Subtitle Attribute Customization Across Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in customizing subtitles displayed on various computing devices, such as excessive animations and confusing layouts, which can be distracting and inconvenient, especially when watching video content across different screens.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allow users to apply attributes to subtitles, enabling customization of subtitle constructs, including position, style, and animation settings, which can be stored in user profiles and applied across multiple devices, allowing for tailored subtitle display preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If default subtitle constructs are used without customization, then subtitle display is simple and consistent, but users cannot personalize subtitle attributes such as position, style, and animation across different devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubtitle customization capabilityVSAvoidsubtitle attribute management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically amending the subtitle file with user-preferred attributes before subtitle generation. The attribute application module pre-processes subtitle files by injecting customized attributes (position, style, animation settings) into the subtitle data structure, so that when subtitles are generated, they already contain all necessary customization information without requiring real-time processing during playback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a standardized attribute structure that mediates between user preferences and subtitle rendering. This intermediary layer translates user-friendly customization options into technical attributes that can be applied to subtitle files, and manages the complexity of attribute application across different devices through a unified interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple subtitle attributes are applied for customization, then personalization capability is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubtitle attribute customizationVSAvoidsubtitle file processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary action by amending subtitle files with customized attributes in advance, before the actual subtitle generation and playback process. This pre-processing approach ensures that all attribute applications (positioning, styling, animation settings) are completed during file preparation, eliminating the need for complex real-time processing during video playback and reducing computational overhead during actual use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If subtitle animations and effects are enabled by default, then visual engagement is improved, but users experience distraction and confusion from excessive visual elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual distraction from subtitlesVSAvoidsubtitle display quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by allowing different animation and visual effect settings to be applied to different subtitle files or even different portions of subtitle content. Users can selectively enable or disable animations and effects on a per-subtitle-file basis, or apply different visual treatments to different types of subtitles (e.g., dialogue vs. sound effects), ensuring that visual engagement is optimized without causing distraction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If subtitle display settings are device-specific, then optimization for each device is improved, but consistency across multiple devices is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-device subtitle consistencyVSAvoiddevice-specific configuration management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements universality by creating a device-agnostic attribute structure that can be applied across multiple computing devices. The amended subtitle files contain standardized attributes that can be interpreted and rendered consistently on different devices (smartphones, tablets, PCs, smart TVs) without requiring device-specific configuration. This multi-functional approach allows the same subtitle file with customized attributes to maintain consistency across diverse playback environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20230291976A1Systems and methods to implement preferred subtitle constructs

Publication Date: 2023.09.14 ADEIA GUIDES INC

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for applying attributes to subtitles. One example method includes accessing a subtitle file, wherein the subtitle file comprises one or more subtitles, and identifying an attribute to apply to at least a subset of the subtitles. The subtitle file is amended indicate an attribute to apply to at least a subset of the subtitles to create an amended subtitle file. At a computing device, the subtitles of the amended subtitle file are generated for display, wherein the attribute is applied to the subset of the subtitles.