Set-Top Box Overlaying 3D Graphics on Video

Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems that integrate interactive components with television content increase production costs and complexity, making it financially impractical to create interactive content.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that dynamically modify video content at a set-top box device by receiving video content and accessing scene data to render graphical objects, overlaying them over the video content, and sending the modified content for display, allowing existing content to be transformed into interactive content without additional production costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If interactive components are integrated into television content during production, then interactive features are provided to users, but production costs and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteractive featuresVSAvoidproduction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates video content delivery from interactive component delivery. Video content is transmitted through a first channel while interactive components (graphics, animations, overlays) are delivered through a second channel. This segmentation allows the video production to remain simple and cost-effective while adding interactivity at the reception end through component overlay and compositing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Interactive components are pre-generated and stored as separate data streams or libraries before the actual viewing event. These pre-prepared components (graphics, animations, overlays) are then dynamically selected and overlaid onto the video content during playback, avoiding the need for complex real-time generation and eliminating the need for expensive production-time integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If interactive components are integrated into television content during production, then interactive features are provided to users, but production costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteractive featuresVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates video content delivery from interactive component delivery. Video content is transmitted through a first channel while interactive components (graphics, animations, overlays) are delivered through a second channel. This segmentation allows the video production to remain simple and cost-effective while adding interactivity at the reception end through component overlay and compositing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A set-top box or reception device acts as an intermediary between the simple video content source and the final interactive output. This intermediary device receives both the video stream and interactive components, processes them by overlaying and compositing, and delivers the final interactive content to the display. This mediator eliminates the need for expensive production-time integration while enabling rich interactive features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If interactive components are integrated into existing video content, then previously produced content can be made interactive, but the original content must be altered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteractive featuresVSAvoidoriginal content integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates video content delivery from interactive component delivery. Video content is transmitted through a first channel while interactive components (graphics, animations, overlays) are delivered through a second channel. This segmentation allows the video production to remain simple and cost-effective while adding interactivity at the reception end through component overlay and compositing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Interactive components are pre-generated and stored as separate data streams or libraries before the actual viewing event. These pre-prepared components (graphics, animations, overlays) are then dynamically selected and overlaid onto the video content during playback, avoiding the need for complex real-time generation and eliminating the need for expensive production-time integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9172943B2Dynamic modification of video content at a set-top box device

Publication Date: 2015.10.27 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A particular method includes receiving video content at a set-top box device. Scene data defining a three-dimensional scene is accessed, where the scene data includes object data defining at least one three-dimensional graphical object, and where the scene data is accessed based at least in part on information associated with the video content. The method further includes processing the object data to render the at least one three-dimensional graphical object. The rendered at least one three-dimensional graphical object is overlaid on a portion of the video content, thereby generating dynamically modified video content. The method includes sending the dynamically modified video content to a display device.