Playback Device HDR SDR Stream Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Playback devices and display devices often have varying capabilities in handling high dynamic range (HDR) video streams, leading to issues where HDR content cannot be displayed at its intended quality due to mismatched playback and display capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A playback method that reads identification information from a recording medium to determine the presence of HDR and SDR streams, and based on playback and display capability information, selects and outputs the appropriate video stream to ensure optimal playback on connected devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If HDR stream is recorded on the recording medium, then the image quality and dynamic range are improved, but compatibility with display devices that cannot display HDR is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidcompatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The video content is segmented into multiple streams with different dynamic range characteristics (HDR stream and SDR stream). The recording medium stores both versions, allowing the playback device to select the appropriate stream based on display device capabilities. This segmentation enables high-quality HDR playback when possible while maintaining broad compatibility through SDR fallback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recording medium is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating both HDR and SDR video streams. This universal approach allows the same recording medium to serve both HDR-capable and non-HDR-capable display devices, ensuring broad adaptability without sacrificing the ability to deliver high-quality HDR content when the display device supports it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If the playback device outputs HDR video signal, then the display quality is improved, but the requirement for display device capability increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoiddisplay device capability requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The playback device dynamically adjusts its output based on the capabilities of the connected display device. It includes functionality to detect whether the display device supports HDR and automatically selects the appropriate video stream (HDR or SDR) accordingly. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to deliver high display quality when possible while remaining compatible with simpler display devices that lack HDR capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple video streams are recorded for different dynamic ranges, then the adaptability to different display devices is improved, but the data storage requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to display devicesVSAvoiddata storage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The video content is divided into separate streams (HDR stream and SDR stream) that are multiplexed together in the recording medium. This segmentation allows efficient storage and selective playback of appropriate content based on display device capabilities, achieving high adaptability without excessive redundancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple video streams with different dynamic range characteristics are combined (multiplexed) into a single recording medium structure. This merging allows the system to provide adaptability to different display devices while optimizing storage efficiency through shared metadata and structured organization of the multiple streams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3217656B1Reproduction method, reproduction device, and program
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA
  • EP3217656B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3217656B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3217656B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A playback method of a playback device that plays video streams recorded in a recording medium, in which are recorded one or more video streams including at least one of an HDR stream of which a dynamic range of luminance of video corresponds to a high dynamic range (HDR), and an SDR stream of which a dynamic range of luminance of video corresponds to a standard dynamic range (SDR) that is narrower than HDR, and identification information indicating whether or not the HDR stream is included in the one or more video streams. The playback method includes: reading the identification information from the recording medium; acquiring playback capability information indicating whether or not the playback device can play the HDR stream, and display capability information indicating whether or not a display device connected to the playback device can display the HDR video; and deciding a video stream for playback out of the one or more video streams, in accordance with the identification information that has been read out, the acquired playback capability information and the acquired display capability information.