Media Daemon for Cross-Application Information Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques fail to efficiently share media information, such as playlist details, across different applications and devices, limiting users' ability to view previously played or upcoming media items, and requiring redundant data transmission.
Innovation Solution
A media daemon is used to obtain and share media information from a media application, including a range of media items, to client applications, reducing redundant data transmission by determining changed information and reordering media lists instead of resending entire data sets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If media information is shared across multiple applications and devices, then user accessibility and convenience are improved, but data transmission redundancy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary media information (current and upcoming items) from the complete media library and transmits only this subset to client applications. This selective extraction approach enables cross-application accessibility while minimizing data redundancy by excluding already-played items and other unnecessary media data.
Solution Approach 2:
The media information is segmented into distinct categories (current item, upcoming items, previously played items) and transmitted in targeted portions to different client applications based on their specific needs. This segmentation allows each application to receive only the relevant data segments, reducing overall data transmission redundancy while maintaining accessibility.
2Loss of information
If complete media playlists are transmitted to all client applications, then information completeness is improved, but data transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of transmitting complete media playlists to all client applications, the system implements partial action by sending only the necessary portions (current and upcoming items) to each specific application. This partial transmission approach maintains information completeness for the intended purpose while significantly improving data transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different client applications receive customized portions of media information tailored to their specific local needs. The system determines which applications need which specific media items and transmits only that localized information, rather than broadcasting complete playlists to all applications, thereby optimizing transmission efficiency.
3Reliability
If media information is updated in real-time across all applications, then information freshness is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and transmits only the changes in media information (newly added items, removed items, or modified metadata) rather than synchronizing complete playlists in real-time. This selective extraction of updated information maintains information freshness for affected applications while minimizing network bandwidth consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Client applications autonomously determine when they need updated media information based on their own usage patterns and requirements, rather than receiving continuous real-time updates from the media server. This self-service approach allows applications to request updates only when necessary, reducing overall network bandwidth consumption while maintaining freshness when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A media process may receive, from a client application, a request for media information about a range of media items in a queue of a media application, the request being sent while the media application is executing. The queue includes a previous set of media items that have been played by the media application, a current item (e.g., currently playing), and a future set of items that are to be played The request may specify the range to include the current item and at least one item from the previous set and/or future set. The daemon sends a request to the media application and receives media information from the application. The received media information may include an order of media items and an identifier for each item in the range of items. The received information may be sent to the client application for displaying information about the range of items.