Sensory Playback Metadata for Personalized Content Variation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) lack the ability to automatically customize playback of recorded content based on individual user preferences or community collaboration, limiting the flexibility and personalization of sensory work consumption.

Innovation Solution

A sensory work playback system that utilizes metadata to control or vary the playback of sensory works through a processor, storage device, and output port, enabling operations such as skipping, reordering, overlaying, and inserting content, and allowing for community collaboration and profile-based advertising.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional PVR playback control is used, then basic playback functions (pause, rewind, fast forward) are available, but playback cannot be automatically customized based on user preferences or community collaboration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback customizationVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments playback control into multiple independent components: metadata records containing variation encodings, user preference profiles, and community-generated tags. These segmented elements can be independently created, stored, and applied to achieve customized playback without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating metadata records with variation encodings that define alternative playback versions. These metadata records are created and stored in advance, allowing automatic playback customization to occur during playback without real-time processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If manual playback control is used, then users have direct control over playback, but users must manually control each playback operation without automation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback automationVSAvoiduser control

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing users to create and store their own preference profiles and community tags, which automatically generate metadata records. The system then automatically applies these user-defined rules during playback, reducing manual control requirements while maintaining user agency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where user interactions with playback content generate data that refines preference profiles and community tags. This feedback loop enables the system to learn and adapt to user preferences over time, improving automation while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If single-user playback preferences are used, then individual customization is possible, but community collaboration and shared preferences cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunity collaborationVSAvoiduser preference data

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges individual user preference profiles with community-generated tags and metadata records into a unified playback control system. This combination allows the system to leverage both personal preferences and collective community wisdom without losing either type of information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The metadata record structure is designed with universal applicability, serving multiple functions: storing user preferences, community tags, variation encodings, and playback control rules. This multi-functional design enables community collaboration while preserving individual user data within a single standardized format.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Manufacturing precision

If detailed playback variation encodings are implemented, then precise playback control is achieved, but metadata complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback control precisionVSAvoidmetadata structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system manages metadata complexity by organizing variation encodings as structured parameters within standardized metadata records. These parameters can be selectively applied based on user preferences and content type, allowing precise playback control while maintaining manageable metadata through systematic parameter organization and hierarchical structuring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2587465B1Variation and control of sensory work playback

Publication Date: 2026.01.21 SONY COMP ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC

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AI summary

A sensory work playback system includes a sensory work input port operable to receive sensory work data, a storage device for storing a playback control record setting forth alterations to the playback of the sensory work data, a sensory work output port operable to send information to a sensory output device to enable the playback of sensory work data, and a processor operable to alter the playback of sensory work data by outputting altered sensory work data through the sensory work output port. The playback control record includes a sensory work applicability identifier usable to determine whether the playback control record is applicable to the sensory work, a frame of reference, and at least one variation encoding defining an alteration to be applied to the playback of the sensory work relative to the frame of reference.