Status-Aware Media Playback Bandwidth Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Video hosting services often waste bandwidth as users may not actively engage with video content, such as when they minimize the video window or attend to other tasks, leading to unnecessary resource allocation.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a user-interaction analyzer that monitors and logs user behavior to identify normal and abnormal interaction patterns, allowing for adjustment of playback functionality, such as switching to low-bandwidth streaming when user behavior indicates inactivity or reduced engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If video content is continuously streamed to users, then user experience is maintained, but bandwidth is wasted when users are not actively engaging with the content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth usageVSAvoiduser experience quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts video streaming quality based on real-time user interaction status. When user activity is detected, full-quality streaming is provided; when inactivity is detected (e.g., minimized window, other applications active), the system transitions to audio-only or lower-quality streaming, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining user experience during active viewing periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops by continuously monitoring user interaction status through hooks and status checks. This feedback information is used to adjust streaming parameters in real-time, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes bandwidth usage based on actual user engagement levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If user behavior monitoring is implemented, then bandwidth can be optimized, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the user's own device status information (window state, active application, audio output device) to automatically determine interaction levels and adjust streaming parameters without requiring external monitoring infrastructure or complex analysis systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary components (hooks, status check mechanisms, and control modules) that act as mediators between the user's device state and the video streaming system, simplifying the overall architecture by localizing the monitoring function within the user's device rather than requiring centralized complex monitoring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2864897B1Status aware media play
Publication Date: 2019.10.16 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP2864897B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2864897B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2864897B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques for determining status aware media play are described. When current user behavior with respect to a media segment deviates from baseline user behavior, the media segment is tagged in memory, and a determination is made as to whether playback functionality with respect to the tagged media segment should be adjusted.