Network Content Marking for Granular Video Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing content blocking systems for multimedia streaming lack universal standardization, are not adaptable to emerging devices, and fail to provide granular filtering capabilities, especially for live content and non-traditionally rated foreign media, leading to vulnerabilities in blocking objectionable subject matter.

Innovation Solution

A system that marks multimedia content with ratings information at the network level, using data packets or frames, allowing for administrative control through a content marking and delivery agent, and a decoding application on consumer devices to apply filtering settings based on detected ratings, enabling customizable blocking or display of content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If content blocking is implemented at the end-user device level, then filtering control is achieved, but device complexity and processing burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent blocking effectivenessVSAvoidend-user device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a network-level content marking system that acts as an intermediary between content sources and end-user devices. Content marking information is embedded in data packets during transmission, allowing blocking decisions to be made at the network level rather than requiring complex processing at end-user devices. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable content blocking while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If traditional ratings-based blocking is used, then program-level filtering is achieved, but granular content filtering capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblocking configuration simplicityVSAvoidcontent filtering granularity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments content marking information into multiple independent fields within data packets, including overall rating, sub-rating categories (violence, language, sexual content, etc.), and frame-level identifiers. This segmentation enables both simple overall program blocking and granular filtering of specific content elements, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and filtering versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different marking information to different portions of content (frames, packets, or segments) based on their specific characteristics. Each data packet contains marking information relevant to its specific content, enabling localized filtering decisions that maintain both simplicity for uniform content and granularity for differentiated content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If content marking is applied to every data packet, then precise filtering control is achieved, but network bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent rating detection accuracyVSAvoidnetwork data volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements content marking at selective levels rather than uniformly across all data packets. Marking information can be applied to key frames, segment boundaries, or representative packets, allowing precise filtering control while reducing the total quantity of marking data transmitted across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Reliability

If existing content blocking systems are used, then some content filtering is achieved, but universal adaptability across different networks and devices is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent blocking effectivenessVSAvoidcross-network and cross-device compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal content marking system with standardized field structures that can function across multiple network types (broadcast, cable, satellite, IP networks) and device platforms. The marking information format and processing logic are designed to be platform-agnostic, enabling the same system to provide reliable content blocking across diverse networks and devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8006279B2Distributive system for marking and blocking video and audio content related to video and audio programs

Publication Date: 2011.08.23 ALCATEL-LUCENT USA LNC

AI summary

A system is provided for rating multimedia content streamed over a data network as a series of data frames, segments, or packets and for administering display of the rated content. The system includes at least one content source device for creating raw multimedia content; an intermediate content marking and delivery agent for marking and delivering the content created; and a content receiving device for displaying or rejecting delivered content according to detection of and comparison of content markings applied to at least one preset value. In one aspect, the content marking follows some existing or devised rating system and whereupon the marked content is identifiable at the receiving end for each received data frame, segment, or data packet carrying content in a payload.