Format Agnostic Media Playback via Dynamic Description Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Media services face challenges in enabling users to consume newer media formats due to outdated client devices lacking the necessary description files or containers, leading to inaccessible playback of new media formats.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for format-agnostic media playback, where a media playback device communicates with a media delivery system to determine and send media content responses, including descriptions, player features, user interface formats, and actions, allowing seamless playback of various media formats without requiring updates to user devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the media service implements a new media format, then the media service can provide newer media formats to users, but outdated client devices cannot play back the new media format because they lack the necessary description file or container
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a media delivery system as an intermediary between the media service and playback devices. This system receives media content requests, determines the appropriate media content format, generates or retrieves the corresponding description file or container, and delivers it to the playback device. This intermediary approach allows new media formats to be supported without requiring updates to playback devices, as the description file is provided dynamically by the media delivery system based on the requested media content.
2Reliability
If the media service client is updated to support new media formats, then playback compatibility improves, but the update process takes time and may not reach all users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the media delivery system prepare and provide the description file or container before the media content is played back. The system determines the media content format in advance, generates or retrieves the appropriate description file, and delivers it to the playback device prior to playback. This eliminates the need for time-consuming client updates, as the playback device receives the necessary format information on-demand.
3Ease of operation
If the media service provides description files for each media content item, then playback functionality is enabled, but the system complexity increases due to managing and delivering format-specific files
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the media delivery system to handle multiple media formats through a single unified interface. The system receives media content requests, determines the appropriate format, and provides the corresponding description file or container through the same delivery mechanism regardless of the specific media format. This multi-functional approach enables support for various media formats without proportionally increasing system complexity, as the core delivery infrastructure remains consistent across different format types.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing format agnostic media playback may include a media delivery system that can determine media content responses for media playback devices to use to determine how to operate when playing media content. To initiate the format agnostic media playback, a request for media content may be received from a media playback device. In response to the request a media content format of the media content may be determined, and a media content response may be determined based on the media content format. The media content response may be sent to the media playback device for the media playback device to playback media content and/or to determine media content descriptions, player features, user interface formats, actions, and/or a timeline of media content items to play.