DE102011014625B4 - A method of providing a video with at least one object configurable during the run - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of providing a video movie in which at least one displayed object is configurable during the run, comprising the steps of: creating a plurality of video movies containing different configurations of the configurable object, storing the video movies under a file name (LIM RED 01, COU RED 01, LIM WEI 01, COU WEI 01,) such that each video movie is divided into multiple fragments (9.1.1 through 9.10.4) and providing an individual video movie from a sequence of contiguous fragments ( 9.1.2, 9.2.2, 9.3.2, 9.4.4, 9.5.4, 9.6.4, 9.7.4, 9.8.4, 9.9.3, 9.10.3), whereby always from a currently running video Moving with a configured by the user of a client PC (3) configuration of the configurable object to another video movie with a different configuration of the configurable object, if the configuration of the object displayed by the user of the client PC (3) is changed ,

Description

In the websites of manufacturers of high-quality goods, the potential customer, who accesses the manufacturer's Internet presence via his client PC, is often offered the option of configuring certain products according to his wishes. A typical example of such a configurable by the user of the client PC product is a car. For cars, there are various features such. As the color of the body, the type and shape of the wheels and body styles (sedan, wagon or coupe). These variants can be combined with each other, resulting in a variety of possible configurations of the product. Such configurators are already common for some years and allow the potential customer to view a car in the desired configuration on the PC. A next step is to give the potential customer a visual impression of the product configured by the customer in a video film under the most realistic conditions possible. This can be z. B. take place in that a car in the configuration created by the customer in a video on a highway driving is displayed and the potential customer can watch this video on his PC. This z. As the color of the body in interaction with the environment and the light reflections very vivid.

Now, if the potential customer, who is also referred to below as a user of the client PC, during the course of this video film to change the configuration of the car, so this is not possible.

From the US 2007/0005795 A1 a method is known in which the user can display, hide or even animate objects of this "data stream" during the runtime of a "data stream".

From the US 4,305,131 a method for playing a video film is known, in which the viewer can control at predetermined locations of the video film by voice commands the further course of the story shown in the video.

The invention is based on the object to provide a method by means of which it is possible to provide the user of a client PC with a video film, in which the configuration of at least one object displayed, z. B. a car, at any time and as often as can be changed.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1.

Whenever a new fragment of the currently running video is loaded into the video object of the client PC, the inventive method provides the possibility to load this fragment to be reloaded from another of the stored video films and thereby the one shown in that other video Configuration of the object.

This makes it possible, for. In the first 5 seconds of a video, corresponding to the first 5 fragments of a video, to present a white body vehicle in the video. If now the user of the client PC on which the video expires, for example, after 5.2 seconds decides that he wants to watch the film now more with a car with a red body, then when loading the sixth fragment of a server on the Client PC after about 6 seconds, this sixth fragment is not loaded from the video in which a car with a white body is displayed, but from the video in which the body color is red.

By having on the server or a server network of all available configurations, such as. As body styles, colors and wheel variants, each a video film is stored, it is possible to switch when loading the next fragment to another video film, which represents a different configuration of the object shown. The video film for the user of the client PC runs without delay and in unchanged quality.

The method according to the invention is relatively simple to implement and nevertheless makes it possible to represent a multiplicity of different configurations of a displayed object when a video film is run once. The Internet connection between the server and the client PC is no longer charged, as if a "continuous" video film would be displayed. This is due to the fact that in the "normal" playback of a video not the entire movie is transferred at once from the server to the client PC, but takes the form of fragments.

Switching from one video to another can advantageously be done using Adobe HTTP Dynamic Streaming software. This dynamic streaming software includes an "adaptive bit rate" feature. This feature is used to match the current performance of the data transfer when the Internet connection between the client PC and the server is unstable, the resolution at which the video is displayed on the client PC. So can from a movie with a high resolution and correspondingly large bitrate, to a movie with lower resolution and correspondingly lower bit rate, if the conductivity of the Internet connection makes this necessary. Generally, this technology is called Adaptive HTTP Streaming. This technology is also offered by other manufacturers for other target platforms. Here is the "Apple HTTP Live Streaming" for QuickTime, iPhone or iPad and "Microsoft IIS Smooth Streaming" for example, the Silverlight Player or Xbox 360 to mention. All are technically based on the same principle as Adobe's HTTP Dynamic Streaming. Therefore, the method of the invention is also applicable thereto. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is intended to use this function in order to distinguish between different films having different configurations of a displayed object, such. As a car, to jump back and forth while the movie is running. The quality of the presentation remains constant.

In order to enable a rapid change of the configuration of the configurable object shown in the running video film, it is provided that the fragments of the video films comprise time periods with a duration of less than 4 seconds, preferably less than 2 seconds and particularly preferably one second , With this short fragmentation, a rapid change from one configuration to the next configuration is possible. In practice, the change can be achieved within less than 2 seconds.

In addition or as an alternative to the fragmentation of the video films after a fixed time frame (of for example 1 second duration), it is also possible that a fragment of the video films begins with the beginning of a scene of the video film and ends with the end of a scene of the video film. Then, in any case, a completely new screen layout must be carried out so that the change from one configuration to another configuration is particularly easy and the data transmission between server and client PC is optimized.

To allow a simple change of the configuration by the user of the client PC, it is provided that the configuration of the object shown is contained in a configuration code and this configuration code is transmitted from the client PC to the server. If this configuration code changes during the course of the video, then this information is also transmitted from the client PC to the server, and according to the configuration code, the server then accesses another video when sending the next fragment of the video to the client PC transmitted.

In order to obtain a clear configuration code, it is envisaged that it comprises various sections, some of which serve to describe the shape, color and / or configuration of the configurable object. This makes it possible, for example, a body shape, the color of the body and / or the selected wheels of a car clearly identify and access with the help of this configuration code on the appropriate video.

Of course, it is also possible to integrate the actual functionality of the Adobe HTTP Dynamic Streaming, namely the adaptation of the bit rate, into the method according to the invention. Then there are additional films with identical content; d. H. same configuration of the configurable object; stored in different resolutions and correspondingly different bit rates on the server. Depending on which bit rate is requested in the configuration code, then the corresponding copy of the video movie is accessed.

As a rule, all videos between which can be changed during the course, have the same playing time. However, it is also conceivable that the films have different lengths. For example, it would be conceivable that when a convertible is shown a sequence would be inserted or appended to the end of the video showing the opening and closing of the hood. Of course, such a sequence is not necessary for variants with a fixed roof.

The object mentioned at the outset is likewise achieved by a computer program for a computer which runs according to one of the methods according to the invention and a computer which is used as an internet server.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention are the following drawings, the description and the claims removable. All in the drawing, the description and the claims mentioned features may be essential to the invention both individually and in any combination.

drawing

Show it:

1 a basic arrangement of server and client PC and the data exchanged between the two,

2 an example of a configuration code and

3 and 4 the sequence according to the invention of a video film in which the configuration of at least one object displayed in the video film is changed during the course of the process.

Description of the embodiments

In the 1 is greatly simplified communication between a server 1 and a client PC 3 shown. The server 1 may be the web server of the company whose product is to be displayed in the video. He is preferably equipped with Adobe HTTP Dynamic Streaming. However, it is also possible to use another streaming technology to which the description "adaptive HTTP streaming" applies, for example to serve other target platforms such as Apple iPhone / iPad. HTTP dynamic streaming is a software provided by the company Adobe, which also allows the adaptation of the bit rate to the performance of the Internet connection between servers 1 and client PC 3 allows. This functionality is called "adaptive bit rate".

Alternatively to the web server of a company, the server 1 also a "content delivery network service" (hereinafter CDN service). An example of such a CDN service is the Akamai HD Network 2 ,

On the server 1 is stored a variety of pre-made and fragmented video files, with a video file is stored for each possible configuration of the configurable object.

This means that after the user of a client PC 3 has selected a configuration of the object displayed in the video film, the video file containing this configuration is selected, and this video file from the server 1 to the client PC 3 is transmitted.

If such a movie is not configurable during the run, then once before starting the video from the client PC 3 transmits the information about the user selected configuration (hereinafter referred to as configuration code) to the server. Depending on the configuration code, the server selects the associated video file and transmits the video to the client PC. This is done by having one fragment of the video file after another from the server 1 to the client PC 3 with the help of, for example, an Internet connection is transmitted. The client PC has a so-called video object 5 Playing the server 1 transmitted video (HTTP video stream).

The video object 5 of the client PC 3 may be a so-called Open Source Media Framework (hereinafter OSMF), such as provided by Adobe. The video object 5 includes a video buffer (no reference) in which the server 1 clever fragments are cached one after the other. From the fragment, which is located in the video buffer of the video object, the video sequences shown on the screen of the video film are generated.

In order to enable the fastest possible switching from a video film with a first configuration of the displayed object to a video film with a second configuration of the object shown, it is provided in accordance with the invention to set the video buffer of the video object so that it only has a short sequence, for example one second duration. The buffering capacity of the video buffer is ideally as long as that of the server 3 transmitted fragments matched that always a fragment is buffered in the video buffer.

The fact that according to the invention provides fragments of only one second duration from the server 1 to the client PC 3 and in the video buffer of the client PC 3 only to cache fragments of one second duration it is possible that on the screen of the client PC 3 after a maximum of two seconds duration the object will appear in a different configuration when the user of the client PC 3 this wishes. This means that the commands of the user of the client PC 3 be implemented very quickly.

Communication between client PC 3 and server 1 takes place via commercially available or generally accessible software packages. Therefore, this communication is not explained in detail. It is important to mention, however, that the client PC 3 a client application or a flash front end, which allows the user to make a selection of the plurality of possible configurations of the object shown. Based on this selection, a corresponding configuration code from the client PC 3 generated and via the internet connection to the server 3 transmitted. The inventive method can be performed with the so-called Adobe Flash software package, which must be changed / adapted to some extent. The Adobe Flash software package is a widely used technology for generating interactive web pages.

Furthermore, during data transfer between the server 1 and the client PC 3 the so-called Adobe HTTP Dynamic Streaming technology with "adaptive bit rate" used. According to the invention, it is now proposed to modify the functionality of the "adaptive bit rate" and to use it to that switches between different video films with different content back and forth.

As already mentioned several times, each video contains a movie with the configurable object in a different configuration. Thus, by skipping back and forth from one movie to another, the configuration may be changed during the course of the video, and the result of this changed configuration will be instantaneous and uninterrupted, without jerking or other inconvenience on the screen of the client PC 3 shown.

In 2 the structure of a configuration code is shown by way of example. Of course, it is possible to realize a configuration code quite differently.

In 2 an example of a nine-digit configuration code "LIMROT01" is shown for explanation. This eight-digit configuration code 7 has a first section I , a second section II , a third section III and optionally a fourth section IV ,

For example, if the configurable object represented in a video is a car, then the first section I describe the configuration code, for example, a body variant. If there is a limousine, a station wagon and a coupé from a car, then there would be in the first section I a total of three different codes, for example LIM, COU and KOM.

The second section II could serve to define the color of the body. In this case, one would be in the second section II over the number or sequence of numbers of the second section II a number selected from a previously defined list. So could a lot of colors in the second section II defined / configured. This list can be enlarged as desired. If more than 999 colors are available, the second section must be II have more than three digits.

In a third section III equipment variants or different wheels can be selected. If the third section III has two digits, a total of 99 wheel variants can be identified with it. Of course, letter codes can also be used or the number of digits can be increased if more than 99 variants are to be configured.

From the configuration code, it is therefore possible, the body version, the body color (section II ) and the selected wheels (section III ).

The client PC 3 Creates such a configuration code in the Flash frontend of the client application according to the instructions of the user and sends it to the server 1 ,

Whenever the user has created a new configuration code and this to the server 1 has been transmitted, then in a running video to another video file must be changed to continue the movie with the "newly" configured car.

It is of course also possible in the configuration code more than three sections I . II and III provided. There are basically no limits here.

It would also be conceivable, for example, that in a fourth section IV , which is optional, nor the bit rate or the quality of the films can be addressed, it would be possible, for example, to integrate the function of the "adaptive bit rate" of Adobe HTTP Dynamic Streaming Software in the inventive method and thus at different transmission rate between server 1 and client PC 3 to access different video files that require a different bitrate.

In the 3 the principles of the method according to the invention are explained by way of example. It is assumed that the movie is nine seconds long. Furthermore, it is assumed that, for reasons of simplicity, only two body variants and two colors are available. Thus, there are four different configurations and there must be four different video movies in the server 1 be stored.

In the in 3 shown example, there will be two body styles (limousine (abbreviated LIM) and Coupe (abbreviated COU)). These body styles are in the first section I of the configuration code in 3 ,

Furthermore, there should be two colors to choose from, namely red (RED) and white (abbreviated WEI) this color coding is in the second section II the configuration code.

In the third section III defining the design of the wheels, no variants are provided. Therefore, in the third section III always the code 01 entered.

So there are 2 × 2 = 4 configurations in the left half of the 3 are listed among themselves. It starts in the top row with a red sedan, followed by a red coupe, a white sedan and a white coupe. For each of these four configurations, a video file is stored in which the correspondingly configured car drives through a landscape.

In the example according to 3 the movie should be 9 seconds long. Each of the four video files is in fragments of one second duration ( 1s ). These fragments 9.1.1 to 9.10.4 are in 3 shown. For reasons of clarity, not all fragments are provided with reference symbols.

As a special feature, a scene change in the film should take place in the illustrated example at time t = 6.5 seconds. Such a scene change means that a completely new picture has to be set up. This need can be exploited in the method according to the invention thereby to make a configuration change there. Therefore, in some applications, it may be advantageous to terminate a fragment at the time of a scene change. This is indicated in the time interval between 6 and 7 seconds by a fragmentation outside the 1 sec time grid at time t = 6.5 seconds. This fragmentation according to the scene changes of the movie is optional.

If now a user of the client PC 3 wants to see the video with a red coupe, then first from the file COU RED 01 the first fragment, which covers the period of 0 to 1 second, loaded and from the server 1 to the client PC 3 transmitted. As long as the user does not change this configuration, the server sends 3 one after the other from the file COU ROT 01 to the client PC 3 ,

Assuming that at time t = 2.5 seconds the user now wants to know what a white coupe looks like in the movie, it chooses an appropriate configuration via the flash frontend. As a result, the client PC 3 the configuration code COU WEI 01 is transmitted to the server. This means that the fourth fragment from the file COU WEI 01 is transmitted to the client PC.

If, for example, after another 4 seconds, the user wants to see what a white sedan does in the movie, then he can make that configuration while the movie is running and it will be from the client PC 3 a corresponding configuration code, namely LIM WEI 01 transmitted to the server. As a result, the server now transmits from the second 7 the next fragment 9.9.3 from the video file LIM WEI 01 to the client PC.

In the 4 this is exemplary by means of 3 explained timing by a line 11 indicated.

In the lower part of the 4 is the one at the client PC 3 incoming video film, which consists of the successively hung fragments of different files. In each case, the associated file from which the fragments originate is entered for the corresponding period of time.

It is clear that by the inventive method the client PC 3 a series of fragments is transmitted, which come from different files and put together a video film with a duration of 9 seconds. The film begins with a red coupe, then changes after three seconds to a white coupe, which is shown in the video and ends with a white sedan.

Claims (13)

A method of providing a video movie in which at least one displayed object is configurable during the run, comprising the steps of: creating a plurality of video movies containing different configurations of the configurable object, storing the video movies under a file name (LIM RED 01, COU RED 01, LIM WEI 01, COU WEI 01,) allowing each video movie into several fragments ( 9.1.1 to 9.10.4 ) and providing an individual video movie from a sequence of contiguous fragments ( 9.1.2 . 9.2.2 . 9.3.2 . 9.4.4 . 9.5.4 . 9.6.4 . 9.7.4 . 9.8.4 . 9.9.3 . 9.10.3 ), whereby always from a currently running video film with one from the user of a client PC ( 3 ) configuration of the configurable object is changed to another video movie with a different configuration of the configurable object, if the configuration of the displayed object is changed by the user of the client PC ( 3 ) will be changed. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the fragments ( 9 ) of the video films comprise periods of time of less than 4 seconds (4 s), preferably less than 2 s (2 s) and most preferably equal to one second (1 s). Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one Fragment ( 9 ) of the video films begins with the beginning of a scene of the video film. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one fragment ( 9 ) of the video clips ends with the end of a scene of the video. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the configuration of the represented object is contained in a configuration code. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the configuration code comprises several sections ( I . II . III . IV , ...). Method according to claim 6, characterized in that these sections ( I . II . III . IV , ...) of the configuration code for describing the form ( I ), the color ( II ) and / or the equipment ( III ) of the configurable object. Method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a section ( IV ) of the configuration code for describing the bit rate of the video movie is used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all video films have the same playing time. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bit rate of the video films is different. Computer program for a computer, characterized in that it carries out a method according to one of Claims 1 to 4 and 9 and 10 when it is stored on a computer, in particular an internet server ( 1 ) or a Content Delivery Network (CDN). Computer acting as an internet server ( 1 ) or as a content delivery network (CDN), characterized in that it carries out a method according to one of claims 1 to 4 and 9 and 10. Computer acting as a client PC ( 3 ) is used, characterized in that it according to the inputs of the user a configuration code, preferably according to one of the method claims 5 to 8, generated and transmitted to an Internet server.

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