Media Asset Storage Management for Playback Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for managing media asset storage between local and remote devices often result in media assets not being available locally when desired, leading to suboptimal viewing experiences due to finite storage capacity and inefficient transfer techniques that prioritize viewing frequency over user preferences.

Innovation Solution

A method where each media asset is assigned a user-determined earliest desired viewing time, allowing for dynamic transfer between local and remote storage devices to ensure high-quality playback, with the system alerting users to storage capacity needs and automatically arranging for additional capacity through local or remote storage expansions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If media assets are stored remotely to free up local storage capacity, then storage capacity is increased, but playback quality deteriorates due to streaming limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidplayback quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically transferring media assets from remote storage to local storage before the user's desired viewing time. This advance preparation ensures that content is available locally for high-quality playback when needed, resolving the contradiction between remote storage capacity and local playback quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If media assets are kept locally to ensure high-quality playback, then playback quality is maintained, but storage capacity is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback qualityVSAvoidstorage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically manages storage by continuously monitoring local storage capacity and automatically transferring media assets between local and remote storage based on available space and user viewing preferences. This dynamic adjustment maintains local storage for quality playback while freeing capacity when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Extent of automation

If transfer decisions are based on viewing frequency, then automated management is achieved, but user preferences are not respected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer managementVSAvoiduser preference satisfaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where users specify their viewing preferences and desired viewing times for media assets. The system uses this feedback to make intelligent transfer decisions, automatically moving content to local storage before the user's desired viewing time while respecting their preferences, thus combining automation with user control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9161005B2Method and apparatus for acquiring storage for media assets

Publication Date: 2015.10.13 THOMSON LICENSING SA

AI summary

Management of the storage of media assets as between one of a plurality of content selection device (121-123) and a network storage facility (24) occurs in accordance with a user-assigned earliest viewing time assigned to the assets. To provide a user with the highest quality viewing experience, the network storage facility will down load to the requesting content selection device the requested media asset in advance of its earliest desired viewing time. To the extent that the content selection device lacks available storage capacity, then the content selection device will upload one or more media assets based on the earliest desired viewing time to off-load assets desired for viewing at a time later than the requested content.