Remote Video Editing Proxy Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional multi-user video editing systems face inefficiencies due to high network bandwidth requirements, underutilization of resources, and inability to perform complex editing functions efficiently, especially with high-resolution video formats, which necessitate increased processing power and bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

A remote video editing system that transmits a low-bandwidth representation of media projects to clients, using a server with a complexity evaluator and render scheduler to dispatch rendering tasks to a background engine for complex regions, storing rendered regions in a cache for efficient delivery, and employing a real-time rendering engine for less complex tasks, allowing dynamic resource allocation based on user needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional multi-user systems use centralized servers to host and distribute media files, then resource sharing and collaboration are enabled, but network bandwidth requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource sharing capabilityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the media file into multiple slices or chunks that can be independently processed and transmitted. Instead of transmitting the entire media file to each client, only the necessary slices are processed and sent, reducing overall network bandwidth consumption while maintaining collaborative editing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The server performs preliminary processing of media files by pre-rendering frames or pre-processing slices before they are needed for editing. This allows the complex processing to be done in advance on the server side, reducing the real-time network bandwidth requirements during collaborative editing sessions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If robust server hardware is used to handle complex editing tasks in traditional multi-user systems, then editing capability is improved, but system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveediting capabilityVSAvoidhardware resource requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that handles the computationally intensive tasks of media processing and rendering. The server acts as a mediator between the client and the raw media files, performing complex editing operations on the server side and transmitting only processed results to clients, thereby reducing the hardware requirements at client locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring each client to have robust hardware to process the entire media file, the system creates and transmits copies of processed media slices or frames to clients. These copies are optimized for the specific editing tasks needed, allowing clients with less powerful hardware to participate in collaborative editing effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the entire source media file is transmitted to clients for offline editing, then editing flexibility is improved, but network traffic and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveediting flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork processing energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary portions of the media file for editing by processing and transmitting only specific slices, frames, or chunks rather than the entire source media file. This extraction approach maintains editing flexibility for the relevant portions while significantly reducing network traffic and processing energy requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of transmitting the complete media file (excessive action), the system transmits only the partial portions that are actually needed for the editing task at hand. This partial action approach reduces network processing energy while providing sufficient editing flexibility for the specific project requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2256735B1Rendering in a multi-user video editing system
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 AVID TECH CANADA CORP
  • EP2256735B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2256735B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2256735B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and systems for remotely editing a video file involve: receiving, at a server, a video editing command from a remote client; modifying, at the server, a virtual representation of a media file in accordance with the received command, the virtual representation including a reference to a source media file stored on a storage device, the storage device being connected to the server over a high-speed link; and generating and transmitting, from the server to the remote client, a proxy representation of the source media file modified by the editing commands, wherein the various regions of the proxy representation are rendered either in the background or in real-time according to their complexity. Rendered frames, whether generated in the background or in real time, are stored for reuse. Individual frames of the edited video file may be transmitted upon request from a client. Simultaneous editing of independent projects by multiple users connected to the server via multiple thin clients is supported.