Video Mosaic Blackout Handling With Summary and Delayed Playback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current blackout systems fail to adequately support video mosaic screens, particularly in remotely-generated mosaics, leading to undesired presentation of blacked out content and lack of flexibility in managing blackout conditions, and they do not provide summary information or access to blacked out content after the blackout is lifted.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a video mosaic client on user equipment that analyzes blackout information and rules to control individual screen elements, masking blacked out content, providing summary information, and allowing access to recorded content after the blackout is lifted, using a combination of in-band and out-of-band data and metadata.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If current blackout systems are used in remotely-generated video mosaics, then video sources can be composited and delivered efficiently, but blacked out content may be presented in violation of blackout restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the video mosaic into individual cells, each representing a separate video source. The system applies blackout rules at the cell level rather than treating the entire mosaic as a single unit. This segmentation allows the system to composite and deliver video sources efficiently while independently controlling which cells display blacked out content, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
2Reliability
If blackout content is completely blocked during blackout period, then blackout restrictions are enforced, but users lose access to content after blackout is lifted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary recording of video sources during the blackout period, storing them for later playback. When a blackout is detected, the content is recorded in advance and made available for user access after the blackout is lifted. This preliminary action allows the system to enforce blackout restrictions during the event while preserving content access afterward, resolving the contradiction between reliability and information loss.
3Ease of operation
If summary information is provided for blacked out content, then user experience is enhanced, but additional data processing and transmission is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces summary information as an intermediary element that represents blacked out content. Instead of directly managing the complex video content, the system uses condensed summary data (such as program titles, descriptions, or alternative content) to inform users about blacked out material. This intermediary approach enhances user experience by providing relevant information while avoiding the complexity of processing and transmitting full video content during blackouts.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing blackout support in video mosaic and television environments are disclosed. In response to receiving a request for a video mosaic page, screen data or application data, which may include blackout information, is received. The blacked out content may be automatically recorded to the user equipment or a network server for later playback after the blackout has expired. In addition, an overlay of options associated with the blacked out asset may be presented. The overlay may include options to substitute the blacked out asset with replacement content, search for similar content, retrieve more information about the blackout, or present summary information, such as a sports ticker, in place of the blacked out cell.