Video content switching and synchronization system and method for switching between multiple video formats
AssigneeAether Media, Inc.
InventorsNikola Todorovic, Tye Sheridan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A video content type seamless switching system and method for synchronizing and displaying multiple types of video content in a single platform, such as a single video player, application, or other content player. Illustrative video content type switching may be between 2D and 360 degree formats coordinated by a switching controller. The switching controller may be configured to operate with television displays and associated control components, such as cable boxes, through implementation of the video content switching methods.
Claims20
A method for switching between different video content types in a content switch apparatus having a media player having two or more video players for playing different video formats including a parent video player to play parent video content in a parent format and one or more child video players to play child video content in one or more child formats, a memory and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute steps comprising:
- providing a parent file having a timing schedule embedded in a metafile;
- activating a parent video player;
- reading the parent file to obtain the timing schedule;
- anticipating available child video content based on the timing schedule;
- determining amount of time into the parent file when the anticipated available child video content should be launched based on the timing schedule to provide an anticipated launch time of the child content;
- buffering the anticipated available child video content based on the anticipated launch time;
- wherein the anticipated available child video content is of a different format than the parent video content;
- enabling a content switch button once the anticipated available child video content is buffered;
- receiving input by a switch controller from the content switch button;
- and
- by the switch controller, based on the input, rotating the parent video player to the child video player.
A computer readable non-transitory article of manufacture tangibly embodying computer readable instructions which, when executed, cause a computer to carry out a method comprising:
- providing a parent file having a timing schedule embedded in a metafile;
- activating a parent video player;
- dreading the parent file to obtain the timing schedule;
- anticipating available child video content based on the timing schedule;
- determining amount of time into the parent file when the anticipated available child video content should be launched based on the timing schedule to provide an anticipated launch time of the child content;
- buffering the anticipated available child video content based on the anticipated launch time;
- wherein the anticipated available child video content is of a different format than the parent video content;
- enabling a content switch button once the anticipated available child video content is buffered;
- receiving input by a switch controller from the content switch button;
- and
- by the switch controller, based on the input, rotating the parent video player to the child video player.
The computer readable non-transitory article of manufacture of claim 11 wherein, rotating the parent video player to the child video player further includes hiding the parent video content and launching the child video content.
A method for switching between different video content types in a content switch apparatus having a media player having two or more video players for playing different video formats including a parent video player to play parent video content in a parent format and one or more child video players to play child video content in one or more child formats, a memory and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute steps comprising:
- providing a parent file having a first position and a second position identified in, and associated with, the same video image;
- providing different child video content associated with each of the two positions;
- activating a parent video player;
- detecting the child content video associated with the first position and the second position;
- matching the first position child video content and the second position video child content to the parent video, wherein the first position child video content and the second position video child content are of a different format than the parent video content;
- synchronizing the parent video content with the child video content;
- enabling a content switch button for selection by a user of the first position or the second position;
- receiving input by a switch controller from the content switch button;
- and
- by the switch controller, based on the input, rotating the parent video player to the child video player to play either the first position child video content or the second position child video content as selected by the user.
The method of claim 16 further comprising:
- playing the selected child video content;
- and
- receiving an input by the user of a point in time in the parent video to return to.
A method for switching between different video content types in a content switch apparatus having metafile logic and having a media player having two or more video players for playing different video formats including a parent video player to play parent video content in a parent format and one or more child video players to play child video content in one or more child formats, a memory and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute steps comprising:
- providing parent video content having metafile information including metadata that indicates if additional file types associated with the parent video content exist,
- seeking by the switching system, the metadata from the parent video content;
- receiving by the switching system confirmation generated by the metadata from the parent video content that there is a child video content file associated with the parent file;
- triggering the system by the confirmation to automatically search for the child video content.
- matching the child video content to the parent video content;
- and
- displaying the matched child video content.
A content switch apparatus comprising:
- a media player having two or more video players for playing different video formats including a parent video player to play parent video content and one or more child video players to play child video content;
- the media player configured to obtain video content in the different video formats from a server;
- a content switch controller operatively connected to the media player and configured to instruct the media player to enable and disable the two or more video players to play the video content in the different video formats by matching and synchronizing them;
- one or more processors;
- a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in which is stored computer code that when executed on the one or more processors causes the content switch apparatus to perform the method of:
- activating a parent video player;
- reading a parent file having a timing schedule embedded in a metafile to obtain the timing schedule;
- anticipating available child video content based on the timing schedule;
- determining amount of time into the parent file when the anticipated available child video content should be launched based on the timing schedule to provide an anticipated launch time of the child content;
- buffering the anticipated available child video content based on the anticipated launch time;
- wherein the anticipated available child video content is of a different format than the parent video content;
- enabling a content switch button once the anticipated available child video content is buffered;
- receiving input by a switch controller from the content switch button;
- and
- by the switch controller, based on the input, rotating the parent video player to the child video player.
A system, system components, a computer implemented method and a computer readable non-transitory article of manufacture according to any of the embodiments described herein or shown in the figures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.