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Constraints for Multimedia Presentation Generation. Joost Geurts , Multimedia and Human-Computer Interaction CWI Amsterdam email: Joost.Geurts @cwi.nl. Talk overview. Generating multimedia automatically Cuypers multimedia generation engine Multimedia and constraints
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Constraints for Multimedia Presentation Generation Joost Geurts, Multimedia and Human-Computer Interaction CWI Amsterdam email: Joost.Geurts@cwi.nl
Talk overview • Generating multimedia automatically • Cuypers multimedia generation engine • Multimedia and constraints • Quantitative constraints • Qualitative constraints • Cuypers demo • Conclusion, future directions
Multimedia Presentation • Multimedia Presentation • Image, Text, Video, Audio • Based on Temporal and Spatial Synchronization • Multimedia Document • SMIL, SVG, HTML • WYSIWYG • Static Content • Problem: Dynamic Content
Generating adaptive multimedia • Content • Large multimedia database • System profile • PC, PDA, WAP • Network profile • Modem, Gigabit • User profile • Language, Interests, Abilities, Preferences Too costly to author manually
Cuypers multimedia generation engine • Cuypers is based on • media independent presentation abstractions • transformation rules with built-in backtracking andconstraint solving
Semantic structure Author does not specify complete presentation……but only rhetoric relations
Communicative Devices …rhetoric relations are than transformed into presentation independent communicative devices…
Automatic multimedia generation • Designer does not specify complete presentation……but only specifies requirements • System automatically finds a solution which meets requirements • How should the requirements be specified? • Declarative constraints
Constraint satisfaction • Constraints occur often in our daily lives • Agenda, Travelling, Shopping • Constraint paradigm for Problem Solving • Declarative Used for problems with: • Many variables • Large domains • Based on domain reduction paradigm
Intelligent reduction of possible values X {1,2,3,4,5}, Y {1,2} ; X Y • X {1,2}, • Y {1,2} ; • X Y
Traditional use of constraints Quantitative constraints • Integer domain • Reduction by arithmetic relations • Greater than (>) • Less than (<) • Equals (=) • Example (x < y ; x [0..10], y [5..10] ) (x + y = z 3 , x = u + 1 ; x , y , z , u )
Solving a Constraint Satisfaction Problem • Problem SEND + MORE = MONEY • Modeling 1000 x S + 100 x E + 10 x N + D + 1000 x M + 100 x O + 10 x R + E = 10000 x M + 1000 x O + 100 x N + 10 x E + Y • Domain reduction / Search • Solution S=9, E=5, N=6, D=7, M=1, O=0, R=8, Y=2
Quantitative Constraints in Multimedia …Communicative devices generate constraint-graph which the system tries to satisfy…
Drawbacks of quantitative constraints • Too many (trivial) solutions that differ by: • 1 pixel position, or • 1 milliseconds in timing • Not sufficiently expressive • cannot specify “no overlap” constraint • Too low level • A.X2 B.X1
Allen’s 13 temporal relations Allen’s relations are used for both spatial and temporal lay-out
Solution: qualitative constraints • For non-typical domains • Boolean, • Three valued logics, • Allen’s relation • Advantages for Multimedia generation: • More intuitive • More expressive • Smaller domains
Domain Reduction Rules • Inverse A before B B after A A equal B B equal A • Transitive A before B , B before C A before C A overlaps B, B during C A overlap C or A during C or A starts C • Equals A overlap C, A [o,d,s] C A overlap C
Qualitative Constraints …Qualitative solutions translate automatically to lower level quantitative constraints…
New problem: What if constraints are insoluble? • Combine Prolog unification and backtracking with constraint solving • Use Prolog rules to generate constraints • Backtrack when constraints are insoluble Solution: Constraint Logic Programming
Cuypers generation engine • Multiple layers: • Communicative devices generate constraints • Qualitative constraints translate to quantitative constraints • Solution of both constraints provides sufficient information for final presentation
Cuypers demo: scenario • User is interested in Rembrandt and wants to • know about about the “chiaroscuro” technique • Query database • Generate constraints according to: • System profile • User profile • Network profile • Solve constraints / revise constraints • Generate SMIL presentation • Play presentation • Client • Server • Server • Server • Server • Client
Conclusions • Quantitative constraintsare insufficient for automatic multimediapresentation generation. Also need • Qualitative constraintsto allow intuitive and effectivehigh level specification, and • Backtrackingfor revising specific constraintswhich otherwise cause the entire set to fail
Discussion • Labeling • Choice of candidate variable • Choice of candidate value • Transitive Reasoning Rule • Infer implicit relations • Redundant • Allen’s Relations • Not very well suited for generating MM • Non interactive
Future directions • Best-first instead of depth-first • Choose “best” among possible solutions • Needs evaluation criteria • Improve knowledge management • Make design knowledge declarative and explicit • Preserve metadata in final presentation • Use standardized and reusable profiles