Video Stream Fingerprinting for Automated Broadcast Delay Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Television networks face challenges in synchronizing video streams across different local stations, often requiring manual adjustments due to delays caused by events like sports overtime, breaking news, or weather delays.
Innovation Solution
A method for synchronizing video streams by identifying a target video stream and a reference video stream, generating a sequence of fingerprints from the target stream, determining the time shift at which these fingerprints appear in the reference stream, and modifying electronic programming guides accordingly if the streams are not synchronized.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual detection and adjustment of program delays is performed, then timing information accuracy can be maintained, but resource consumption and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting program delays and adjusting timing information without human intervention. The electronic program guide autonomously compares expected program schedules with actual broadcast times, identifies delays, and updates timing information automatically, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention while maintaining high timing accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring program broadcast times and comparing them against scheduled times. When delays are detected, the system feeds this information back to automatically adjust the electronic program guide timing, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains accuracy without increasing operational complexity
2Productivity
If automated fingerprint-based synchronization is implemented, then resource efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses fingerprint copying technology where a reference fingerprint sequence from the master broadcast is created and compared against fingerprints from local broadcasts. This copying approach enables automated synchronization by matching characteristic patterns in the video content, achieving high resource efficiency while the complexity is managed through algorithmic pattern recognition rather than manual processes
Solution Approach 2:
The fingerprint sequence serves as an intermediary element that mediates between the master broadcast and local broadcasts. By comparing fingerprint patterns rather than directly analyzing entire video streams, the system achieves efficient automated synchronization with reduced computational resources, while the intermediary fingerprint mechanism manages system complexity through pattern-based comparison
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and media for synchronizing video streams are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises: identifying a target video stream and a reference video stream, wherein the target video stream and the reference video stream are two different broadcasts of a program; generating, for the target video stream, a sequence of fingerprints; determining a time shift at which the sequence of fingerprints appears within the reference video stream; determining whether the target video stream is synchronized with the reference video stream by determining whether the time shift exceeds a predetermined threshold; and, in response to determining that the target video stream is not synchronized with the reference video stream, causing an electronic programming guide that includes an indication of the target video stream to be modified based on the time shift.