Interactive 360-Degree Video Playback From Any Location and Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video playback methods restrict viewers to fixed sequences and angles, preventing flexible observation from any location or time.

Innovation Solution

Implementing 360-degree video capturing and user-controlled interaction methods, including touch, gesture, voice, and sensor inputs to allow flexible playback from any location and time, with customizable visual angles and sequences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional video playback is used, then the video sequence and manner are fixed, but the observer cannot watch from any location and any time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility of observation location and timeVSAvoidfixed playback sequence
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the video playback sequence and viewing angle adjustable and flexible. The system allows users to dynamically change playback start positions, viewing angles, and playback speed according to their needs, transforming the fixed playback into a dynamic, user-controlled experience that adapts to different observation requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes multiple parameters including playback start time, viewing angle, playback speed, and sequence order. By allowing users to modify these parameters, the system enables observation from any location and time while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive parameter adjustment interfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If 360-degree video capturing is implemented, then the observer can watch from any angle, but the playback sequence and manner remain fixed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing angle flexibilityVSAvoidplayback control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the 360-degree video into multiple viewable sections or frames at different angles and positions. This segmentation allows the system to present users with specific angle selections and playback starting points without requiring complex real-time processing, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining viewing angle flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and organizing video data into structured formats with marked-up positions and angles before playback. This preparation allows the playback system to simply retrieve and display pre-organized data, reducing the complexity of real-time playback control while enabling flexible viewing from any angle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3334173B1Method and device for playing video content at any position and time
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3334173B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3334173B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2h
  • EP3334173B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4f

AI summary

The present invention applies to the field of man-machine interaction technologies, and provides a method and an apparatus for displaying a video from any location and any time. The method includes: obtaining a control signal input by a user, where the control signal reflects an operation intention of the user; determining a manner of displaying video content according to the control signal input by the user; determining a video playback control instruction according to characteristic information of the video content and the manner of displaying the video content, where the video playback control instruction includes a playback start location and a playback manner; and playing the video content under control of the video playback control instruction. Because the control instruction is determined according to the manner of displaying the to-be-played video, the video can be played from any location and any time.