Opportunistic Frame Caching Transcoder for Media Preview

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing media file editing systems are inefficient in previewing and editing media files, as they require processing of entire files before allowing users to preview interested sections, leading to time delays and reduced user productivity.

Innovation Solution

An opportunistic frame cache system that prioritizes decoding and processing of user-selected media file sections first, allowing for timely preview and editing, while concurrently processing unselected sections in the background for future use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the entire source file is processed before preview, then complete processing is achieved, but user waiting time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser waiting timeVSAvoidpreview processing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The source file is divided into multiple sections, and the system processes only the sections the user is interested in first, rather than processing the entire file sequentially. This segmentation allows parallel processing of different sections and enables users to preview relevant portions without waiting for complete file processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary processing of selected sections before the user actually needs to preview them. By anticipating user needs and pre-processing sections of interest, the system eliminates waiting time during preview operations while background processing continues for other sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If only selected sections are processed first, then preview speed improves, but unselected sections remain unprocessed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreview processing efficiencyVSAvoidcomplete file processing
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous processing activity by running background tasks that process unselected sections while the user is previewing selected sections. This ensures that all sections will eventually be processed without interrupting the user's preview workflow, maintaining both speed and completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

A background processing thread acts as an intermediary that continues processing unselected sections independently of the user's preview activities. This intermediary process ensures complete file processing occurs without blocking or delaying the user's immediate preview needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If the system waits for user input before processing, then processing resources are conserved, but user experience suffers due to delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing resource usageVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts its processing behavior based on user actions. When a user requests preview of specific sections, the system immediately processes those sections with higher priority. When no user input is received, the system reduces processing activity to conserve resources, allowing it to scale between idle and active states efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes processing parameters such as priority levels and processing intensity based on user needs. Selected sections receive high-priority processing with full resources, while unselected sections are processed in the background with lower priority, optimizing resource allocation between immediate user needs and future processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3331245B1Opportunistic frame caching transcoder and pre-viewer.
Publication Date: 2019.11.27 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3331245B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3331245B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3331245B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Enhanced, efficient source frame decoding for user previewing is implemented by decoding and caching source frames of an input file that a user is interested in. Source frames for a user preview session are identified and decoded first to enhance user satisfaction with more timely preview segments for review. Additional source frames continue to be decoded on the fly to opportunistically enhance the current preview segment and to be prepared for additional preview segments and/or output file generation.