Embedding Transition Points in Streaming Media
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Streaming media quality changes based on available bandwidth can occur at undesirable times, disrupting the viewing experience, especially during important scenes or transitions in media content.
Innovation Solution
Embedding transition points in media content allows for controlled adjustments in image quality levels based on metadata, ensuring quality changes occur at less noticeable moments, thus optimizing the viewing experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If image quality level is dynamically adjusted based on available bandwidth, then bandwidth utilization is optimized, but viewing experience quality deteriorates due to unwanted quality changes during important scenes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-identifying and marking transition points in the media content where quality changes are acceptable. These time markers are embedded in the media data before streaming, allowing the system to proactively plan quality adjustments at predetermined acceptable locations rather than reactively changing quality at any moment based solely on bandwidth conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses time markers as an intermediary element between the bandwidth management system and the media content. These markers serve as a mediator that guides when quality transitions should occur, decoupling the direct relationship between bandwidth fluctuations and quality changes, thereby allowing bandwidth optimization while maintaining viewing experience through controlled transition points.
2Speed
If quality level changes are made immediately in response to bandwidth changes, then responsiveness to network conditions is improved, but image quality stability deteriorates during critical moments
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of acceptable transition points and embeds time markers in advance. When bandwidth changes occur, the system responds quickly by adjusting to the nearest pre-marked transition point, maintaining both responsiveness and stability. This eliminates the need to immediately change quality at any moment while still providing rapid adaptation to network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the quality adjustment process adaptive and flexible. Instead of fixed quality levels or immediate rigid responses to bandwidth changes, the system dynamically selects the nearest appropriate transition point from pre-marked locations, allowing smooth and context-appropriate quality transitions that maintain stability during critical moments while remaining responsive to network conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are proposed for embedding transition points in media content. A transition point system retrieves a time marker associated with a point of interest in the media content. The transition point system identifies a first position within the media content corresponding to the point of interest. The transition point system embeds data associated with the time marker into the media content at a second position that is no later in time than the first position. The transition point system causes a client media player to transition from a first image quality level to a second quality level based on the time marker.