Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9489983B2/en
Timestamp: 2020-03-30 02:00:52
Document Index: 405896313

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 300', 'art 300', 'art 300', 'art 300', 'art 300', 'art 300', 'art 300', 'art 300', 'art 400', 'art 400', 'art 400', 'art 400', 'art 400', 'art 400', 'art 500', 'art 500', 'art 500', 'art 500', 'art 500']

US9489983B2 - Low bandwidth consumption online content editing - Google Patents
Low bandwidth consumption online content editing Download PDF
US9489983B2
US9489983B2 US14/874,311 US201514874311A US9489983B2 US 9489983 B2 US9489983 B2 US 9489983B2 US 201514874311 A US201514874311 A US 201514874311A US 9489983 B2 US9489983 B2 US 9489983B2
US14/874,311
US20160027472A1 (en
2012-03-28 Priority to US13/433,256 priority patent/US20120251083A1/en
2015-10-02 Priority to US14/874,311 priority patent/US9489983B2/en
2015-10-02 Application filed by WEVIDEO Inc filed Critical WEVIDEO Inc
2015-12-08 Assigned to WEVIDEO, INC. reassignment WEVIDEO, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: RUSTBERGGAARD, BJØRN, SVENDSEN, JOSTEIN
2016-01-28 Publication of US20160027472A1 publication Critical patent/US20160027472A1/en
2016-11-08 Publication of US9489983B2 publication Critical patent/US9489983B2/en
The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/433,256, filed Mar. 28, 2012, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/468,725, filed Mar. 29, 2011, 61/564,256 filed Nov. 28, 2011, 61/564,257, filed Nov. 28, 2011, and 61/564,261, filed Nov. 28, 2011, which are incorporated herein by reference.
According to various embodiments, systems and methods for low bandwidth consumption online content editing are provided, where user-created content comprising high definition/quality content (also referred to as “non-proxy content”) is created or modified at an online content editing server according to the instruction from an online content editor client, and where a proxy version (also referred to herein as a “proxy version”) of the resulting user-created content is provided to online content editor client to facilitate review or further editing of the user-created content from the online content editor client. In some embodiments, the online content editing server utilizes proxy content (also referred to herein as “proxy content”) during creation and modification operations on the user-created content, and replaces such proxy content with corresponding higher definition/quality content possibly when the user-created content is published for consumption, or when the user has paid for the higher quality content.
In addition to using proxy versions of content for online content editing, various embodiments may optimize network bandwidth usage by dynamically determining what portions and/or versions of user-created or user-modified content should be uploaded from an online content editor client to an online content editing server as the content editing activities are performed (e.g., through the online content editor client). For some embodiments, the determination can be based on the type of content editing activity being performed at the online content editor client (e.g., collaborative content activity, previewing user-created content, or previewing rendered user-created content).
FIG. 1 depicts a diagram of an example of a low bandwidth consumption online content editor system in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 2 depicts a diagram of an example of a client-server system for low bandwidth consumption online content editing in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of an example of a server-side method for low bandwidth consumption online content editing in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of an example of a client-side method for low bandwidth consumption online content editing in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of an example of an optimization method for low bandwidth consumption online content editing in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 6 depicts an example of client-side user interface for low bandwidth consumption online content editing in accordance with some embodiments.
FIG. 1 depicts a diagram of an example of a low bandwidth consumption online content editor system in accordance with some embodiments. The low bandwidth consumption online content editor system 100 includes a low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102, a server-side datastore 104 coupled to the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102, an online content editor client 106, a client-side datastore 108 coupled to the online content editor client 106, and a network 110 through which the online content editor client 106 communicates with the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102. Through this arrangement, the online content editor client 106 can leverage the computing resources and power of the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102 when creating or modifying user-created content, especially when the user-created content comprises high definition/quality graphics, image, audio, or video content. Often, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 comprises computing resources that surpass those of the online content editor client 206, or computing resources that are better suited for content creation or modification than those of the online content editor client 206. Though FIG. 1 depicts a single online content editor client, the system 100 can include multiple online content editor clients that can communicate with the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102.
“User-created content” as used herein includes any content authored by a user using the content creation/editing tools described in this paper, or some other content editing tool. The user-created content can be created to be multi-layered content, comprising multiple content layers of different content types. High definition/quality as used herein includes content having definition or quality that is higher than the average definition or quality for the similar content. For example, high definition/quality audio content can include audio clips having a high sampling rate (e.g., 44 KHz), has a higher bit-rate or effective bit-rate (e.g., 256 Kbs), or is encoded in a lossless audio encoding format.
In the example of FIG. 1, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor system 100 can enable a user at the online content editor client 106 located remotely on the network 110 to instruct the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102 to create or modify user-created content on behalf of the client 106, where the created or modified user-created content comprises high definition/quality content or a proxy version thereof. The user-created content may be multi-layered content comprising a plurality of content layers, where each content layer comprises one or more content items from a content library, and the content items are high definition/quality content items or versions thereof.
As the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102 creates or modifies the user-created content, the server 102 provides the online content editor client 106 a version of the resulting user-created content that comprises a proxy version of the high definition/quality content. The online content editor client 106 can use the resulting user-created content (having proxy content) for review or editing purposes as the client 106 instructs the server 102 to modify the user-created content. For example, the online content editor client 106 can perform edits to content by directly applying edits to the proxy content (e.g., received from the server 102) and then uploading the edited proxy content to the server 102 (e.g., so that the server 102 has latest version of the content for collaboration or final rendering/publishing purposes). In another example, the online content editor client 106 can perform edits to content by instructing the server 102 to perform edits to the content (e.g., stored at the server 102) on the client 106's behalf; thereafter, the online content editor client 106 can receive a proxy version of the content resulting from the edits applied by the server 102.
By transmitting user-created content comprising proxy content (i.e., lower quality version of the user-created content), the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102 utilizes less network bandwidth when transmitting the user-created content to the online content editor client 106. Additionally, the lower quality version of the content is received by the online content editor client 106 requires less computing resources to play and view. For some embodiments, utilization of the network bandwidth (for example, when transmitting user-created content or other information between the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102 and the online content editor client 106) can be further optimized using one or more methods described in association with FIG. 5.
Depending on the embodiment, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102 can provide a proxy version of user-created content as a content stream that buffers and plays at the online content editor client 106, or as a content file that is playable at the online content editor client 106 once the content file has been downloaded to the client 106 or while the content file is being downloaded by the client 106.
In some embodiments, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102 can create or modify the user-created content using a proxy version of the high definition/quality content, and then provide the resulting user-created content (comprising the proxy version) to the online content editor client 106. In various embodiments, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102 can create or modify the user-created content using the high definition/quality content, generate a version of the user-created content comprising a proxy content, and then provide the resulting the proxy user-created content to the online content editor client 106.
Eventually, at the instruction of the online content editor client 106, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102 can publish a finalized version of the user-created content for download or sharing with others. During publication, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102 can replace low definition/quality content in the user-created content with a high-quality definition/high quality counterpart or some version thereof. For some embodiments, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 102 will replace low definition/quality content with corresponding high-quality definition/high quality content based on payment by a user. For example, a user may have to make payment before the user-created content is published with high definition/quality content. Absent payment, the user can be prevented from publishing the user-created content, or the user is left with publishing user-created content using proxy content.
FIG. 2 depicts a diagram of an example of a system for low bandwidth consumption online content editing in accordance with some embodiments. The system 200 for low bandwidth consumption online content editing includes a low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202, an online content editor client 206, and a network 204 facilitating communication between the server 202 and the client 206. As described herein, the system 200 can enable a user at the online content editor client 206 located remotely on the network 204 to instruct the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 to create or modify user-created content comprising high definition/quality content (or some quality variant thereof) at the server. As later discussed, for some embodiments, the online content editor client 206 can instruct the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 through a remote online content editor user interface engine 226 located at the client 206. Subsequently, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 can provide, and the online content editor client 206 can receive, a version of the created or modified user-created content having a proxy version of the high definition/quality content.
In the example of FIG. 2, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 comprises an online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208, a content library engine 210, a content library store 212, an adjustable-quality layer rendering engine 214, a content publication engine 216, a published version content datastore 218, and an adjustable-quality content payment engine 220. The low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 further comprises a content licensing management engine 222 and a cloud management engine 224.
In the example of FIG. 2, the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 creates or modifies user-created content at the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 on behalf of the online content editor client 206. In certain embodiments, the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 can establish a connection with the online content editor client 206 over the network 204, can receive commands relating to content creation or modification over a network connection, can perform content creation or modification operations in accordance with commands received from the online content editor client 206, and can transmit to the online content editor client 206 a version of the created or modified user-created content comprising a proxy version of the high definition/quality content. As noted herein, the created or modified user-created content may be multi-layered content comprising one or more content layers, each content layer comprising one or more content items from a content library. The content items utilized can be high definition/quality content items or proxy versions thereof.
In order to perform various operations, the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 is coupled to the content library engine 210, the adjustable-quality layer rendering engine 214, the content publication engine 216, and the adjustable-quality content payment engine 220. As discussed in detail below, the adjustable-quality content quality editing engine 208 can access content items and information relating to the content items through the content library engine 210, can render one or more (content) layers of the user-created content at an adjusted quality using the adjustable-quality layer rendering engine 214, and can use the content publication engine 216 to publish the user-created content at an adjusted quality for download or sharing purposes. The adjustable-quality content quality editing engine 208 can receive pre-payment or post-payment through the adjustable-quality content payment engine 220 to permit access to for-purchase content or to publish the user-defined content using for-purchase content (e.g., content of varying quality, such as high definition/quality content).
In the example of FIG. 2, the content library engine 210 is coupled to the content library datastore 212 and manages the content items stored therein. For some embodiments, the content library engine 210 can be responsible for adding, deleting and modifying content items stored on the content library datastore 212, for retrieving a listing of content items stored on the content library datastore 212, for providing details regarding content items stored on the content library datastore 212, and for providing to other engines content items from the content library. For example, the content library engine 210 can provide content items to the online-adjustable quality content editing engine 208 as a user reviews and select content items to be added to the user-created content. In another example, the content library engine 210 can provide content items to the adjustable-quality layer rendering engine 214 as the engine 214 renders one or more layers of user-created content.
In the example of FIG. 2, the content library datastore 212 stores content items that can be used in the user-created content. The content items of the content library datastore 212 can include, without limitation, audio content, video content, image content, graphics contents, and user-provided content. In some embodiments, the user-provided content can include the user-created content that was created or modified using the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 and subsequently added to the content library datastore 202, and user content uploaded from the online content editor client to the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202. The content items of the content library datastore 212 can also include, without limitation, free content that can be used in user-created content without need of payment, for-purchase content that can be reviewed only after user payment, content that can be added to user-created content only after user payment, and content that can be used in the publication of user-created content only after user payment.
In some embodiments, the high definition/quality content items can be added to, removed from, and adjusted within the user-created item without need of payment. When the user requests publication of the user-created content, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 can request payment before publication of the user-created content is allowed. Alternatively, a payment can be requested in order for the user-created content to be published using the high definition/quality content rather a proxy version of the high definition/quality content.
In some embodiments, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 can use proxy versions of the high definition/quality content when performing creation and modification operations on the user-created content, where the use of the proxy version continues until publication of the user-created content. In some embodiments, the content library engine 210 can provide the server 202 with the proxy version of the high definition/quality content utilized during creation and modification operations. Depending on the embodiment, the content library engine 210 can generate the proxy version as it is requested by various engines (e.g., the adjustable-quality layer rendering engine 214, or the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208), or the content library engine 210 can provide the proxy version as stored on the content library datastore 212. As described herein, the proxy version of the high definition/quality content can also be utilized by the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 when transmitting previews of the content to the online content editor client 206.
The content stored on the content library datastore 212 (hereafter, also referred to as “content items”) can have various associated properties (i.e., content item properties) that provide details regarding aspects of the content items. In certain embodiments, the content item properties can comprise such information as content type, content duration, content usage permissions (e.g., licensing rights), content cost parameters (e.g., free to use until the user-created content is published, or is published using high definition/quality content), content data size, content source (e.g., user provided, or third party author), or content creation or modification date. Through online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208, a user can review listings of content items in the content library datastore 212 (e.g., available or unavailable content), review details regarding content items in the content library (e.g., price, usage parameters, content type, duration where applicable, or content definition/quality), manage content items in the content library datastore 212 (e.g., add, delete, or modify content items in the content library), and add content items from the content library datastore 212 to user-created content.
In the example of FIG. 2, the adjustable-quality layer rendering engine 214 renders one or more layers of the user-created content using content items provided by the content library engine 210 from the content library datastore 212. The content items provided to the adjustable-quality layer rendering engine 214 can be high definition/quality content or a lesser definition/quality version of the same. As the adjustable-quality layer rendering engine 214 renders layers of the user-created content, the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 can specify to the adjustable-quality layer rendering engine 214 the desired quality/definition for the resulting layers.
For instance, the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 can specify that the layers of the user-created content, comprising high definition/quality content, be rendered using a low definition/quality version of the high definition/quality content. Thereafter, the user-created content comprising layers of low definition/quality content can be provided to the online content editor client 206 by the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 for preview or editing purposes, or can be provided to the content publication engine 216 (e.g., for free publication of user-created content comprising proxy content). In some embodiments, the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 can specify that the layers of the user-created content, comprising high definition/quality content, be rendered using the high definition/quality content, but only at the time of publication through the content publication engine 216, or only at after the user submits payment through the adjustable-quality content payment engine 220.
In the example of FIG. 2, the content publication engine 216 receives user-created content rendered by the adjustable-quality layer rendering engine 214 and publishes the user-created content. The user-created content can be published such that the user-created content can be downloaded and saved by the user or others as a stand-alone content file (e.g., MPEG or AVI file), or such that user-created content can be shared to other over the network (e.g., posted to a website so that others can play/view the user-created content). Once published, the user-created content can be stored on the published version content datastore 218. For some embodiments, the published user-created content can be added to the content library datastore 212 for reuse in other user-created content. Depending on the embodiment, the published user-created content can be added to the content library datastore 212 as for-purchase content (for example with the sales proceeds being split between amongst the user and the online content editor service provider), or added to the content library datastore 212 as free content available to the public. The user can also define content usage parameters (i.e., licensing rights) for their user-created content when the user-created content is added to the content library datastore 212.
In the example of FIG. 2, the adjustable-quality content payment engine 220 facilitates user payment to the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202, and can determine the level of functionality provided by the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202, or the level of definition/quality for content within the user-created content. For example, once payment has been received by the adjustable-quality content payment engine 220 and the adjustable-quality content payment engine 220 has informed the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 of such payment, the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 can allow the user to access certain content items in the content library datastore 212 (e.g., for-purchase content), can allow the user to perform certain content creation or modification operations (e.g., splitting a content layer), or can allow the user to publish the user-created content with high definition/quality content. In some embodiments, the definition/quality of the content within the user-created content may variable and determined based on the amount payment made by the user. The adjustable-quality content payment engine 220 can maintain an account, where the user can maintain a positive balance from which funds are deducted as payments are made to the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202, or where charges are incurred to the account and the user submits payment some time after (e.g., a credit system). In various embodiments, the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 can inform the adjustable-quality content payment engine 220 of the costs accrued by the user as he or she uses content items from the content library datastore 212 in the user-created content, or as certain functionality of the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 is utilized. As noted herein, the pricing for content items can be stored with the content items in the content library datastore 212.
In the example of FIG. 2, the content licensing management engine 222 can determine the licensing rights and permissions of content items stored on the content library datastore 212, and inform the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 of such rights and permissions. The online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208, in turn, can adapt control its own functionality in accordance with the licensing rights and permissions of the content item as the content item is utilized in the user-created content. For instance, where the content licensing rights and permissions of a certain content item restricted the content item from being split during creation or modification of the user-created content (i.e., the content item has to remain intact in the user-created content), the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 can automatically disable a split content layer command with respect to that certain content item. Other content licensing rights and permissions can include publication limitations on the user-created content, or limitations on use of content items based on the existing content of the user-created content. The content licensing management engine 222 cam inform the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 of the cost of certain content items based on their use in accordance with the licensing rights and permissions. For some embodiments, the authors of the content items can configure the licensing rights and permissions for their content items, which is then stored on the content library datastore 212.
In some embodiments, where the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 is implemented using virtual or cloud-based computing resources, such virtual or cloud-based computer resources can be managed through the cloud management engine 224. The cloud management engine 224 can delegate various content-related operations and sub-operations of the server 202 to virtual or cloud-based computer resources, and manage the execution of the operations. Depending on the embodiment, the cloud management engine 224 can facilitate management of the virtual or cloud-based computer resources through a application program interface (API) that provides management access and control to the virtual or cloud-based infrastructure providing the computing resources for the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202.
In the example of FIG. 2, the online content editor client 206 comprises a remote online content editor user interface engine 226 and a local-version content datastore 228 coupled to the remote online content editor user interface engine 226. The remote online content editor user interface engine 226 facilitates the creation or modification of user-created content at the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 by the online content editor client 206. As noted herein, the remote online content editor user interface engine 226 can establish a connection with the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 over the network 204, and then issue content creation and modification commands to the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208. In accordance with the issued commands, the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 can perform the content creation or modification operations at the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202, and can return to the remote online content editor user interface engine 226 a proxy version of the resulting user-created content.
Alternatively, the online content editor client 206 can modify content by receiving a proxy version of content to be edited, apply edits directly to the proxy content, and then upload the edited proxy content to the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 so that the edits can be consistently applied to corresponding content residing on the server 202. For some embodiments, the edited proxy content can be sent to the online adjustable-quality content editing engine 208 for application to the corresponding content residing on the server 202. Additionally, when the edited lower quality/definition content is uploaded from the online content editor client 206 to the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202, various implementations can utilize one or more methods for optimizing the network bandwidth usage. More regarding such optimization methods are described herein in association with FIG. 5.
Depending on the embodiment, the low bandwidth consumption online content editor server 202 can provide the proxy version of user-created content as a content stream that is buffered and played through the remote online content editor user interface engine 226, or as a content file that is playable by the remote online content editor user interface engine 226 once the content file has been downloaded to the online content editor client 206 and stored to the local-version content datastore 228.
FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of an example of a server-side method for low bandwidth consumption online content editing in accordance with some embodiments. In some implementations, the modules of the flowchart 300 and other flowcharts described in this paper are reordered to a permutation of the illustrated order of modules or reorganized for parallel execution. In the example of FIG. 3, the flowchart 300 starts at module 302 with initiating a low quality content online content editor instance at a server. Once initiated, the low quality content online content editor instance can perform content creation or modification operations on multi-layered user-created content at the server. The server can be implemented on a conventional computing device, preferably a server-class computing device, or a virtual computing or cloud-based server.
In the example of FIG. 3, the flowchart 300 continues to module 304 with obtaining high quality content from a content library datastore. The content library datastore is remotely located with respect to the client and can reside at the server (or, alternatively, remotely located to the server as well). In addition to high quality content, the content library datastore can comprise content of varying quality or definition. Module 306 can obtain the high quality content from the content library datastore when the user interface instructs the low quality content online content editor instance to utilize the high quality content in the multi-layered user-created content.
In the example of FIG. 3, the flowchart 300 continues to module 306 with generating a lower quality version of the high quality content obtained during module 304. The generation of the lower quality version of the high quality content can be in anticipation of providing the lower quality version to the lower quality content online content editor instance for use in the multi-layered user-created content.
In the example of FIG. 3, the flowchart 300 continues to module 308 with providing of the lower quality version of the high quality content to the lower quality content online content editor instance.
In the example of FIG. 3, the flowchart 300 continues to module 310 with creating or modifying of multi-layered user-created content using the lower quality version of the high quality content, where the lower quality version is used in a first layer of the multi-layered user-created content. As noted herein, the lower quality content online content editor instance can perform the creation or modification operations with respect to the multi-layered user created content. Through the use of the lower quality version of the multi-layered user-created content, less bandwidth is consumed over the connection between the server and the client as the client performs content editing at the server and the server provides the lower quality version to the client (e.g., for reviewing and editing purposes). Furthermore, the lower quality version of the multi-layered user-created content requires less computing resources at the client when multi-layered user-created content is played or viewed at the client (e.g., for reviewing or editing purposes).
In the example of FIG. 3, the flowchart 300 continues to module 312 with rendering of the first layer of the multi-layered user-created content, where the high quality content replaces the lower quality version of the high quality content in the first layer. In some embodiments, the replacement of the lower quality version of the high quality content can occur only after the user has made a payment for the high quality content, or only when the multi-layered user-created content is to be published for download or sharing purposes.
In the example of FIG. 3, the flowchart 300 ends at module 314 with publishing the resulting multi-layered user-created content for consumption by others or by the user (e.g., via download), where the multi-layered user-created content comprises the rendered first layer having the high quality content.
FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of an example of a client-side method for low bandwidth consumption online content editing in accordance with some embodiments. In some implementations, the modules of the flowchart 400 and other flowcharts described in this paper are reordered to a permutation of the illustrated order of modules or reorganized for parallel execution. In the example of FIG. 4, the flowchart 400 starts at module 402 with initiating a user interface at a client to a lower quality content online content editor instance at a server. Once initiated, a user at the client can issue commands, such as content creation or modification commands, to the low quality content online content editor instance at the server through the user interface. In response, the low quality content online content editor instance can perform operations on the multi-layered user-created content residing at the server, where the operations are in accordance with the content creation or modification commands issued. The client can be implemented by any known or convenient computing device including, for example, mobile computing devices, netbooks, and desktop. Generally, the server possesses computing resources in excess of those of the client, or the server possesses computing resources better suited for content creation or modification than those of the client.
In the example of FIG. 4, the flowchart 400 continues to module 404 with displaying a listing of high quality content available for use in a layer of multi-layered user-created content, where the high quality content is from a content library datastore at the server. The server can query the content library datastore for high quality content, and the query result can be provided to the client through the user interface as a listing of the high quality content available for use. As noted herein, the high quality content listed can include available content that is free to be used during creation or modification operations on the multi-layered user-created content, but that requires payment for the multi-layered user-created content to be published with the high quality content rather than a lower quality version of the same, or that requires a payment before the multi-layered user-created content can be published at all. In some embodiments, as the high quality content is used without payment during creation or modification operations, a lower quality version of the high quality content can be used in place of the high quality content for such operations, thereby obviating the need for generating a lower quality version of the multi-layered user-created content before it is provided to the user interface at the client for review and editing purposes.
In the example of FIG. 4, the flowchart 400 continues to module 406 with instructing the lower quality content online content editor instance at the server to create or modify a layer of the multi-layered user-created content using the high quality content. The high quality content can be selected from one or more items provided in the list of module 404. As noted herein, the client can instruct the lower quality content online content editor instance through the user interface, and the lower quality content online content editor instance in response can act upon such instructions.
In the example of FIG. 4, the flowchart 400 continues to module 408 with receiving a lower quality version of the multi-layered user-created content that results from module 406, where the lower quality version is received at the client for review or editing purposes. As noted herein, the client can receive the lower quality version through the user interface, which can play or view the lower version for the user at the client. Depending on the embodiment, the client can receive the lower quality version for reviewing the results of the content creation or modification operations performed by the server on the multi-layered user-created content. The lower quality version can also be received for instructing the lower quality content online content editor instance to perform additional content creation or modification operations to the multi-layered user-created content. Through the use of the lower quality version of the multi-layered user-created content, less bandwidth is consumed over the connection between the server and the client as the client performs content editing at the server. Additionally, the lower quality version of the multi-layered user-created content requires less computing resources at the client when multi-layered user-created content is played or viewed at the client (e.g., for reviewing or editing purposes).
In the example of FIG. 4, the flowchart 400 continues to module 410 with requesting the publication of the multi-layered user-created content having high quality content for the purposes of download or sharing with others. As described herein, the client can make a request for publication through the user interface at the client. When the client requests publication of the multi-layered user-created content, the lower quality content used in the multi-layered user-created content can be replaced with corresponding high quality content, and published for access by the users or others.
FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of an example of an optimization method for low bandwidth consumption online content editing in accordance with some embodiments. Use of the optimization method can, for some embodiments, allow for efficient use of network bandwidth between an online low-bandwidth consumption client and an online low-bandwidth consumption server. Depending on the embodiment, the optimization method can be implemented at the online low-bandwidth consumption client, at an online low-bandwidth consumption server, or both. Once implemented, the optimization method can determine how and when a content transfer between the online low-bandwidth consumption client and the online low-bandwidth consumption server can be performed in a manner which reduces the amount of content data being transferred. Generally, the optimization method makes the transfer determination based on the type of content creation or modification being performed, based on the context in which the content creation or modification is being performed, preferences set at the online low-bandwidth consumption client or the online low-bandwidth consumption server, or some combination thereof.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that depending on the implementation, the optimization method can be implemented for content transfer from the online low-bandwidth consumption client to the online low-bandwidth consumption server, can be implemented for content transfer from the online low-bandwidth consumption server to the online low-bandwidth consumption client, or both. Additionally, though the optimization methods described herein are primarily described in association with content transfers, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the optimization methods can be utilized for other information being transferred between the online low-bandwidth consumption client and the online low-bandwidth consumption server including, for example, timeline information. Furthermore, in some implementations, the modules of the flowchart 500 and other flowcharts described in this paper are reordered to a permutation of the illustrated order of modules or reorganized for parallel execution.
In the example of FIG. 5, the flowchart 500 starts at module 502 with initiating a user interface at a client to a lower quality content online content editor instance at a server. Once initiated, a user at the client can issue commands, such as content creation or modification commands, to the low quality content online content editor instance at the server through the user interface. In response, the low quality content online content editor instance can perform operations on the multi-layered user-created content residing at the server or the multi-layered user-created content residing at the client, where the operations are in accordance with the content creation or modification commands issued. As noted herein, the client can be implemented by any known or convenient computing device including, for example, mobile computing devices, netbooks, and desktop. Generally, the server possesses computing resources in excess of those of the client, or the server possesses computing resources better suited for content creation or modification than those of the client.
In the example of FIG. 5, the flowchart 500 continues to module 504 with instructing the low quality content online content editor instance to perform an action with respect to a layer of a multi-layered user-created content, which is using high quality content. The high quality content can be selected from one or more items from a content library datastore at the server. As noted herein, the client can instruct the lower quality content online content editor instance through the user interface, and the lower quality content online content editor instance in response can act upon such instructions. As also noted herein, the high quality content listed can include available content that is free to be used during creation or modification operations on the multi-layered user-created content, but that requires payment for the multi-layered user-created content to be published with the high quality content rather than a lower quality version of the same, or that requires a payment before the multi-layered user-created content can be published at all. In some embodiments, as the high quality content is used without payment during creation or modification operations, a lower quality version of the high quality content can be used in place of the high quality content for such operations, thereby obviating the need for generating a lower quality version of the multi-layered user-created content before it is provided to the user interface at the client for review and editing purposes.
At module 504, actions instructed to be performed may include creation operations or edit operations to be performed on the user-created content. The context in which the instruction is made and/or the action is performed can have an influence on how the method optimizes transfers of content between the client and server. Some examples of context aspects that can be considered during the optimization method include whether the instruction is requested in a collaborative setting (e.g., were one content editor user are editing the same user-created content in a collaborative manner), content editor user preferences (e.g., early start on rendering processes), and whether one or more other instructions have been requested concurrently with the instruction requested at module 504.
In the example of FIG. 5, the flowchart 500 continues to module 506 with determining how the low quality version of the multi-layered user-created content is uploaded from the client to the server based on the action instructed to be performed (at module 504) or the context in which the instruction was made (at module 504). For example, where a content editor user is performing content edits to user-created content residing locally at the content editor user's client, the module 506 can determine that only those portions of user-created content that are affected by the content editor user's modifications are transferred from the client to the server. In another example, where a content editor user has instructed two or more content modification actions be performed on the user-created content, the module 506 can determine that the user-created data should be transferred only once the two or more modification actions have been performed, as to avoid having to transfer the user-created content after each action is performed.
In yet another example, where two or more content editor users are collaboratively performing content edits to the same user-created content and where each content editor user is respectively editing proxy content residing locally at the content editor user's client, the module 506 can determine portions of the proxy content residing at the respective clients are uploaded to the server as early as possible as the portions are modified by the individual content editor users. In doing so, various implementation can try to ensure that the latest changes applied by individual collaborative users to the user-created content can be shared amongst other collaborative users.
In a further example, where a content editor user indicates a preference (e.g., through user settings) for server processes (e.g., rendering or conversion) to be performed on content as early as possible (e.g., as content data begins to arrive at the server from the client), the module 506 can determine that any upload of proxy or non-proxy content from the client to the server should be transferred in parts (e.g., content data chunks or segments), thereby enabling the server to commence processing of the content as the parts are received (rather than waiting for the content in its entirety).
Where the module 506 determines proxy or non-proxy content should be uploaded from the client to the server in parts, and where the server is processing those parts as they are being received, a content editor user can suspend or cancel the server processing mid-performance through the client, during which the content editor user can further modify portions of the content through the client. The portions modified during the suspension or cancellation of server processed may correspond to parts of the content that were already processed by the server before suspension or cancellation of the server processing was issued. In some implementations, the portions of the content that have already been processed by the server but are not subsequently modified by the content editor user may be reutilized to avoid unnecessary processing. Also, where the module 506 determines proxy or non-proxy content should be uploaded from the client to the server in parts, and where the server is processing those parts as they are being received, the client may begin to receive a preview of those portions already processed before all the portions have been processed by the server.
For some implementations, the determination performed by the module 506 may be based on preferences set by a content editor user at an online content editor client or preferences set by an administrator at an online content editor server. In some implementations, the online content editor client and/or the online content editor server can be configured to perform the determination of module 506 according to a preconfigured setting.
In the example of FIG. 5, the flowchart 500 continues to module 508 with uploading the lower quality version of the multi-layered user-created content from the client to the server according to the determination made in module 506. As noted herein, the determination can include uploading the lower quality version of the multi-layered user-created content in parts, uploading the lower quality version of the multi-layered user-created content according to what portions of the user-create content have been modified at the client, or uploading modified portions of the lower quality version of the multi-layered user-created content as early as possible (e.g., when in a collaborative online content editing setting).
FIG. 6 depicts an example of client-side user interface for low bandwidth consumption online content editing in accordance with some embodiments. Through the client-side user interface, a user at a client can perform online content editing at a server while consuming low bandwidth over a network connection. In particular, the client-side user interface can be used at the client to create or edit user-created content residing at the server. The client-side user interface can be transferred from a server to a client as a module that can then be operated on the client. For example, the client-side user interface can comprise a client-side applet or script that is downloaded to the client from the server and then operated at the client (e.g., through a web browser). Additionally, the client-side user interface can operate through a plug-in that is installed in a web browser. User input to the client-side user interface can cause a command relating to online content editing, such as a content layer edit command or a content player/viewer command, to be transmitted from the client to the server.
The client-side user interface 600 includes multiple controls and other features that enable a user at a client to control the creation or modification of content at a server. In the example of FIG. 6, the client-side user interface 600 includes a tabbed menu bar 602, a content listing 604, a content player/viewer 606, content player/viewer controls 608, content layer editor controls 610, a content timeline indicator 612, and a content layering interface 614.
The tabbed menu bar 602 also enables the user to select “Transitions,” which can be predefined or user-created content transitions inserted between two content items in a layer of user-created content. For instance, with respect to video content (i.e., video clips), available transitions can include a left-to-right video transition which once inserted between a first video clip and a second video clip, cause the first video clip transition to the second video clip in a left-to-right manner. Likewise, with respect to audio content (i.e., audio clips), available transitions can include a right-to-left transition which once inserted between a first audio clip and a second audio clip, causes the first audio clip to fade into to the second audio clip starting from the right audio channel and ending at the left audio channel.
In the example of FIG. 6, a user can utilize the player/viewer 606 to preview content items from the content library listed in the content listing 604. The content player/viewer 606 can also provide a preview of user-created content being created through the client-side user interface 600. In one example, the user can create user-created content, containing one or more video and audio content items from the content library, and then preview that user-created content through the content player/viewer 606. Depending on the embodiment, as the user-created content is previewed through the content player/viewer 606, the server can stream such user-created content to the client as it is being played or shown. In some embodiments, the user-created content can be first downloaded to the client before it is played or shown through the content player/viewer 606.
As described herein, the content library items or the user-created content shown through the content player/viewer 606 can be of a proxy than the actual definition/quality of the content residing on the server or the content that is eventually rendered by the server. Because the proxy content requires less bandwidth when being transferred from the server to a client, some embodiments can lower the data bandwidth consumption between the client and server as content is created, edited, and previewed through the client-side user interface 600.
In the example of FIG. 6, the content layer editor control 610 comprises controls that enable the user to edit content layers of user-created content. Through the content layer editor control 610, a user can implement edits to a content layer of the user-created content residing on the server. The content layer editor control 610 can include edit controls that enable a user to add, delete or modify one or more content layers of user-created content. Example edit controls include, without limitation, adding a content layer, deleting a content layer, splitting a single content layer into two or more content layers, and editing properties of a content layer.
In the example of FIG. 6, the content timeline indicator 612 visually assists a user in determining a temporal position of a content layer in user-created content or a content item in the content layer. For instance, the content timeline indicator 612 can comprise a time marker that indicates a temporal start point or a temporal end point for a content layer or a content item in the content layer. In some embodiments, the length of the content timeline indicator 612 can adapt according to the overall duration of the user-created creation, or can be adjusted according to a user-setting.
In the example of FIG. 6, the content layering interface 614 enables a user to access and modify content layers of the user-created content. The content layering interface 614 can comprise a stack of content layer slots, where each content layer slot graphically presents all the content layers of a particular content type associated to the user-created content. Example content types include, without limitation, graphical content (e.g., “Graphics”), video content (e.g., “Video”), image content (e.g., “Image”), and audio content (e.g., “Audio effects”). The content layering interface 614 can also comprise image, video or audio effects, which can be applied to the various content types.
In some embodiments, the user can add content to a new or existing content layer of the user-created content by “dragging-and-dropping” content items from the content listing 604 into the content layering interface 614. Further, in various embodiments, the user can graphically modify a temporal position or duration of a content layer or a content item within the content layer. For instance, the user can drag-and-drop the graphically represented start or end of a content item to adjust the duration of the content item (thereby the temporal start of temporal end of the content item) in the user-created content.
an online adjustable quality content editing engine;
an adjustable-quality layer rendering engine coupled to the online adjustable quality content editing engine;
a content library engine coupled to the online adjustable quality content editing engine;
an adjustable quality content payment engine coupled to the online adjustable quality content editing engine, the adjustable quality content payment engine comprising a payment processing engine and a content quality definition engine;
a content library datastore coupled to the content library engine, wherein the content library datastore comprises first content, the first content containing a first representation of user-generated media and the first representation having a first quality, and the first content comprising user-generated or third-party provided content;
a remote online content editor user interface engine at a client;
a content publication engine coupled to the online adjustable quality content editing engine;
a content licensing management engine coupled to the online adjustable quality content editing engine;
the content library engine gathers second content containing a second representation of the user-generated media, the second representation having a second quality less than the first quality;
the online adjustable quality content editing engine:
provides the second content to the remote online content editor user interface engine;
receives one or more local edits to a local version of the second content, the one or more local edits being at the second quality;
gathers one or more edit components, each of the one or more edit components corresponding to each of the one or more local edits, and the one or more edit components having the first quality;
the adjustable-quality layer rendering engine:
renders multi-layered user-created content comprising a superimposition of the one or more edit components and the first content, the multi-layered user-created content having the first quality;
adjustably renders a first editing layer at a predefined-quality level corresponding to the first quality, wherein the predefined-quality level is based on a user preference, a payment from a user, a system preference, and a system condition;
the content quality definition engine defines the predefined-quality level based on a condition selected from a group consisting of an amount of the payment and a success in processing the payment;
the content publication engine publishes the multi-layered user-created content for consumption after a first editing layer has been rendered by the adjustable-quality layer rendering engine;
the content licensing management engine:
obtains a licensing parameter of use for the first content, wherein the licensing parameter comprises a use limitation associated with the first content;
provides the licensing parameter to the online adjustable quality content editing engine to limit use of the first content according to the use limitation.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the content library engine comprises a lower quality content generation engine;
wherein, in operation: the lower quality content generation engine generates the second content from the first content, and provides the second content to the online adjustable quality content editing engine.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first content further comprises payment-free content or for-purchase content.
6. The system of claim 1, comprising an adjustable quality content payment engine coupled to the online adjustable quality content editing engine:
the payment processing engine processes the payment from the user;
a high quality content control engine controls access to the first content by the online adjustable quality content editing engine based on a condition selected from a group consisting of an amount of the payment and a success in processing the payment.
7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a content licensing management engine coupled to the adjustable quality content payment engine;
the content licensing management engine obtains a licensing parameter for the first content, wherein the licensing parameter comprises a cost associated with the first content;
the content licensing management engine provides the licensing parameter to the adjustable quality content payment engine to charge for use of the first content according to the cost.
8. A method for low bandwidth consumption online content editing, the method comprising:
obtaining first content from a content library datastore, the first content containing a first representation of user-generated media and the first representation having a first quality and the first content comprising user-generated or third-party provided content;
gathering second content from an online content editor server, the second content containing a second representation of the user-generated media, the second representation having a second quality less than the first quality;
providing, from the online content editor server, the second content to a low quality content online content editor instance at a client;
receiving from the client one or more local edits to a local version of the second content, the one or more local edits being at the second quality;
gathering, at the online content editor server, one or more edit components, each of the one or more edit components corresponding to each of the one or more local edits, and the one or more edit components having the first quality;
rendering, at the online content editor server, multi-layered user-created content comprising a superimposition of the one or more edit components and the first content, the multi-layered user-created content having the first quality;
adjustably rendering, at the online content editor server, a first editing layer at a predefined-quality level corresponding to the first quality, wherein the predefined-quality level is based on a user preference, a payment from a user, a system preference, and a system condition;
processing, at the online content editor server, the payment;
defining, at the online content editor server, the predefined-quality level based on a condition selected from a group consisting of an amount of the payment and a success in processing the payment;
publishing, at the online content editor server, the multi-layered user-created content for consumption after the first editing layer has been rendered by an adjustable-quality layer rendering engine;
obtaining, at the online content editor server, a licensing parameter of use for the first content, wherein the licensing parameter comprises a use limitation associated with the first content;
providing, from the online content editor server, the licensing parameter to an online adjustable quality content editing engine to limit use of the first content according to the use limitation.
9. The method of claim 8, comprising: publishing the multi-layered user-created content for consumption after the first editing layer has been rendered.
receiving a control instruction from a user interface at the client;
controlling an operation of the low quality content online content editor instance according to the control instruction.
initiating the low quality content online content editor instance at the online content editor server;
receiving a connection to the low quality content online content editor instance from the user interface at the client.
12. The method of claim 8, further comprising generating the second content before providing the second content to the low quality content online content editor instance.
processing the payment from the user;
controlling access to the first content by the low quality content online content editor instance based on an amount of the payment or based on success in processing the payment.
wherein the licensing parameter relates to a cost associated with the first content; and wherein the method further comprises charging for use of the first content according to the cost.
obtain first content from a content library datastore, the first content containing a first representation of user-generated media and the first representation having a first quality and the first content comprising user-generated or third-party provided content;
gather second content from an online content editor server, the second content containing a second representation of the user-generated media, the second representation having a second quality less than the first quality;
provide, from the online content editor server, the second content to a low quality content online content editor instance at a client;
receive from the client one or more local edits to a local version of the second content, the one or more local edits being at the second quality;
gather, at the online content editor server, one or more edit components, each of the one or more edit components corresponding to each of the one or more local edits, and the one or more edit components having the first quality;
render, at the online content editor server, multi-layered user-created content comprising a superimposition of the one or more edit components and the first content, the multi-layered user-created content having the first quality;
adjustably render, at the online content editor server, a first editing layer at a predefined-quality level corresponding to the first quality, wherein the predefined-quality level is based on a user preference, a payment from a user, a system preference, and a system condition;
process, at the online content editor server, the payment;
define, at the online content editor server, the predefined-quality level based on a condition selected from a group consisting of an amount of the payment and a success in processing the payment;
publish, at the online content editor server, the multi-layered user-created content for consumption after the first editing layer has been rendered by an adjustable-quality layer rendering engine;
obtain, at the online content editor server, a licensing parameter of use for the first content, wherein the licensing parameter comprises a use limitation associated with the first content;
provide, from the online content editor server, the licensing parameter to an online adjustable quality content editing engine to limit use of the first content according to the use limitation.
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