Multimedia Playback Indexing for Selective Segment Skipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multimedia playback systems lack the ability to provide viewers with seamless and tailored control over content, leading to inefficiencies in viewing time due to the presence of unwanted content such as commercials and commentary, which are not effectively skipped using current DVRs and VCRs.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize indexes to selectively play back multimedia content segments based on user-defined criteria, allowing for the suppression of non-interesting segments and the seamless playback of only relevant content by detecting and skipping over unwanted material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional VCR or DVR playback is used, then the complete program is played back, but the viewer must watch through unwanted content such as commercials and commentary, increasing viewing time
Solution Approach 1:
Indexes are placed in the multi-media program material during or before recording, marking segments of interest in advance. This preliminary action enables the playback device to quickly locate and jump to desired segments without watching through unwanted content, significantly reducing viewing time while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
An index detection mechanism serves as an intermediary between the stored multi-media program and the playback output. The detector identifies indexes in the program material and controls playback accordingly, enabling selective segment playback without requiring manual intervention from the viewer
2Adaptability or versatility
If DVR features for skipping segments are used, then some commercial content is advanced past, but the control is limited to predetermined criteria and cannot be customized to viewer interests
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-media program material is divided into discrete segments marked by indexes, where each index represents a segment of interest. This segmentation allows the playback system to selectively play back individual segments based on customizable criteria, providing adaptability without requiring complex real-time analysis during playback
3Loss of time
If fast-forward through commercials is used, then viewing time is reduced, but the viewer must still monitor content at high speed to detect segments of interest
Solution Approach 1:
The playback device automatically detects indexes in the multi-media program material and performs selective segment playback without requiring continuous viewer monitoring. The system serves itself by autonomously identifying and playing back segments of interest, eliminating the need for viewers to fast-forward and manually monitor content at high speed
Data Source
AI summary
The time required to review or playback multi-media program material can be controlled to reduce the time required to review a program. Segments of the program are indexed to mark their beginning and/or end. By detecting segments in the program material, segments can be selectively played back that are of interest to a viewer with other segments being skipped over.