Video Content Processing via Selective Macroblock Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for modifying video content by adding supplemental elements, such as overlays or icons, require processor-intensive full decoding and re-encoding of video streams, which is inefficient and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

The method involves converting content data into an intermediate format based on context description data, allowing selective processing and modification of only the necessary portions of the content, thereby reducing the need for full decoding and re-encoding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If video content is completely decoded to spatial domain for modification, then content modification capability is improved, but processor load and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent modification capabilityVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the video processing task by identifying and processing only the specific macroblocks that contain or are affected by the supplemental content, rather than decoding the entire video stream. This selective processing approach divides the work into manageable portions that can be handled efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different processing quality levels to different regions of the video. Areas containing supplemental content receive full decoding and processing, while other areas maintain their compressed format. This local differentiation optimizes processor usage by focusing computational resources only where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If video content is completely decoded and re-encoded for each end-user, then content customization is improved, but time consumption and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent customizationVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary processing by pre-identifying and extracting the relevant macroblocks that contain supplemental content from the compressed video stream. This preliminary action prepares the data in advance, allowing rapid customization when content needs to be modified for different end-users without requiring complete re-decoding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by processing only the necessary portion of the video data (macroblocks containing supplemental content) rather than the entire video stream. This selective processing significantly reduces the time required for content customization while maintaining the ability to deliver personalized content to end-users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If supplemental content is added to compressed video without full decoding, then processing efficiency is improved, but modification precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidmodification precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the compressed video data structure itself as an intermediary, allowing access and modification of specific macroblocks without complete decoding. The supplemental content is integrated into the compressed domain representation, enabling precise modifications while maintaining processing efficiency through selective macroblock manipulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2770743B1Methods and systems for processing content
Publication Date: 2018.05.02 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC
  • EP2770743B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2770743B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP2770743B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and system for processing data are disclosed. One method can comprise receiving content data in a first format and context description data relating to a portion of the content data. The method may further comprise converting the portion of the content data to an intermediate format, and converting the portion of the content data from the intermediate format to a second format based at least in part upon the context description data.