Fragmented Content Segmentation for User-Defined Playlists
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current content delivery models lack flexibility, as they are often tailored to specific streaming or delivery methods, failing to accommodate user preferences for segmenting content based on various criteria such as breaks, genres, or plot changes, limiting user control over content consumption.
Innovation Solution
Content is divided into segments and fragments based on user inputs or criteria like commercial breaks, plot changes, and user selections, allowing for customizable playlists and linear content delivery models that enable users to tailor their content experience through electronic programming guides or interactive interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If content is delivered using traditional push-streaming or client-pull models, then content delivery is achieved, but user flexibility to tailor content based on various criteria is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments content into discrete units (segments and fragments) that can be independently selected and delivered. Content is divided into segments based on criteria such as commercial breaks, plot changes, or user preferences, and each segment is further divided into fragments. This segmentation enables flexible recombination and delivery of content portions without requiring complete content transmission, thereby improving user flexibility while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized segment structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic content delivery where the system adapts content selection and delivery based on real-time user preferences, viewing history, and interaction patterns. The content delivery model transitions from static pre-defined playlists to dynamic generation of personalized content sequences, allowing the system to respond adaptively to user needs while delivering content through standardized protocols.
2Ease of operation
If content is segmented into multiple parts, then user control over content consumption is improved, but content management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes universal segment and fragment structures that can be applied across different content types, delivery models, and user preferences. The standardized segment format with consistent metadata structures enables the same content management mechanisms to handle diverse content scenarios, from linear TV content to on-demand video, thereby improving user control without proportionally increasing management complexity through reuse of common structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components including content servers that manage segment storage and distribution, manifest files that describe segment structures and relationships, and client-side players that handle segment assembly and playback. These intermediary layers abstract the complexity of segmented content management from end users while providing robust content control capabilities through standardized interfaces and protocols.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional program boundaries are used for content delivery, then content structure is simple, but user ability to create personalized playlists and time-shifted viewing is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides traditional program boundaries into smaller, more granular segments that can be independently manipulated. Instead of treating entire programs as single delivery units, content is segmented at multiple levels (programs into episodes, episodes into segments, segments into fragments), enabling users to create personalized playlists by selecting specific fragments or segments from different sources while maintaining a manageable structure through hierarchical organization and standardized metadata.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds temporal and thematic dimensions to content organization beyond traditional program boundaries. Content can be segmented and reorganized based on temporal criteria (time of day, viewing duration), thematic criteria (genre, mood, topic), or user-defined criteria, creating multi-dimensional content navigation and playlist generation capabilities that extend beyond linear program structures while maintaining organized content through structured metadata systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, method, system and computer-readable medium are provided for generating one or more segments associated with content. The segments may include fragments that may correspond to portions of the content. The segments and/or the fragments may be included in a playlist, and may be based at least in part on a user selection.