Metadata Tags in Video Recordings for Portable Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable encoded information reading (EIR) terminals face challenges in efficiently searching and retrieving video information due to the lack of effective metadata tagging and management, leading to increased data transfer volumes between video content management servers and playback clients.

Innovation Solution

The integration of metadata tags into video files by EIR terminals, which can be automatically created or inserted by operators, facilitates video information search and retrieval by allowing for conditional processing and actions based on these tags, reducing data transfer and enhancing navigation through video databases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If metadata tags are inserted into video files by EIR terminals, then video information search and retrieval efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo information search and retrieval efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically inserting metadata tags into video files at the time of recording or immediately thereafter. This preliminary tagging allows the video content management server to index and organize videos before they are needed for search, enabling efficient retrieval without requiring complex real-time processing during playback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using a video content management server as a mediator between EIR terminals and video databases. The server handles the complex tasks of receiving video files, inserting metadata tags, indexing content, and managing search queries, thereby reducing the complexity burden on the portable EIR terminals while improving overall system productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If metadata tags are used to facilitate video search, then data transfer volume is reduced, but loss of information may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer volumeVSAvoidinformation loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts essential information from video content and encapsulates it in metadata tags, separating this information from the full video data. By taking out only the necessary descriptive attributes (such as content type, duration, location, time) and storing them separately in the database, the system enables efficient search and retrieval while transferring only minimal data between devices, thus reducing data transfer volume without losing critical information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs copying by creating a separate metadata copy of the video file that contains only the essential information needed for identification and search. This metadata copy is stored in the video database and used for search operations, allowing the system to work with lightweight copies rather than the full video data, thereby reducing transfer requirements while preserving all necessary information for effective search and retrieval.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If automatic metadata tagging is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidmanufacturing precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by enabling EIR terminals to automatically insert metadata tags into video files without requiring manual intervention. The terminal itself performs the tagging operation using its own processing capabilities and available resources, eliminating the need for external manual tagging services. This automatic self-service approach significantly improves ease of operation while maintaining acceptable precision through standardized metadata formats and automated processing algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8270303B2Using metadata tags in video recordings produced by portable encoded information reading terminals
Publication Date: 2012.09.18 HAND HELD PRODS INC
  • US8270303B2 patent drawing
  • US8270303B2 patent drawing
  • US8270303B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system and method for facilitating the video information search and users' navigation through multiple video image or video stream files, as well as reducing the amount of data transferred between a video content management server and a video playback client, by employing metadata tags inserted into the video recordings automatically or by an operator of an encoded information reading terminal.