Thumbnail Image Extraction for TV Channel Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional technologies for delivering television channel content are inefficient during channel switching and 'picture in picture' viewing due to the need for downloading and buffering of streaming videos, which results in delays and can exceed the capabilities of CPU and network channels, especially when receiving signals from multiple TV channels simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A system that captures and displays thumbnail image representations of currently airing television programs instead of downloading and buffering streaming videos, allowing for quick channel switching and 'picture in picture' viewing by rendering only one video stream while the second is represented as a thumbnail, thus overcoming the limitations of CPU and network bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If streaming videos are downloaded and buffered for each television channel, then complete video content is available for viewing, but channel switching and picture in picture viewing experience delays and exceed CPU and network capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential visual information needed for channel selection by capturing thumbnail images from each television channel instead of downloading complete video streams. This extraction approach provides sufficient information for users to identify and select desired channels while dramatically reducing data transmission requirements and elimination of buffering delays during channel switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by downloading only a small portion of video content (thumbnail images) rather than complete video streams for all channels. This partial downloading strategy provides enough information for effective channel browsing and selection while avoiding the excessive data transmission and processing requirements that would cause delays and overload system resources.
2Adaptability or versatility
If two video streams are downloaded simultaneously for picture in picture viewing, then both television programs are available, but CPU and network bandwidth limitations prevent smooth rendering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of video content for different viewing purposes: full-resolution video streams are downloaded only for the currently selected television channel, while thumbnail images are used for picture-in-picture display and channel browsing. This differentiated quality approach enables picture-in-picture functionality while significantly reducing the processing power and network bandwidth required compared to downloading two full video streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified copies (thumbnail images) of television channel content instead of copying complete video streams. These thumbnail copies are sufficient for picture-in-picture viewing and channel selection purposes, enabling the system to display multiple channels simultaneously without the computational burden of processing and rendering two full video streams.
3Productivity
If complete video streams are buffered for all television channels, then all content is readily available, but device memory and processing resources are overwhelmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by capturing and storing thumbnail images from each television channel in advance, before the user needs to view them. These pre-captured thumbnails are stored in the device's memory, enabling rapid channel switching and picture-in-picture display without requiring real-time video streaming or buffering of complete video content, thus reducing memory and processing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A system receives a plurality of streaming videos from a plurality of providers of television channels. Each television channel provider delivers a respective streaming video. The television channel content delivering process creates a thumbnail image representation of the content for each of the streaming videos of each television channel. The thumbnail image representation is a sill picture taken from the video stream. The television channel content delivering process then transmits the thumbnail image representation to a device capable of rendering the thumbnail image representation, and renders the thumbnail image representation on the device. The thumbnail image is representation temporarily rendered in place of the streaming video.