Real-time media stream filtering via time offset detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing content control systems for media streams often require reviewing and storing multiple versions of content with filtered portions, which is inefficient and impractical for real-time filtering of inappropriate content such as violent scenes or explicit language, especially in broadcast or transmission scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and system that filters media content by receiving a media stream and a pre-transmitted version with a time offset, detecting the time span of inappropriate content using audio and image recognition, and outputting a filtered stream without the need for prior review, allowing for selective removal or censorship of specific portions within a content item.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple versions of content are reviewed and stored for filtering, then content control accuracy is improved, but storage requirements and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent control accuracyVSAvoidstorage requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection on a lower data rate version of the media stream to identify time spans of inappropriate content before processing the full quality stream. This preliminary action enables accurate content control without requiring multiple stored versions of the complete content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of storing multiple versions of the actual media content, the system creates and processes a simplified copy (lower data rate version) for detection purposes. This copy contains sufficient information to identify content to be filtered without requiring full-quality storage of multiple versions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If multiple versions of content are reviewed and stored for filtering, then content control accuracy is improved, but processing time and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent control accuracyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection on a lower data rate version of the media stream to identify time spans of inappropriate content before processing the full quality stream. This preliminary action enables accurate content control without requiring multiple stored versions of the complete content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The media stream processing is segmented into two stages: first detecting inappropriate content in a lower data rate version, then applying filters to the full quality stream based on detected time spans. This segmentation improves efficiency by avoiding redundant processing of full-quality content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Speed

If real-time filtering is implemented without prior review, then processing speed is improved, but content detection accuracy may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidcontent detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection on a lower data rate version of the media stream to identify time spans of inappropriate content before processing the full quality stream. This preliminary action enables accurate content control without requiring multiple stored versions of the complete content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different quality levels to different processing stages: a lower data rate version is used for detection, while the full quality version is used for final output. This local quality differentiation maintains detection accuracy while enabling real-time processing of high-quality content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3654658A1Content filtering of a multimedia stream
Publication Date: 2020.05.20 NAGRAVISION SA
  • EP3654658A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3654658A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3654658A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A computer-implemented method and a device for filtering media content are disclosed. In the method, the media stream is received, for example at a control device such as a television or set top box connected to a television, or a mobile device. The media stream comprises content, e.g. TV shows, adverts, video game live streams, sports matches and movies, and the content includes a portion to be filtered. An indication is also received, the indication being of a time span of when the portion to be filtered occurs in the media stream. The media stream is then filtered based on the indication of the time span, and the filtered media stream is output for playback, e.g. to a television.