Resource-saving systems and methods

Abstract

Methods and systems for saving resources when outputting a media asset such as a video are provided. The media asset is split into a first portion with a first importance and a second portion with the second importance. The first portion is displayed with a first set of output parameters (e.g., resolution, bit rate, frame rate, display size) and the second portion is displayed with a second set of output parameters that correspond to a lower quality than the first set of output parameters (e.g., a lower resolution, a lower bit rate, a lower frame rate, a lower display size).

1 . A method for decreasing consumption of resources related to a user device outputting a media asset on an output device, the method comprising operating a resource-saving mode comprising:
 retrieving an input that a media asset is to be output or is being output by the user device on the output device;   determining that a first portion of the media asset has a first attribute;   determining that a second portion of the media asset has a second attribute;   generating for output with a first set of output parameters, on the output device, the first portion of the media asset; and   generating for output with a second set of output parameters, on the output device, the second portion of the media asset;   wherein the second set of output parameters is different from the first set of output parameters.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sets of output parameters include at least one of: resolution of the media asset, bitrate of the media asset, frame rate of the media asset and a display size of the media asset on the output device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating for output the first portion of the media asset with the first set of output parameters comprises receiving a media stream with a first quality, wherein a media stream with the first quality is a media stream containing data to output the media asset with the first set of output parameters; and   generating for output the second portion of the media asset with the second set of output parameters comprises:
 receiving a media stream with the first quality; and 
 processing the media stream with the first quality to generate for output the second portion with the second set of output parameters. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating for output the first portion of the media asset with the first set of output parameters comprises receiving a media stream with a first quality, wherein a media stream with the first quality is a media stream containing data to output the media asset with the first set of output parameters; and   generating for output the second portion of the media asset with the second set of output parameters comprises receiving a media stream with a second quality, wherein a media stream with the second quality is a media stream containing data to output the media asset with the second set of output parameters and not enough data to output the media asset with the first set of output parameters.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating for output the first portion of the media asset with the first set of output parameters comprises sending to the user device a media stream with a first quality, wherein the media stream with the first quality is a media stream containing data to output the media asset with the first set of output parameters; and   generating for output the second portion of the media asset with the second set of output parameters comprises sending to the user device a media stream with a second quality, wherein the media stream with the second quality is a media stream containing data to output the media asset with the second set of output parameters and not enough data to output the media asset with the first set of output parameters.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second set of output parameters includes a lower display size than that of the first set of output parameters; and   generating for output on the user device comprises generating the media asset for display on an output device of the user device or an output device connected to the user device; and   when the first portion of the media asset is displayed it has a first display size, on the screen of the user device, and when the second portion of the media asset is displayed it has a second display size that is smaller than the first display size.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein generating for output the second portion of the media asset further comprises turning off any pixels of the output device that are not solicited to display the second portion. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 obtaining a battery level information about a level of a battery of the user device;   wherein the resource-saving mode is operated in response to determining that the battery level information is below a threshold battery level or determining that the predicted battery level will be below the threshold battery level upon completion of consumption of the media asset.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the media asset are determined based at least in part on a user's profile, and/or on using metadata of the media asset. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the media asset are determined based at least in part on: the length of a scene of the media asset, the length of a shots in the content, presence of dialogues, presence of a soundtrack, identification of a category of the scene. 
     
     
         11 . A computing device for decreasing consumption of resources related to a user device outputting a media asset on an output device, the computing device comprising control circuitry configured to, when operating a resource-saving mode:
 retrieve an input that a media asset is to be output or is being output by the user device on the output device;   determine that a first portion of the media asset has a first attribute;   determine that a second portion of the media asset has a second attribute;   generate for output with a first set of output parameters, on the output device, the first portion of the media asset;   generate for output with a second set of output parameters, on the output device, the second portion of the media asset; and   wherein the second set of output parameters is different from the first set of output parameters.   
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the sets of output parameters include at least one of: resolution of the media asset, bitrate of the media asset, frame rate of the media asset and a display size of the media asset on the output device. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 generating for output the first portion of the media asset with the first set of output parameters comprises receiving a media stream with a first quality, wherein a media stream with the first quality is a media stream containing data to output the media asset with the first set of output parameters; and   generating for output the second portion of the media asset with the second set of output parameters comprises:
 receiving a media stream with the first quality; and 
 processing the media stream with the first quality to generate for output the second portion with the second set of output parameters. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 generating for output the first portion of the media asset with the first set of output parameters comprises receiving a media stream with a first quality, wherein a media stream with the first quality is a media stream containing data to output the media asset with the first set of output parameters; and   generating for output the second portion of the media asset with the second set of output parameters comprises receiving a media stream with a second quality, wherein a media stream with the second quality is a media stream containing data to output the media asset with the second set of output parameters and not enough data to output the media asset with the first set of output parameters.   
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 generating for output the first portion of the media asset with the first set of output parameters comprises sending to the user device a media stream with a first quality, wherein the media stream with the first quality is a media stream containing data to output the media asset with the first set of output parameters; and   generating for output the second portion of the media asset with the second set of output parameters comprises sending to the user device a media stream with a second quality, wherein the media stream with the second quality is a media stream containing data to output the media asset with the second set of output parameters and not enough data to output the media asset with the first set of output parameters.   
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the second set of output parameters includes a lower display size than that of the first set of output parameters; and   generating for output on the user device comprises generating the media asset for display on an output device of the user device or an output device connected to the user device; and   when the first portion of the media asset is displayed it has a first display size, on the screen of the user device, and when the second portion of the media asset is displayed it has a second display size that is smaller than the first display size.   
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 16 , wherein generating for output the second portion of the media asset further comprises turning off any pixels of the output device that are not solicited to display the second portion. 
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein control circuitry is further configured to:
 obtain a battery level information about a level of a battery of the user device;   wherein the resource-saving mode is operated in response to determining that the battery level information is below a threshold battery level or determining that the predicted battery level will be below the threshold battery level upon completion of consumption of the media asset.   
     
     
         19 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the media asset are determined based at least in part on a user's profile, and/or on using metadata of the media asset. 
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the media asset are determined based at least in part on: the length of a scene of the media asset, the length of a shots in the content, presence of dialogues, presence of a soundtrack, identification of a category of the scene. 
     
     
         21 .- 66 . (canceled)