Video Navigation Preview File Using Hierarchical Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content navigation systems for network-streamed videos lack an efficient method to provide a flexible and granular preview of the entire video length, limiting user interaction and viewing experience.
Innovation Solution
A video navigation preview file is provided that initially offers a low granularity preview of the video, gradually increasing in detail as more content images are downloaded, using a tree data structure to arrange and distribute content images across the video length, allowing users to navigate through the video by selecting still images representing different segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a navigation preview displays still content images captured from the video, then users can preview video segments without skipping to actual segments, but the granularity and detail of the preview is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the video navigation preview into multiple levels of granularity using a tree data structure. The video is divided into parent segments and child segments, where each level provides different detail. This allows users to access coarse-grained overview first, then drill down to fine-grained details without loading all high-resolution preview data at once, resolving the contradiction between preview detail and data structure complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested tree data structure where child segments are nested within parent segments. Each parent segment contains multiple child segments, creating a hierarchical nesting pattern. This nested structure enables progressive disclosure of video content at different granularities, allowing the system to provide detailed previews only when and where needed, thus managing complexity while improving preview precision.
2Loss of information
If the navigation preview provides detailed granular preview of entire video length, then user interaction is enhanced, but more data needs to be downloaded and processed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments video preview data into hierarchical parent and child segments. Users first receive overview data at parent segment level, then progressively download more detailed child segment data only when needed. This segmentation allows comprehensive video content accessibility while controlling data transfer volume by loading information on-demand rather than all at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares a tree data structure with predefined parent and child segment relationships before user interaction. This preliminary organization allows the system to quickly determine what data to download next based on user navigation choices, avoiding unnecessary data transfer. The preliminary structuring enables efficient progressive loading of video content.
3Productivity
If still content images are arranged to provide low granularity preview initially, then users can navigate the video efficiently, but the preview detail increases only gradually as more content images are downloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the preview loading process into hierarchical levels. Users immediately receive low-granularity parent segment previews for efficient navigation across the entire video. When users select specific segments for closer inspection, the system then loads high-granularity child segment previews. This segmentation enables navigation efficiency at the overview level while providing detailed preview information on-demand, reducing overall loading time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic preview system where the granularity of the navigation preview adapts based on user interaction. The system starts with coarse-grained parent segment previews for quick navigation, then dynamically transitions to fine-grained child segment previews when users indicate interest in specific portions. This dynamic adaptation optimizes both navigation efficiency and preview detail timing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is described for providing a navigation preview file for a video. The method may include identifying a number of content images that may be associated with a video. An arrangement of the content images may be determined that may provide a low granularity preview of the entire length of the associated video where the low granularity preview increasingly becomes more granular as the content images are received on a client device. A navigation preview file may then be constructed according to the arrangement of the content images.