Synchronized Digital Media Rendering via Descriptor File

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital audio content delivery methods, such as mass download and streaming, face challenges with large audio streams, including lengthy waiting times, interruptions, and inefficient tracking and repositioning, especially across multiple devices and platforms.

Innovation Solution

Segmenting audio streams into small digital files using natural language gaps and employing a virtual audio stream descriptor with time offsets for seamless playback and efficient tracking, allowing for timely delivery and smooth cross-media switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mass download is used to deliver large audio streams, then the entire audio stream can be stored locally, but users experience lengthy waiting times of several hours

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio stream continuityVSAvoiddownload waiting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides large audio streams into smaller segments that can be downloaded and played sequentially. Instead of requiring the entire audio stream to be downloaded before playback, the system downloads initial segments, plays them, and automatically continues downloading subsequent segments in the background, enabling continuous playback without hours-long waiting times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary downloading of audio segments before they are needed for playback. By pre-downloading segments in the background and storing them locally, the system ensures that playback can start immediately without waiting for the entire audio stream to be downloaded, while maintaining audio continuity through local storage of playback-ready segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If streaming technology is used to deliver audio streams in real time, then download waiting time is reduced, but interruptions and breaks occur in the audio stream

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownload waiting timeVSAvoidaudio stream continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The audio stream is divided into discrete segments that are downloaded and buffered before playback. This segmentation allows the system to download multiple segments in advance, buffer them locally, and play them continuously without real-time streaming interruptions, ensuring audio continuity while reducing waiting time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system downloads and buffers multiple audio segments beforehand before playback begins. This creates a cushion of pre-loaded content that allows uninterrupted playback even if network connectivity is interrupted during streaming, as the buffered segments provide a safety margin against interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the entire audio stream is downloaded and stored locally, then playback can be seamless, but significant storage space is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudio stream continuityVSAvoidstorage space requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of storing the entire audio stream locally, the system stores only the segments that are currently needed for playback or have been pre-downloaded. As segments are played, they can be discarded or archived, while new segments are downloaded as needed. This segmentation approach maintains seamless playback capability while dramatically reducing total storage requirements compared to storing the complete audio stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Volume of stationary object

If streaming technology is used, then less storage space is required, but repositioning within the audio stream causes significant delays and inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage space requirementVSAvoidrepositioning delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The audio stream is divided into numbered segments with associated metadata stored locally. When repositioning is requested, the system uses the segment metadata to quickly calculate which segment contains the desired position and downloads only that specific segment or a small buffer of segments around it, rather than downloading from the beginning or waiting for real-time streaming to catch up. This enables fast repositioning with minimal delay and storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10237595B2Simultaneously rendering a plurality of digital media streams in a synchronized manner by using a descriptor file

Publication Date: 2019.03.19 AUDIO POD IP LLC

AI summary

A plurality of digital media streams are synchronized by using a descriptor file. The plurality of digital media streams includes a first digital media stream containing a digital audio narration of an originating work and a second digital media stream containing digital media content corresponding to the same originating work. The descriptor file contains location information for the plurality of digital media streams, synchronization time offsets in a timeline of the digital audio narration of the first digital media stream, and synchronization points in the digital media content of the second digital media stream that correspond to the synchronization time offsets. Two or more of the plurality of digital media streams, including the second digital media stream, are simultaneously rendered in a synchronized manner by accessing the descriptor file and correlating the synchronization points and the synchronization time offsets.