Metadata Processor for Enhanced TV Broadcast Channel Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current enhanced television systems face inefficiencies due to diverse set-top box capabilities and varying distribution requirements, making it challenging to prepare interactive signal components that fit all platforms and manage forward-channel and back-channel bandwidth and latencies effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that generate metadata for enhanced video signals, processing it to determine the optimal transmission channel for viewers, utilizing a cue processor with content, user, and bandwidth models to decide between forward-channel and back-channel transmission based on cues and statistical probabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If programmers prepare interactive signal components for maximum distribution across diverse set-top boxes, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that receives broadcast signals and generates metadata describing interactive content. This intermediary layer translates between the broadcast signal and diverse set-top box requirements, allowing programmers to prepare content once while accommodating multiple platform capabilities through automated metadata generation and channel selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the interactive signal preparation into distinct components: metadata generation, channel selection, and content delivery. By separating these functions and using metadata to describe content characteristics, the system can adapt to different set-top box capabilities without requiring complete re-preparation of interactive components for each platform.
2Adaptability or versatility
If operators deploy set-top boxes with diverse capabilities and interfaces, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal metadata structure that can describe interactive content for multiple set-top box types. The metadata format and processing system are designed to work across different platforms, allowing a single content preparation pipeline to serve diverse set-top boxes with varying capabilities through automated channel selection and content delivery.
3Speed
If content is embedded in the broadcast signal, then transmission speed improves, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic channel selection that determines whether to embed content in the forward channel or deliver it through the back channel based on real-time conditions. The system uses metadata to describe content characteristics and selects the optimal delivery path, allowing flexible adaptation between embedding and triggering strategies to balance speed and bandwidth consumption.
4Quantity of substance
If content is triggered to load over back-channel, then bandwidth efficiency improves, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between embedding and back-channel triggering based on content characteristics described in metadata and current network conditions. For time-sensitive content, the system embeds in the forward channel to minimize latency; for less time-critical content, it uses back-channel delivery to optimize bandwidth efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for enhanced video signal processing are described. An enhanced video signal is received. A plurality of metadata describing the enhanced video signal are generated and processed. A channel for transmission of the enhanced video signal to a plurality of viewers is determined.