Dynamic Media Segmentation for Time-Constrained Playback

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Users often refrain from watching media content due to its length exceeding their available time, and existing abridged versions may not match their desired duration, being either too long or too short.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that divides media items into segments and creates a customized abridged version by combining a subset of these segments based on the user's available time, ensuring the abridged version's runtime is appropriate for the user's time frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the original media item is provided, then the content completeness is improved, but the duration becomes too long for users with limited available time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent completenessVSAvoidmedia duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The media item is divided into multiple segments based on content importance, user preferences, and temporal structure. This segmentation allows the system to selectively combine segments to create abridged versions that maintain content completeness while reducing duration to match user availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Duration of action of moving object

If an abridged version is created by removing segments, then the duration is reduced to fit user time, but the content completeness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia durationVSAvoidcontent completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Different segments of the media item are assigned different qualities based on their importance and relevance to user preferences. Critical segments are preserved while less important segments are removed or condensed, ensuring that the abridged version maintains essential content while achieving the desired duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If fixed abridged versions are pre-created, then the creation speed is improved, but the adaptability to individual user preferences and available time deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabridgement creation speedVSAvoidcustomization to user preferences

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The abridgement system transitions from static pre-created versions to dynamic generation based on real-time user input. The system dynamically adjusts segment selection and combination based on individual user preferences and available time, enabling customized abridged versions to be created rapidly without sacrificing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If the media item is divided into many segments for customization, then the adaptability is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The media item is divided into manageable segments that can be independently evaluated and recombined. This segmentation enables the system to handle complexity by processing smaller units rather than the entire media item at once, while still achieving high adaptability through selective combination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11729481B2Providing customized abridged versions of media items based on available user time

Publication Date: 2023.08.15 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention are directed to providing custom abridged versions of a media item. Aspects include receiving, from an electronic device of a user, a request for the media item and dividing the media item into a plurality of segments. Aspects also include determining a length of an available time for the user and creating the abridged version of the media item by combining a subset of the plurality of segments, where the runtime of the abridged version of the media item is less than the length of available time. Aspects further include transmitting, to the electronic device of the user, the abridged version of the media item.