Distributed Media Aggregation via Client Nodes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current media aggregation systems rely on a central server, which can be a single point of failure and limits system throughput, making it desirable to create a media convergence platform that integrates various digital media formats into a single system without server aggregation.
Innovation Solution
A network client aggregates media items by communicating with multiple nodes on the network, each of which can be a device or media server, using discovery protocols and remote procedure calls to gather and manage media lists, allowing for distributed management and control of media content across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a central server is used for media aggregation, then media items can be tracked and managed centrally, but the server becomes a single point of failure and limits system throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized media aggregation function into distributed client nodes. Each client node independently aggregates media items from available sources, eliminating the single server bottleneck. This segmentation allows parallel media aggregation operations across multiple clients, improving both reliability (no single point of failure) and throughput (parallel processing capability).
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having a central server aggregate media from all sources, the patent inverts the architecture so that client nodes perform the aggregation function locally. Each client node discovers and aggregates media items from available sources in its network vicinity, reversing the traditional client-server role in media aggregation and eliminating the central bottleneck.
2Loss of information
If a central server aggregates all media items, then a complete media inventory can be maintained, but the server acts as a single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a distributed copying approach where each client node maintains its own local copy of the media inventory obtained through independent aggregation. Instead of relying on a single central server's inventory, multiple client nodes each hold redundant copies of media information, ensuring that the loss of any single node does not result in loss of the overall media inventory.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are used to playback different media formats, then various digital media formats can be supported, but the system requires multiple separate devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables client nodes to function universally across multiple media formats and playback devices. Each client node can aggregate and manage diverse media formats (audio, video, images) and route them to appropriate playback devices. This multi-functionality allows a single client node to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining broad format compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A network client aggregates media items available in a media system. The network consists of a plurality of nodes, including at least two media server nodes. A client node generates an internal request to obtain a list of media items available in the media system. In response, the client node generates a request for a list of media items from each individual media server node on the network. Each media server node sends their list of media items to the client node. The client node aggregates the lists of media items from each of the media server nodes. Thus, a list of media items available on the media system is aggregated to a requesting client node in the media system.