Multimedia Content Modification for Video Conferencing Readability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current videoconferencing technologies lack the ability to enhance video stream quality and protect sensitive information from being inadvertently shared, particularly in environments where hardware or network conditions are suboptimal, leading to issues with content readability and confidentiality.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses a quality indicator to assess multimedia content and either enrich or mask the content, ensuring it meets required quality standards by replacing suboptimal parts with reference content, thereby ensuring clear visibility and protecting sensitive information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If video stream quality is enhanced through better hardware and network conditions, then content readability is improved, but device cost and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent readabilityVSAvoidhardware requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent captures the displayed content using a camera to create a digital copy, then processes this copy through image enhancement algorithms. This allows high-quality reproduction of content without requiring expensive dedicated display hardware at each participant's location, resolving the contradiction between readability and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces physical hardware improvements (better cameras, larger screens, superior network infrastructure) with software-based image processing techniques. By using algorithms to enhance captured images in real-time, the system achieves high readability without relying on expensive mechanical hardware upgrades

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If video stream quality is enhanced through better hardware and network conditions, then content readability is improved, but implementation cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent readabilityVSAvoidimplementation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of investing in expensive professional video conferencing hardware, the system uses a smartphone camera to capture and digitally reproduce displayed content. This copying approach leverages existing consumer devices, dramatically reducing implementation costs while maintaining readability through software enhancement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes readily available, inexpensive smartphone devices with built-in cameras instead of costly dedicated video conferencing equipment. These consumer-grade devices can be replaced or upgraded easily, reducing both initial implementation cost and long-term infrastructure investment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Loss of information

If camera captures all visible content in the environment, then complete scene documentation is achieved, but sensitive information disclosure risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescene documentation completenessVSAvoidconfidentiality risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different processing treatments to different regions of the captured image. Sensitive areas undergo redaction or masking while other regions maintain their original quality. This spatially differentiated approach preserves necessary scene documentation while protecting confidential information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediate processing step between image capture and transmission. An automated analysis component identifies sensitive content and applies appropriate redaction before the image is shared, acting as a mediator that balances documentation completeness with confidentiality protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Measurement precision

If image processing is applied to enhance content quality, then readability is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent readabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies image processing selectively rather than uniformly to the entire image. It focuses enhancement algorithms on specific regions containing displayed content while leaving other areas unprocessed, reducing overall processing time and computational resource requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary analysis of the captured image to identify regions of interest containing displayed content before applying enhancement algorithms. This pre-processing step ensures that computational resources are concentrated only where needed, minimizing processing time while maintaining readability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3949317B1Method for modifying multimedia content

Publication Date: 2024.08.21 ORANGE SA

Figure 1~2
Figure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for modifying multimedia content captured by at least one first terminal which is capable of re-transmitting the content, the invention being characterised in that the method comprises a step of identifying at least one part of the content captured by the at least one first terminal, a step of determining, for the at least one part, at least one quality indicator and a step of modifying the at least one part of the content depending on the at least one quality indicator.