DLNA Media Server Codec Information Sharing for Format Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multimedia contents encoded in different formats face challenges in being played across various devices due to diversified codec profiles, leading to errors when a playback signal is not compatible with the device.
Innovation Solution
A method for sharing codec information between a media server and a media renderer in a DLNA system, where the media server provides codec information and converts content formats to match the capabilities of the media renderer, ensuring compatibility and proper playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multimedia contents are encoded in different formats to suit diverse devices, then adaptability is improved, but compatibility deteriorates causing playback errors
Solution Approach 1:
The media server performs preliminary transcoding of multimedia contents into multiple format versions before distribution. By pre-converting contents into various codec formats (H.264, H.265, MP3, AAC, etc.), the system ensures that compatible playback versions are readily available without requiring real-time format conversion, thus maintaining both adaptability and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the content source and diverse playback devices. The system acts as a bridge by matching device capabilities with appropriate content formats through capability detection and format selection, resolving the contradiction between diverse encoding requirements and universal compatibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If codec information is shared dynamically between devices, then adaptability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments codec information management into distinct components: device capability detection modules, codec information storage modules, and format selection modules. By dividing the complex information sharing process into manageable segments, the system achieves dynamic adaptability while keeping individual component complexities low and well-defined
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes parameters such as codec type, resolution, and bitrate based on detected device capabilities. By adjusting these parameters according to shared codec information, the system achieves adaptability without requiring fundamental changes to the overall system architecture, thus limiting complexity growth
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a contents output system capable of outputting contents and a method for sharing codec information for outputting the contents in the system, and the method for sharing codec information in a contents output system includes sharing, when a media server, a media renderer for outputting contents, and a control point are connected, codec information provided by the media server and the codec information of contents playable by the media renderer; and providing, at the media server, the contents to the media renderer according to the shared codec information. According to the present invention, it becomes advantageous to share multimedia contents among the recent multimedia devices following DLNA standard. Also, it is possible to determine whether the multimedia contents encoded in various formats can be played by at least one multimedia device based on the codec information per multimedia device and check the codec supported by each multimedia device dynamically based on the previously stored information and allow each multimedia device to access the multimedia contents provided in various formats.