Automated Media Content Processing Workflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current video content creation and distribution processes require advanced knowledge of video codecs, format requirements, and multiple software applications, leading to complex and manual workflows, with existing tools like Windows Workflow Foundation and Automator failing to automate compression and distribution across multiple platforms.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that receive user input for content files, formats, and destinations, determining necessary operations and available applications to automate content processing, codec selection, and distribution, integrating with various software platforms including Windows, Apple, and Open Source applications to streamline the workflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual video processing and distribution workflow is used, then users can maintain control over each operation, but the process requires significant time and user expertise
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting available software applications, determining necessary processing operations, and executing the complete video creation and distribution workflow without requiring user intervention in intermediate steps. The system manages the entire process from source video input to distributed output across multiple platforms autonomously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring and storing information about multiple software applications and their capabilities. When a user initiates video processing, the system has already prepared the knowledge base of available tools, enabling immediate automated workflow execution without requiring users to manually configure each application in advance.
2Loss of time
If automated workflow tools like Windows Workflow Foundation or Automator are used, then time is reduced, but the tools cannot manage complexities of interfacing with multiple video creation software programs
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by designing a platform that can interface with and coordinate multiple different software applications including video editing software, compression software, transcoding software, and FTP clients. The system maintains a knowledge base of various application capabilities and dynamically selects and coordinates the appropriate tools for each specific workflow requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary by introducing a central coordinating application that manages the workflow between source video files and multiple destination platforms. This intermediary application detects available software, determines necessary operations, and orchestrates the entire process, eliminating the need for users to directly manage complex interfaces between multiple specialized applications.
3Ease of manufacture
If proprietary software tools for video processing are used, then specific platform functionality is available, but users require significant training and expertise to operate effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting which software applications are installed on the user's computer and determining their capabilities. The system then autonomously configures and executes the appropriate processing operations without requiring users to manually configure settings or understand the underlying software tools, effectively making the complex tools serve themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary application layer that sits between the user and the complex proprietary software tools. This intermediary handles all the complexity of interfacing with video editing software, compression software, and transcoding software, presenting a simplified interface to users while managing the sophisticated operations in the background.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple software applications are used for video processing, then comprehensive processing capabilities are achieved, but the workflow becomes complex and requires manual intervention at each step
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple separate software applications and their functions into a unified automated workflow managed by a single coordinating application. By combining the detection, decision-making, and execution capabilities into one integrated system, the patent reduces workflow complexity while maintaining comprehensive processing capabilities across video editing, compression, transcoding, and distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus of processing content, such as, video and/or audio are disclosed. The operations of processing content may include receiving user input, such as, a content file, a type of content format, and a content destination. Other operations include determining necessary operations needed to complete the content processing and determining the applications available to the user on a local machine used by the user. The operations further include determining whether the user's local machine includes the necessary applications to perform the content processing, and determining a codec that will be used to process the content, and formatting the content using the codec and distributing the content to the content destination.