Aspects of media content rendering

• US 7,500,175 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Finger, James C., Colle, Olivier, VanAntwerp, Mark D., Mazhar, Khurshed
• Primary Examiner(s): RIES, LAURIE ANNE
• Application Number:
  US11/405,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20070006064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 715/201, 700/88, 375/240.01
• US Class Current: 715/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/4393 Multimedia presentations, e.g. slide shows, multimedia albums
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10537 Audio or video recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2537 Optical discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs

Abstract

Media content is arranged into a number of sets of video, audio, or data samples, referred to as clips, which are rendered by a media content manager. A playlist, which is handled by a presentation manager, specifies the time-ordered sequence of clips playable to a user. Certain actions are taken during media content play to minimize glitches perceived by the user, including determining a time offset value that is used to decide how far in advance of a scheduled play time to begin pre-rendering an upcoming clip. The time offset value is determined using one or more static characteristics associated with a media source for the upcoming clip, such as the location of the media source, codec parameters, or encryption complexity, and one or more dynamic characteristics of the presentation system, such as retrieval states, (including play speeds) of media clips, processing loads, or clock frequencies.

Claims

1. A method for playing media content using a presentation system, the media content arranged into a plurality of sets of media samples, each set of media samples receivable from a media source, the method comprising:

at a first time, commencing play of a first set of media samples received from a first media source;

identifying a second set of media samples receivable from a second media source, commencement of play of the second set of media samples scheduled at a second time occurring a predetermined amount of time from the first time;

ascertaining a plurality of sets of static characteristics;

based on an identity of the second media source, selecting one set of static characteristics from the plurality of sets of static characteristics;

during play of the first set of media samples, ascertaining a dynamic characteristic of the presentation system;

based on the selected set of static characteristics and the dynamic characteristic, determining a time offset value; and

pre-rendering at least a portion of the second set of media samples at a pre-rendering time, the pre-rendering time offset from the second time by an amount based on the time offset value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pre-rendering time is selected to maximize play of the first set of media samples and to ensure that commencement of play of the second set of media samples occurs at the second time.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first media source is the same as the second media source.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the time offset value occurs after the first time but before the pre-rendering time, and wherein the step of determining the time offset value is repeated multiple times during play of the first set of media samples.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

adjusting the time offset value based on a processing load within the presentation system.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a static characteristic within a set of static characteristics is selected from the group comprising an encoder-decoder pair (“

codec”

) parameter, an encryption parameter, a size of the second set of media samples, and a location of the second media source.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dynamic characteristic comprises one of:

a play state of the media content;

a processing load within the presentation system; and

a frequency of a clock associated with the presentation system.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein when the dynamic characteristic comprises a play state of the media content, the play state of the media content is based on a play speed of the media content.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein when the dynamic characteristic comprises a play state of the media content, the play state is based on an average of the play speed of the media content since the presentation system was turned on.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein an identity of the first set of media samples is not ascertainable from a playlist.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second time comprises one of:

coinciding with an end of a play duration of the first set of media samples;

occurring within a play duration of the first set of media samples; and

occurring after an end of a play duration of the first set of media samples.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first media source is the same as the second media source.

13. A system for playing media content, the media content arranged into a plurality of sets of media samples, each set of media samples receivable from a media source, the system comprising:

a media content manager operable to play a first set of samples from a first media source and to play a second set of samples from a second media source; and

a presentation manager having access to a playlist, an identity of the first set of media samples not ascertainable from the playlist, the presentation manager configured for communication with the media content manager, the presentation manager operable to

ascertain an identity of the second set of media samples from the playlist,

ascertain a static characteristic associated with the second media source,

ascertain a dynamic characteristic during play of the first set of media samples,

determine a time offset value based on the static characteristic and the dynamic characteristic, and

arrange for pre-rendering of at least a portion of the second set of media samples at a pre-rendering time, the pre-rendering time offset from the second time by an amount based on the time offset value,

wherein when the portion of the second set of media samples has been pre-rendered, the media content manager plays the pre-rendered portion of the second set of samples at the second time.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the presentation manager receives the static parameter from the media content manager.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the media content manager is operable to adjust the determined time offset value based on a processing load of the media content manager, wherein the presentation manager receives the adjusted time offset value from the media content manager, and wherein the pre-rendering time is offset from the second time by an amount based on the adjusted time offset value.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the system comprises an operating system.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the system comprises an optical disc player.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the optical disc player complies with specifications for high definition video published by the DVD Forum.

19. A method for playing media content using a presentation system, the media content arranged into a plurality of sets of media samples, each set of media samples receivable from a media source, the method comprising:

at a first time, commencing play of a first set of media samples received from a first media source;

identifying a second set of media samples receivable from a second media source, the second media source comprising a different device than the first media source, commencement of play of the second set of media samples scheduled at a second time occurring a predetermined amount of time from the first time;

ascertaining a static characteristic associated with the second media source;

during play of the first set of media samples, ascertaining a dynamic characteristic of the presentation system;

based on the static characteristic and the dynamic characteristic, determining a time offset value; and

pre-rendering at least a portion of the second set of media samples at a pre-rendering time, the pre-rendering time offset from the second time by an amount based on the time offset value.