Trick Play Audio Cues for Accessible Video Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Visually-impaired users face difficulty in determining when to stop trick play operations in digital video systems due to the absence of clear audio cues during fast-forward or rewind, making it challenging to navigate through content effectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing audio assistance features that provide customizable audio cues during trick play, indicating the progress of content and scene types, allowing users to know when to stop trick play operations and automatically skip unwanted scenes or commercials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If audio output is disabled during trick play, then trick play functionality is improved (faster playback without audio interference), but accessibility for visually-impaired users deteriorates (unable to detect when to stop trick play)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces audio cues as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between trick play functionality and user accessibility. These audio cues act as a mediator that provides feedback to visually-impaired users about the trick play progress without interfering with the core trick play functionality, allowing users to navigate content effectively while maintaining fast-forward and reverse capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through audio cues that continuously inform users about their trick play progress. The audio feedback loop provides real-time information about content position, scene transitions, and playback status, enabling visually-impaired users to control trick play operations effectively by listening to these auditory signals that indicate when to stop or continue the playback mode
2Ease of operation
If audio cues are added during trick play, then accessibility for visually-impaired users is improved (can detect when to stop trick play), but audio interference during playback increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing audio cues only at specific critical moments during trick play (such as scene transitions, content boundaries, or when users need to stop playback) rather than continuously outputting audio throughout the entire trick play duration. This selective audio delivery provides necessary accessibility information while minimizing overall audio interference during the playback experience
3Ease of operation
If audio assistance is provided during trick play, then user experience is improved (can navigate content effectively), but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio assistance function into discrete, manageable components that can be independently controlled and implemented. The audio cues are divided into separate functional elements (such as scene transition cues, content boundary cues, and playback status cues) that can be selectively activated based on user needs and content context, reducing the overall system complexity while maintaining effective user guidance
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for providing audio assistance during trick play. Users, for example, visually-impaired users, may enable audio assistance features for trick play operations and customize audio assistance settings. The audio assistance may comprise outputting one or more audio cues during trick play. The audio cues may be associated with one or more types of scenes may indicate the progress of a trick play content item. The audio cues may also indicate automatic skipping of an objectionable scene or commercial and the output of a next scene.