Multimedia Index Structures for Efficient Trick Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multimedia file playback systems face inefficiencies in performing trick play functions due to the need to process extensive index data, leading to high memory usage and prolonged file load times, especially when seeking specific frames within multimedia files.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of hierarchical and reduced indexes, expressed using bit field flags and associated data fields, allows for efficient frame location and reduced memory footprint, enabling rapid trick play operations by providing coarse and refined index representations within multimedia files.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single linear index structure is used to store all frame locations, then the player can access any frame in the file, but the player must process extensive index data sequentially causing high memory usage and prolonged load times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the traditional linear index into a hierarchical structure with multiple levels. The top level contains coarse index entries for major time segments, while lower levels contain progressively more detailed frame information. This segmentation allows the player to access only the necessary index portions for trick play operations without processing the entire index sequentially, thereby reducing load time while maintaining frame access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional linear index to a multi-dimensional hierarchical index structure. Instead of storing index entries in a single sequential list, the index is organized across multiple levels with increasing granularity. This dimensional change enables random access to specific time ranges without traversing the entire index, significantly reducing the data processing required for trick play operations.
2Ease of operation
If a single linear index structure is used to store all frame locations, then the player can access any frame in the file, but the player must process extensive index data sequentially causing high memory requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the index data into hierarchical levels, where only the necessary portions are loaded into memory during trick play operations. The coarse index at higher levels provides a compact overview that can be processed with minimal memory, while detailed frame information is accessed only when needed from lower levels, reducing peak memory requirements compared to loading the entire linear index.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by loading and processing only the necessary index portions required for the current trick play operation rather than the entire index. When a user requests trick play at a specific time range, the player loads only the relevant hierarchical index levels for that range, avoiding the memory burden of processing the complete index data structure.
3Measurement precision
If the player processes the first half of the index data to determine required data points, then the player can accurately locate frames, but the process is time-consuming and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the index processing into hierarchical levels, allowing the player to first examine coarse index entries at higher levels to determine the time range of interest. Only after identifying the relevant segment does the player drill down to lower levels for detailed frame information. This segmented approach maintains accurate frame location while dramatically reducing the total processing time compared to sequentially processing the entire linear index.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by using the coarse index at higher hierarchical levels to pre-determine the time range and necessary data points before accessing detailed frame information. This preliminary examination allows the player to efficiently locate the required data points without processing the entire index, thereby improving both accuracy and speed of frame location.
Data Source
AI summary
Playback and distribution systems and methods for multimedia files are provided. The multimedia files are encoded with indexes associated with the content data of the multimedia files. Through the use of the indexes, playback of the content is enhanced without significantly increasing the file size of the multimedia file.