Media Guidance Application Adaptive Playback Speed Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users often face interruptions in consuming media content due to time limitations, connectivity issues, or device constraints, leading to incomplete media experiences despite the availability of content.

Innovation Solution

A media guidance application that recommends fast-access playback operations, such as fast-forwarding or skipping, to help users complete media content by comparing the time remaining in their trip or media asset with the available time, and provides supplemental information about skipped content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If users consume media content at normal playback speed, then they can experience the content fully, but they may not complete the content within limited time periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompletion of media contentVSAvoidtime to complete media content
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts playback speed based on time constraints. It monitors the difference between current playback position and available time, then recommends fast-forward operations to accelerate playback when time is insufficient, transforming static normal-speed playback into adaptive dynamic speed control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables users to skip portions of media content through recommended fast-forward operations. When time constraints are detected, the system suggests skipping non-critical segments to rush through the content and ensure completion within the available time window

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

2Loss of time

If users fast-forward through media content to complete it within time limits, then they can finish the content, but they may miss important information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime to complete media contentVSAvoidinformation from skipped content
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments media content into different portions and applies different processing strategies. It identifies which segments can be fast-forwarded and which require normal playback, providing supplemental information for skipped segments to ensure users don't miss critical content

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces supplemental information as an intermediary between the user and skipped content. This intermediary provides summaries, key points, or highlights of fast-forwarded segments, allowing users to access essential information without watching every moment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If users consume media content without guidance, then they can watch at their own pace, but they may not efficiently utilize available time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous media consumptionVSAvoidmedia consumption efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring playback position, time constraints, and user progress. It provides real-time recommendations based on this feedback, comparing current playback status with available time and suggesting appropriate fast-forward operations to optimize completion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3396962B1Methods and systems for alerting users regarding media availability
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 ADEIA GUIDES INC
  • EP3396962B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3396962B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3396962B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Methods and systems are described herein for a media guidance application that alerts a user regarding the availability of media content. For example, the media guidance application may determine, based on the current progress of the user in media content, whether or not the user will complete the media content while the media content is available. If not, the media guidance application may alert the user.