Controller Resource Status Acquisition for Remote Recording

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in selecting an appropriate recording device for remote recording reservations due to unknown empty capacity and resource status of recording devices, leading to unreliable recording processes.

Innovation Solution

A network system that includes a terminal unit, recording devices, a service server, and a controller, which collectively acquire and analyze resource status information to determine the most suitable recording device for remote recording reservations, ensuring sufficient capacity and avoiding conflicts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a user manually selects a recording device for remote recording reservation, then the user has control over the selection process, but the user cannot reliably determine whether the recording device has sufficient empty capacity and available tuner resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of recording reservationVSAvoidinformation on empty capacity and resource status

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by having recording devices automatically report their resource status (empty capacity, tuner availability) to the service server. The service server then provides this status information back to the terminal unit, enabling users to make informed selections based on real-time device availability rather than guessing or manual checking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The service server acts as an intermediary between the terminal unit and recording devices. It collects resource status information from multiple recording devices, processes this information, and presents it to the user in a unified manner. This intermediary role solves the information asymmetry problem by aggregating data that would otherwise be difficult for users to obtain from multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the system provides detailed resource status information from multiple recording devices, then the user can make an informed selection, but the system complexity and information processing burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of selecting recording deviceVSAvoidcomplexity of information management system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential resource status information (empty capacity, tuner availability, recording reservation status) from recording devices and presents it in a simplified format to users. Rather than showing all possible device parameters, the system selectively extracts and displays only the information needed for making a recording device selection, reducing cognitive burden on users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The service server provides a universal interface that handles multiple functions: collecting status information from different device types, normalizing the data format, presenting it to users, and processing reservation requests. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single system component rather than requiring each device to implement its own complex information presentation logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the system automatically selects a recording device based on resource status, then the reservation process is simplified, but the user loses control over device selection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of making recording reservationVSAvoiduser control over device selection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic selection by allowing the operation mode (automatic or manual) to be changed based on user needs. The terminal unit can switch between automatically selecting a recording device based on current resource status and allowing manual user selection, providing flexibility that adapts to different user preferences and situations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically selecting a suitable recording device based on current resource status before the user finalizes the reservation. This preliminary selection is made based on pre-acquired information about device availability, and the user can then confirm or modify this selection, combining automated efficiency with user oversight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8489710B2Network system, controller, recording device, service server, method of acquiring resource status of recording device, and computer program

Publication Date: 2013.07.16 SATURN LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A network system including: a terminal unit; one or more recording devices; a service server; and a controller is disclosed. The controller includes: a resource status acquiring unit that, upon receiving a resource status acquisition request to request acquisition of information on resource status of the one or more recording devices, the resource status acquisition request being transmitted from the service server that received the remote recording reservation request from the terminal unit, transmits a resource status acquisition instruction to the one or more recording devices via the local area network and receives a result of determination on remote recording reservation depending on the resource status, as the resource status information, from the one or more recording devices.