Multimedia Content Review via Time-Stamped Signatures

Solution Overview

Problem

The manual process of reviewing multimedia content is prone to errors due to the reliance on physical media and handwritten notes, making it difficult for multiple reviewers to accurately comment on specific moments within a video, leading to inconsistencies and inaccuracies in feedback.

Innovation Solution

A content review system that allows creators to transmit multimedia content for remote review via a network, enabling reviewers to annotate content based on time-stamped signatures, which are then aggregated and displayed accurately during playback, using a client-client architecture that includes media servers for storage and client software for review and annotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual review process with physical media and handwritten notes is used, then reviewers can provide feedback on video content, but accuracy of timing and coordination of comments to specific moments is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical review process (physical media, handwritten notes, manual timing) with an automated computer-based system that electronically timestamps comments and automatically coordinates them to specific video moments, eliminating human error in timing measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a computer-based review system as an intermediary between the reviewer and the video content, which automatically captures timing data, stores comments with precise timestamps, and coordinates them to the correct video moments, removing the need for manual timing measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple copies of video content are made for multiple reviewers, then concurrent review is enabled, but cost and complexity of media duplication increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses electronic digital copies of video content that can be distributed to multiple reviewers simultaneously without physical duplication costs, allowing concurrent review while eliminating the need for multiple physical media copies

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal digital review system where a single video file can be accessed by multiple reviewers concurrently through a network, eliminating the need to create separate physical copies for each reviewer while enabling simultaneous review

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If handwritten notes are used for comments, then reviewers can provide feedback, but accuracy of coordinate alignment to video timeline is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces handwritten notes with an electronic comment system that automatically timestamps and coordinates comments to precise video timeline positions, eliminating the manual alignment process and ensuring accurate positioning without increasing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Speed

If physical media is used for content distribution, then reviewers can access video content, but speed of review process decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical media distribution with electronic file transfer through a network, eliminating mailing time and enabling immediate access to video content by reviewers, thereby significantly accelerating the overall review process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9384178B2Review of signature based content

Publication Date: 2016.07.05

AI summary

Briefly, in accordance with at least one embodiment, a content creator/editor may have content reviewed by one or more reviewers. The content may include one or more signatures or characteristic values to correlate an annotation of the content made by one of the reviewers with respect to a flow of time of the content. The content creator/editor may generate a review file for the content and send the review file to the reviewers. The reviewers may provide annotations to the content with respect to the flow of time of the content, where the annotations may be correlated to the content via the signature or characteristic values of the content, and the reviewers may store the annotations independent of the content. The review process may be managed independent of a managing server where the content creator/editor may generate a review file and send the review file to the reviewers using a client content creation and editing software program on local machine of the content creator/editor. The reviewers may receive the review file, which may include content or the content may be streamed to a local machine of the reviewers using a client review program to manage the obtaining and reviewing of the content. The reviewers may generate annotations of the content independent of content and save them in a file that is sent back to the content creator/editor for aggregation of the annotations and selective viewing of the annotations of the content.