Dynamic Trick Mode Data Generation for Streaming Media

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing media streaming technologies do not allow viewers to perform trick mode operations, such as fast forward and rewind, on media content that is not trick mode enabled.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for dynamically generating trick mode data while streaming media content, where a media device retrieves key frames from the media content and converts them into trick mode data, enabling trick mode operations even for media content not originally trick mode enabled.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If media content is streamed without pre-encoded trick mode data, then bandwidth usage and storage requirements are reduced, but trick mode operations cannot be performed on the content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrick mode operation capabilityVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary extraction of key frames from the media content stream and stores them in buffer memory before trick mode operations are requested. This allows fast forward and rewind operations to be executed using the pre-buffered key frames without requiring pre-encoded trick mode data in the original stream, thereby enabling trick mode functionality while maintaining efficient bandwidth usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If key frames are extracted and stored for trick mode operations, then trick mode functionality is enabled, but memory usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrick mode operation capabilityVSAvoidmemory usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and buffers only key frames at strategically selected time points within the media content, rather than storing all frames or uniformly distributed frames. This selective buffering approach enables trick mode operations while minimizing memory consumption by storing only the essential frames needed for navigation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system buffers a limited number of key frames that are sufficient to enable basic trick mode operations (fast forward and rewind), rather than buffering all possible frames or using excessive memory. This partial action approach provides the necessary functionality with optimized resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If trick mode data is generated dynamically during streaming, then any media content can be navigated, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent compatibilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential key frames from the media content stream, separating the navigation functionality from the full content processing. This extraction approach enables trick mode operations on any media content while keeping the processing complexity manageable by focusing only on identifying and buffering key frames rather than processing the entire content stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3345398B1Dynamic generation of trick mode data
Publication Date: 2025.02.19 ROKU INC
  • EP3345398B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3345398B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3345398B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

System and method for generating trick mode data from streaming media content, are described. A media device receives streaming media content. During the streaming, the media device identifies a plurality of key frames from the media content, and also generates trick mode data from the plurality of key frames. The trick mode data generated during the streaming of the media content is used to perform a trick mode operation on the media content.