Media Processing Chain State Metadata to Avoid Redundant Operations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Media processing units often perform unnecessary processing on media data due to a lack of awareness of its processing history, leading to degradation and loss of features, especially in networks with multiple scattered processing units.

Innovation Solution

Implementing media processing units that can retrieve and validate processing state metadata to adapt their operations based on the media data's history, using techniques such as data hiding and secure communication to ensure efficient and adaptive processing across a media processing chain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If media processing units operate independently without awareness of processing history, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but media quality degrades due to redundant processing operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidmedia quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where processing state metadata is embedded in the media bitstream and retrieved by downstream processing units. This feedback loop allows each unit to adapt its operations based on the processing history, preventing redundant operations while maintaining ease of operation through automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding processing state metadata in the media bitstream before it reaches downstream processing units. This allows downstream units to know in advance what processing has already been applied, enabling them to skip redundant operations and preserve media quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If processing state metadata is embedded and retrieved across multiple processing units, then media quality is preserved by avoiding redundant processing, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia qualityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal processing state metadata structure that can be used across all media processing units in the chain. This multi-functional approach allows the same metadata mechanism to serve multiple purposes: tracking processing history, guiding adaptive operations, and ensuring quality preservation, thereby managing complexity through standardization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces processing state metadata as an intermediary element that mediates between upstream and downstream processing units. This intermediary carries essential information about processing history without requiring direct complex communication between units, simplifying the overall system architecture while preserving media quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If volume leveling is performed on already leveled audio clips, then processing completeness is maintained, but media quality degrades due to feature removal and unnecessary operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing completenessVSAvoidmedia quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by performing volume leveling only when necessary, as determined by processing state metadata. Instead of always applying the full processing operation, the system selectively applies processing based on the actual state of the media data, thereby maintaining processing completeness where needed while avoiding quality degradation from redundant operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Productivity

If processing state metadata is validated and used for adaptive processing, then productivity is improved by avoiding redundant operations, but device complexity increases due to validation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service through automated validation of processing state metadata using cryptographic hash values. The system validates its own processing state information without requiring external verification, enabling adaptive processing and improved productivity while managing complexity through automated self-verification mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12603094B2Adaptive processing with multiple media processing nodes

Publication Date: 2026.04.14 DOLBY LABORATORIES LICENSING CORP

AI summary

Techniques for adaptive processing of media data based on separate data specifying a state of the media data are provided. A device in a media processing chain may determine whether a type of media processing has already been performed on an input version of media data. If so, the device may adapt its processing of the media data to disable performing the type of media processing. If not, the device performs the type of media processing. The device may create a state of the media data specifying the type of media processing. The device may communicate the state of the media data and an output version of the media data to a recipient device in the media processing chain, for the purpose of supporting the recipient device's adaptive processing of the media data.