The troubles of video streaming services are reputably as old as the industry itself – encoding video content not singly but in manifold, each catering to different playing scenarios. Leaving users pining for decent buffer-free video content on their smartphones, tablets or laptops, especially when hurrying to catch up on their favorite shows, or huddling with friends for the nail-biting sport event over the weekend.
Enter US patent number US20230275947A1, recently filed by international tech behemoth IBM, promising to revolutionize the way we interact with digital content. Its proposition is simple, albeit groundbreaking - two sets of information are simplified, blended, and then presented to the user, enhancing the computer’s comprehension and processing power.
Today’s streaming experience is fragmented at best, dependent in large parts on network bandwidth and the device we're viewing from. We've all experienced the frustration that occurs when, mid-program, our device falls prey to constant buffering or loses the connection altogether, thereby diluting the excitement and diminishing the viewing pleasure.
IBM's patent offers a solution, redefining the concept of video transmission and consumption. With the ingenious invention, there's a possibility to encode multiple videos into a single video combination. Here’s the clincher - the viewer can download this unique combination and view any one or multiple videos offline, on various gadgets, using different decoders to watch the videos separately.
Post IBM's invention, things could look very different for the digital world. Viewers may enjoy their favorite content without stumbling over network issues. The new technology could also set stage for controlled sharing, where viewers, with the correct decoder, share specific content. For instance, a parent could control content for their children based on age, putting a lid on the younger ones watching content meant for the older kids. Again, imagine a situation where the system recognizes a user watching specific content and as a result offers similar content recommendations, thereby personalizing the viewing experience.
An interesting aspect of this patented technology is that it could not only preserve network bandwidth, but also avoid 'product piggybacking'. This would mean an end to unauthorized sharing or viewing of content – format a welcome feature for content providers and copyright holders.
Beyond that, the patent also hints at how future devices could employ such an optimization technique. It points towards viewers possibly wearing decoding goggles that track their interaction with a content in real-time. This could help quantify an audience's interest in a particular program, providing invaluable data to broadcasters.
Yet, as alluring as this technology appears, in the realm of patents, there's no surety whether it will materialize into an actual product. For all we know, this could just remain an interesting addition to IBM's vast repository of patents. But if it does find its way into the world, our experience of streaming content could be streamlined like never before.
In closing, this patented invention holds enormous promise - offering us a glimpse into a future where we may often find ourselves exclaiming, “What buffering!” Tomorrow is indeed looking bright!
P.S. As mentioned, this is a description of a patented technology and not a product that is currently available in the market.