Media Seek Mechanism Using Key Frame Browsing Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional media players on mobile devices and tablets offer imprecise navigation for seeking through media streams due to the small size and imprecision of scroll bars, making it difficult for users to accurately locate specific positions in videos or other media.
Innovation Solution
A media location browsing interface is provided that includes a plurality of key frames representing locations along the media stream, allowing users to select and seek to specific playback locations, with features like smart seek and animated transitions to enhance navigation and user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a scroll bar is used for seeking through media streams on mobile devices, then the media player provides basic seeking functionality, but the small size of the scroll bar makes it imprecise and difficult to use, resulting in poor measurement precision for locating specific positions
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous media timeline is segmented into discrete key frames (e.g., every 10 seconds) that are displayed as selectable thumbnails. Users can tap on specific key frames to jump to precise locations, transforming the imprecise continuous scroll bar interaction into precise discrete selection. This segmentation allows users to accurately locate specific positions in the media stream.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional one-dimensional scroll bar is replaced with a two-dimensional interface showing multiple key frames arranged spatially. Users can visually scan through different time positions simultaneously and tap on specific frames, adding a spatial dimension to the seeking operation that improves both precision and ease of use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If transport controls with fixed time increments are used, then the media player provides basic navigation capability, but it cannot provide precise navigation when users need to find specific locations in the media stream
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system dynamically adapts between two modes: (1) Key frame selection mode for precise navigation to specific locations, and (2) Scroll bar mode for flexible browsing through the media stream. Users can switch between these modes based on their needs, providing both precision and flexibility in navigation.
Solution Approach 2:
Key frames serve as intermediary markers between the continuous media stream and the user's navigation needs. These key frames act as reference points that users can selectively access, providing precise location navigation while maintaining the flexibility to browse through the entire stream.
3Device complexity
If a traditional scroll bar is displayed on mobile devices, then the media player maintains a simple interface, but in bright, noisy real-world conditions, the small scroll bar becomes difficult to see and use
Solution Approach 1:
The interface segments the media timeline into discrete, visually distinct key frame thumbnails that are larger and more visible than a continuous scroll bar. These segmented representations can be displayed in various sizes and styles that are optimized for visibility in bright, noisy environments, while still maintaining relative simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The key frames can be displayed with varying colors, brightness levels, or visual emphasis to improve visibility in real-world conditions. Different colors can indicate different states (e.g., current position, upcoming key frames), making the interface more visible and usable in bright or noisy environments without significantly increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Mechanisms are provided for presenting a media location browsing interface to facilitate a media search and/or seek. A client device receives a media stream from a streaming server. This client device provides a media location browsing interface after receiving the media stream. This media location browsing interface includes a plurality of key frames representing locations along the media stream that are selectable at the client device. A seek request to play the media stream from a seek location corresponding to one of the plurality of key frames is captured. The client device begins playback of the media stream at the seek location.