Digital Video Recorder Time-Shift Buffering and Recording Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital video recorders only allow users to record portions of content transmitted after access, limiting the ability to record content that has occurred before user access.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that monitors user access to content and records segments based on thresholds, allowing for the association and combination of pre-request and post-request recorded content, enabling users to receive a single item comprising both segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If digital video recorders only record content transmitted after user access, then recording storage is optimized, but users cannot access content that occurred before their request
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary recording of content segments before a user formally requests them. When content is being transmitted, the DVR proactively records segments that may be requested later, storing them in buffer memory or on disk. This allows the user to access and playback content that occurred before their explicit request, effectively enabling time-shifted access without requiring continuous recording of all content.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system records all content segments for all users, then content availability is improved, but recording storage requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The content transmission is divided into discrete segments, and the system selectively records only those segments that are likely to be requested by users. Instead of recording entire content transmissions continuously, the DVR segments content and uses buffering strategies to store only relevant portions, reducing overall storage requirements while maintaining content availability for users who request specific segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary buffering mechanism between content transmission and user playback. Buffer memory serves as an intermediary storage layer that temporarily holds content segments before they are committed to permanent disk storage or delivered to users. This intermediary buffer allows the system to manage storage efficiently by holding content in fast memory temporarily, reducing the need for immediate permanent storage of all content segments.
3Ease of operation
If the system combines pre-request and post-request recording segments, then seamless playback is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges pre-request recorded segments with post-request recorded segments into a single continuous playback stream. When a user requests content, the DVR retrieves previously recorded segments from buffer or disk storage and concatenates them with newly recorded segments in real-time, creating a seamless playback experience. This merging occurs at the data stream level without requiring complex re-encoding or manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for managing content are disclosed. An example method can comprise monitoring a number of users accessing content, and recording a first segment of the content if the number of users accessing the content reaches a threshold value. A second segment of the content can be recorded based on a request to record the second segment of the content, and at least a portion of the recording of the first segment of the content can be associated with the recording of the second segment of the content.