Video Timeline Interface for Context-Rich Alert Event Review
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video monitoring systems lack efficient user control flow and provide inadequate context or information to users when viewing live or saved video feeds.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that display a user interface with a live video stream and a corresponding timeline, allowing users to interactively navigate through recorded video segments by transitioning the timeline, while displaying subsets of video frames representing the desired time portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional video monitoring systems display only live video feeds without additional information, then the system simplicity is maintained, but the user receives inadequate context or information about the videos
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface is segmented into multiple functional regions: a first region for displaying the live video stream and a second region for displaying the timeline with video segments. This segmentation allows context information to be presented without overwhelming the user interface, as each region serves a specific purpose and can be independently controlled.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal dimension to the video monitoring interface by introducing a timeline that displays video segments chronologically. This transforms the traditional single-dimension video playback into a two-dimensional view combining spatial video content with temporal context, enabling users to understand the sequence and duration of recorded events.
2Ease of operation
If the system provides detailed timeline navigation and video segment information, then user control flow efficiency is improved, but the interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timeline component serves multiple functions simultaneously: it displays the chronological sequence of video segments, allows users to navigate to specific time periods, provides context about recorded events, and enables selection of video segments for playback. This multi-functionality improves ease of operation without requiring separate controls for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the navigation control and information display functions into a single integrated timeline interface. Instead of requiring separate menus, buttons, and information panels, the timeline combines all navigation and context provision capabilities in one unified component, reducing overall interface complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
3Loss of information
If the system displays the entire video duration on the timeline, then complete context is provided, but the interface becomes difficult to navigate for specific time periods
Solution Approach 1:
The timeline is segmented into discrete video segment representations, each corresponding to a specific recorded video portion. This segmentation allows users to quickly identify and navigate to specific time periods of interest without being overwhelmed by a continuous, undifferentiated timeline spanning the entire video duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs visual differentiation (such as color coding or highlighting) to distinguish different video segments on the timeline. This allows users to quickly identify active segments, navigate to specific time periods, and understand the temporal structure of recorded events without requiring detailed examination of the entire timeline.
Data Source
AI summary
A method at an electronic device with a display includes: displaying a user interface having a first region and a second region; receiving, and displaying in the first region of the user interface, a live video stream of a physical environment captured by a remote video camera; displaying, in the second region, a timeline corresponding to a timespan for a first portion of a duration during which the live video stream may have been recorded; in response to receiving a user interaction to move the timespan to a second portion of the duration, transitioning the displayed timeline to a new timeline that corresponds to the timespan for the second portion, and while transitioning, displaying, in the first region, a subset of video frames representing the first and/or second portion of the duration.