Inline Video Playback via Composite Still Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current handheld media devices have varying native file formats for video playback, making it difficult for website owners to embed video clips that can be played across multiple devices, and require user activation of native media players, resulting in unsatisfactory video advertising support.
Innovation Solution
A method that prepares a video sequence for display by dividing it into silent and audio streams, extracting still images, combining them into a composite image, and using heuristic algorithms and compression to enable inline playback within browsers, allowing for smooth video playback without requiring complex codecs or native media players.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If video is played using native media players on handheld devices, then video playback quality is improved, but device compatibility and ease of operation deteriorate due to varying file formats and required user activation
Solution Approach 1:
The video sequence is divided into individual still images (frames) that are embedded as separate elements within the HTML webpage. Each still image is independently coded and can be displayed by any web browser without requiring native media player support, thus achieving cross-device compatibility while maintaining video playback capability
Solution Approach 2:
A JavaScript-based video player is introduced as an intermediary between the embedded still images and the user interface. This player automatically sequences the display of still images to create video playback effect, eliminating the need for users to activate native media players while ensuring compatibility across different handheld devices through standard web technologies
2Adaptability or versatility
If video is embedded in web pages using native media players, then video playback capability is improved, but device complexity and ease of manufacture deteriorate due to support for multiple file formats
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on native media players to interpret various video file formats, the invention converts video sequences into a universal representation using standard web-compatible still image formats (such as JPEG or PNG) embedded in HTML. This copying approach uses universally supported web technologies to reproduce video playback functionality without requiring devices to support multiple proprietary video formats
Solution Approach 2:
The solution uses HTML and JavaScript, which are universal web technologies supported by all modern browsers across different handheld devices. By encoding video as sequential still images within HTML and using JavaScript for playback control, the system achieves multi-device compatibility without requiring each device to support specific video file formats or native media players
3Adaptability or versatility
If still images are extracted from video sequence, then browser compatibility is improved, but data volume and processing time worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The video sequence is pre-processed offline to extract only the essential still images at key moments, rather than converting every frame. This preliminary action reduces the number of images that need to be embedded in the webpage, thereby reducing data volume while still maintaining adequate video representation and playback smoothness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adjusts parameters such as the number of still images extracted, their resolution, and the frame rate of playback to optimize the balance between video quality and data volume. By carefully selecting which frames to extract and at what quality level, the system minimizes the total data size while ensuring acceptable video playback experience across browsers with limited capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
A method for video playback uses only resources universally supported by a browser (“inline playback”) operating in virtually all handheld media devices. In one case, the method first prepares a video sequence for display by a browser by (a) dividing the video sequence into a silent video stream and an audio stream; (b) extracting from the silent video stream a number of still images, the number of still images corresponding to at least one of a desired output frame rate and a desired output resolution; and (c) combining the still images into a composite image. In one embodiment, the composite image having a number of rows, with each row being formed by the still images created from a fixed duration of the silent video stream. Another method plays the still images of the composite image as a video sequence by (a) loading the composite image to be displayed through a viewport defined the size of one of the still images; (b) selecting one of the still images of the composite image; (c) setting the viewport to display the selected still image; and (d) setting a timer for a specified time period based on a frame rate, such that, upon expiration of the specified time period: (i) selecting a next one of the still images to be displayed in the viewport, unless all still images of the composite image have been selected; and (ii) return to step (c) if not all still images have been selected.