Common Metadata for Segmented Media Content to Reduce cDVR Overhead

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cloud-enabled digital video recording (cDVR) systems face high storage and processing demands due to the use of separate metadata files for each discrete media segment, leading to inefficiencies in managing and scaling media content recording, playback, and deletion.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a common metadata file that encompasses sequencing information for multiple sequential media segments, reducing the need for multiple metadata files and optimizing storage and processing resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If separate metadata files are used for each discrete media segment, then media segment management is enabled, but system resource consumption (memory and processing) and power usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia segment managementVSAvoidsystem resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple discrete media segments into a single media object with a unified metadata file. Instead of managing separate metadata files for each segment, the system creates one metadata file that describes the entire media object comprising multiple segments, thereby reducing the number of files the system must process and store.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unified metadata file serves multiple functions simultaneously: it describes the entire media object, manages multiple discrete segments, and enables playback operations across all segments. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate metadata files for each segment, reducing overall system complexity and resource usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If separate metadata files are used for each discrete media segment, then individual segment tracking is achieved, but the number of metadata files increases leading to higher storage and processing demands

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesegment tracking accuracyVSAvoidnumber of metadata files

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple segment-level metadata files are merged into a single media object metadata file. The unified metadata file contains information about the entire media object and its constituent segments, maintaining the ability to track individual segments while reducing the total number of metadata files from N (one per segment) to 1 (one per media object).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3863289B1Systems, methods, and devices for managing segmented media content

Publication Date: 2025.07.16 SYNAMEDIA LTD

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A method includes receiving a request to initiate recording of a media object. The media object includes a first plurality of sequential media segments. The first plurality of sequential media segments is associated with a corresponding plurality of metadata files, each of which providing a description of a respective one of the first plurality of sequential media segments. The method includes generating, in response to receiving the request to initiate recording of the media object, a first common metadata file that is associated with the media object as a function of the corresponding plurality of metadata files. The first common metadata file includes sequencing information associated with the first plurality of sequential media segments. The method includes storing the first plurality of sequential media segments based on the sequencing information included in the first common metadata file.