Content List Generation for Cross-Device Format Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content distribution systems face challenges in providing multimedia content to clients due to format incompatibilities between content servers and playback devices, requiring additional functionality and information exchange between servers and clients.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus connected to a communication network that manages content and attribute information, detects external processing capabilities, generates content list information, and provides it to clients, enabling direct or converted content delivery based on detected capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a content server converts content to match client playback capability, then content compatibility is improved, but device complexity and information management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a content list generation unit that acts as an intermediary between the content server and external processing apparatus. This unit generates content list information that includes capability information of external processing apparatus, allowing the client to select appropriate content without the server needing to perform complex format conversions. The intermediary mechanism resolves the contradiction by shifting the conversion burden from the server to the client-side external processing apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the content delivery system into distinct functional components: the content server manages content storage and basic delivery, while external processing apparatus handle format conversion and capability matching. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific tasks, reducing the complexity burden on any single device while maintaining overall system adaptability.
2Reliability
If capability information is exchanged between content server and client, then content provision accuracy is improved, but information management complexity and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the content list generation unit pre-generate content list information that includes capability information of external processing apparatus before actual content delivery. This allows the client to perform capability matching in advance, ensuring accurate content provision without requiring complex real-time information exchange during the actual content delivery process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by including capability information of external processing apparatus within the content list information itself. Instead of requiring separate capability exchange protocols between server and client, the capability information is copied and embedded in the existing content list structure, simplifying information management while maintaining provision accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If external processing apparatus is used for content conversion, then content availability is improved, but system complexity and detection requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling external processing apparatus to autonomously provide their capability information to the content server. The apparatus automatically register themselves and make their conversion capabilities available without requiring complex detection mechanisms. This self-service approach improves content availability while reducing the detection burden on the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The content list generation unit serves as an intermediary that automatically manages the registration and capability integration of external processing apparatus. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the detection process by providing a standardized interface through which external apparatus can be automatically discovered and integrated, reducing system complexity while improving content availability.
Data Source
AI summary
In order to enable more of the contents managed by a content server to be provided, an information processing apparatus connected to a communication network includes: a managing unit that manages a content and attribute information; a detecting unit that detects an external processing apparatus connected to the communication network; an acquiring unit that acquires capability information, which indicates a capability that can be provided by the external processing apparatus; a generating unit that generates content list information containing a first list containing a content that is managed by the managing unit and that can be directly provided by the information processing apparatus, and a second list containing a content that can be provided by giving a processing request to the external processing apparatus; and a providing unit that provides the content list information to a client terminal.