous playback capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential visual changes between frames for transmission, allowing client devices to perform minimal processing operations. This extraction approach enables continuous playback on power-constrained devices by reducing the computational workload to simple difference map application and frame reconstruction, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Quantity of substance

If compressed media with still images is transmitted, then bandwidth usage is reduced, but video motion information is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission volumeVSAvoidmotion information
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains continuity of useful action by transmitting difference maps that capture motion information as incremental changes between frames. This approach preserves motion information in a compressed form, allowing the receiver to reconstruct continuous video motion while using minimal data transmission volume, thus resolving the contradiction between bandwidth reduction and motion information preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS9877056B1Compressed media with still images selected from a video stream
Publication Date: 2018.01.23 GOOGLE LLC
  • US9877056B1 patent drawing
  • US9877056B1 patent drawing
  • US9877056B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A video hosting service receives and processes a source video to generate an efficiently compressed media file. The source video is transcoded to an intermediate video and corresponding audio. The video hosting service selects a subset of video frames from the intermediate video as still images and identifies the timing information associated with each selected still image. The selection process may be dependent on information associated with the video such as a video classification. The video hosting service encodes the selected still images and the audio data of the source video, and generates a compressed media file for transmission to a client device. The compressed media file does not include motion data associated with the selected still images to reduce the size of the compressed media file. A client device receives the compressed media file and plays the still images and associated audio data.