Multimedia File Previewing via Embedded Frame Tags
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for previewing multimedia files are limited, requiring separate preview files that consume additional storage space and are difficult to manage, and often fail to provide a useful preview experience due to reliance on random jumping through the content.
Innovation Solution
Embedding information within multimedia files to designate specific frames as preview content, allowing media players to present these frames as a preview and supporting extended play by appending additional frames upon user request.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate preview files are created for multimedia files, then users can preview content before obtaining the full file, but additional storage space is required and management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the preview functionality with the original multimedia file by embedding preview information directly into the file structure. Instead of creating separate preview files, the system integrates preview frames and associated metadata within the same file container, eliminating the need for duplicate storage while maintaining preview capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts specific frames from the multimedia file to serve as preview content. By selecting and extracting key frames that represent important moments in the multimedia content, the system provides effective preview functionality using only a portion of the original file data, rather than storing complete duplicate files.
2Reliability
If separate preview files are created, then preview content is available, but users have difficulty identifying the corresponding multimedia file for the preview
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the preview frames and the corresponding metadata (including the identifier linking to the full multimedia file) within the same file structure, the system ensures that preview content and its source identification are always together. This integration eliminates the confusion of matching separate preview files with their source files.
3Reliability
If fixed preview content is provided in separate files, then users can view predetermined excerpts, but users cannot request additional portions of the multimedia file
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic preview system where the preview content is not fixed but can be extended upon user request. The system allows users to interact with the preview and request additional frames or portions of the multimedia file, adapting the preview experience to user needs while maintaining the structured organization of preview data within the file.
4Ease of operation
If random jumping through multimedia content is used for preview, then users can navigate the content, but the preview experience is not useful due to random results
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary selection of frames during the file processing stage, identifying and marking key frames that represent important moments in the multimedia content. This preliminary action ensures that when users access preview content, they immediately see meaningful and representative excerpts rather than random frames, improving preview quality while maintaining navigation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for previewing multimedia files associate information with a multimedia file that designates certain “frames” of the multimedia file as preview content. Such information is embedded within the multimedia file itself using, for example, tags. A media player application may, in response to a user's request to preview a selected multimedia file, determine from the associated information those frames of the multimedia file that are designated as preview content, and the media player application may then present such designated preview frames to the user as a preview. Certain embodiments further enable extended play beyond the designated preview frames, responsive to a user request for such extended play. For example, during playing of a given preview frame, a user may request extended play, wherein additional contiguous frames are appended to the preview frame(s) to provide an extended play beyond what would be presented by the pre-designated preview.