Content Version Management Server Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in seamlessly switching between different versions of digital content, such as e-books, due to the lack of precise synchronization, leading to disruptions in their consumption experience, as each version has distinct durations and complexities, and there is no straightforward method to preserve progress across versions.

Innovation Solution

A content version management server is introduced to enable synchronization and customization of multiple content versions, allowing users to switch between versions while preserving their progress, by generating mapping information and modifying content to align with user preferences, such as removing extraneous content aspects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users switch between different content versions, then users can access content in their preferred format, but synchronization is lost and playback position cannot be preserved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent version flexibilityVSAvoidplayback position

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a content version management server as an intermediary between the user's computing device and multiple content versions. This server generates and maintains synchronization information that maps playback positions across different content versions, enabling seamless transitions while preserving playback state without requiring the user device to perform complex synchronization tasks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating synchronization information that maps corresponding playback positions across multiple content versions before the user needs to switch. This allows the playback position to be preserved automatically when switching occurs, rather than requiring post-switch synchronization calculations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If content versions have different durations and complexities, then users can find content matching their preferences, but switching between versions causes disruptions in consumption experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent version varietyVSAvoidswitching smoothness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The content version management server acts as a mediator that handles the complexity of switching between versions with different durations and structures. It generates synchronization information that accounts for these differences, allowing users to switch smoothly between versions without manual intervention or disruption to their consumption experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by dynamically adjusting the playback position based on synchronization information that maps different time positions across versions with varying durations. This allows seamless transitions between content versions of different lengths and complexities while maintaining continuous playback

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple content versions are made available, then user preferences can be accommodated, but system complexity increases due to synchronization requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveversion selection capabilityVSAvoidsynchronization management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a content version management server as an intermediary that centralizes the complex task of generating and maintaining synchronization information. This shifts the synchronization management complexity from the user's computing device to the server, allowing the client device to simply consume pre-synchronized content without implementing complex synchronization logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The content version management server provides self-service by automatically generating, maintaining, and updating synchronization information without requiring user intervention. The server autonomously manages the complexity of coordinating multiple content versions, allowing users to benefit from version flexibility without dealing with synchronization complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9244678B1Managing content versions

Publication Date: 2016.01.26 AUDIBLE INC

AI summary

Items of content may be available in any of a number of versions. Major aspects of each content version, such as overall plot and major characters, may generally overlap. However, minor aspects, such as level of description, minor characters, or sub-plots may vary between versions. Accordingly, systems and methods are provided for managing playback of multiple content versions, and enabling users to switch between such content versions. In some embodiments, a playback path including portions of multiple content versions may be provided, such that a user may consume only desired portions of each content version. In other embodiments, a determined playback path may be utilized to create a customized content version, which may be provided to a user.