Content Analysis for XR Actuator Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current extended reality (XR) technologies face challenges in creating a realistic user experience due to the manual and costly process of coordinating actuator activations with media streams, especially for live events or streams lacking pre-inserted metadata, which limits adaptability and immersion.

Innovation Solution

The method involves real-time or near-real-time content analysis of XR media streams to detect actuation points for physical actuators, generating signals to activate them, and personalizing the experience based on user profiles and device capabilities, allowing for automated and cost-effective activation of physical effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual metadata insertion is used to coordinate actuator activations with media streams, then actuator synchronization can be achieved, but the process becomes costly and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuator synchronizationVSAvoidmetadata insertion time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary content analysis on media streams to pre-identify actuation points and generate actuator control signals before actual playback. This allows the system to prepare synchronization data in advance, eliminating the need for manual metadata insertion during live events while maintaining reliable actuator coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically analyzes media content, detects relevant events, and generates actuator control signals without human intervention. The content analysis module processes media streams autonomously to identify actuation points and create synchronization metadata, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating costly manual processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If manual metadata insertion is used for coordinate actuator activations, then actuator synchronization can be achieved, but the process becomes costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuator synchronizationVSAvoidimplementation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical processes of metadata insertion with automated content analysis and signal generation systems. Machine learning models and automated detection algorithms substitute human operators, significantly reducing implementation costs while maintaining synchronization reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If pre-inserted metadata is required for actuator coordination, then synchronization can be achieved, but adaptability to live events or metadata-less streams is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactuator synchronizationVSAvoidstream type flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The content analysis system is designed to handle multiple types of media streams universally, including live events, pre-recorded content, and metadata-less streams. The automated detection mechanisms work across all stream types without requiring pre-inserted metadata, making the system highly adaptable while maintaining synchronization reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If automated content analysis is used to detect actuation points, then adaptability to different stream types improves, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestream type flexibilityVSAvoidcontent analysis system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The content analysis system is divided into modular functional components including event detection modules, signal generation modules, and synchronization modules. Each module handles specific tasks independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high adaptability to different stream types through coordinated operation of these segmented components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11282281B2Activation of extended reality actuators based on content analysis

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

In one example, a method performed by a processing system in a telecommunications network includes acquiring the media stream and identifying an anchor in a scene of the media stream. The anchor is a presence in the scene that has a physical effect on the scene. A type and a magnitude of the physical effect of the anchor on the scene is estimated. An actuator in a vicinity of the user endpoint device that is capable of producing a physical effect in the real world to match the physical effect of the anchor on the scene is identified. A signal is sent to the actuator. The signal controls the actuator to produce the physical effect in the real world when the physical effect of the anchor on the scene occurs in the media stream.