Video Progress Bar Automation for Resource-Constrained Interfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

The proliferation of video content sources complicates managing graphical user interfaces for rendering video content, leading to significant hardware resource usage and unnecessary interactions that consume electrical energy and processing power, making it difficult for users to monitor progress across multiple video content items.

Innovation Solution

A method that renders multiple video content items through a single graphical user interface by displaying a progress bar with graphic effects to inform users of their position in the sequence, reducing the need for constant interface interactions and minimizing resource usage, where the progress bar is displayed and then eliminated at predetermined times during video playback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If a single graphical user interface is used to aggregate multiple video content items, then hardware resource usage is reduced, but it becomes difficult for users to monitor progress across the sequence of content items

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware resource usageVSAvoiduser ability to monitor progress

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A progress bar is introduced as an intermediary visual element that mediates between the video playback and the user's need to monitor progress. The progress bar displays a sequence of thumbnails representing different video content items, with the currently active item highlighted, allowing users to track their position without interacting with the main video interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The progress bar segments the overall video sequence into discrete visual units (thumbnails of individual video content items). This segmentation allows users to perceive their progress through the sequence by viewing which thumbnail is currently highlighted, providing clear visual feedback without requiring interface interactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple dedicated applications are used to render video content from different sources, then each source can be properly handled, but hardware resources such as processor, RAM, and battery are significantly impacted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle multiple video sourcesVSAvoidprocessor and battery usage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple video content items from different sources are merged into a single aggregated sequence within one graphical user interface. This consolidation allows the system to manage multiple video sources through a unified interface rather than requiring separate dedicated applications for each source, thereby reducing overall hardware resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The graphical user interface is designed with universal functionality to handle and display multiple types of video content from various sources (websites, social networks, email) through a single unified interface, rather than requiring source-specific applications. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized applications and their associated hardware overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the progress bar is continuously displayed to help users monitor progress, then users can easily track their position, but electrical energy and processor resources are consumed due to constant interface rendering

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser ability to track positionVSAvoidelectrical energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The progress bar is displayed periodically at predetermined intervals during video playback rather than continuously. Specifically, it is shown at defined moments in the sequence and then eliminated, reducing the time the interface element is actively rendered while still providing users with progress information at key moments in the viewing experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10575043B2Navigating a plurality of video content items

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 ORANGE SA

AI summary

A method for processing a plurality of video content items for a graphical user interface to render at least two content items among the plurality, the video content items of the plurality being successively rendered. The method includes: rendering a first content item among the plurality, on a full screen; at a first predetermined period of time before the end of rendering the first video content item, displaying a progress bar having a plurality of images, each image respectively corresponding to a video content item among the plurality of video content items; rendering a second video content item; applying a graphic effect to an image of the bar corresponding to the second content item; eliminating the display of the progress bar after a second predetermined period of time after the rendering of the second content item begins, such that the second content item is rendered on the full screen.