Media File Synchronization During Incremental Writing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for synchronizing media files between devices face challenges when the file is still being written, as checksums often fail to match, leading to inconsistencies in synchronized copies.
Innovation Solution
The method involves synchronizing a media file between two computing devices by determining modifications to the file's descriptor portion and sending data to update the second copy before the first copy is finalized, using a separate process to manage file header and body updates, and ensuring the second copy remains valid by versioning and patching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the media file is synchronized while it is still being written (before finalisation), then the synchronization time is reduced and near real-time delivery is achieved, but the checksum or md5 of the files will not match and consistency cannot be confirmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by sending the file header and descriptor portion to the second computing device before the media file is completely written and finalized. This allows the receiving device to begin processing and store the synchronisation data in advance, achieving near real-time delivery while the source file is still being written. The file body is then written incrementally without waiting for completion, thus reducing synchronization time while maintaining data integrity through the preliminary transmission of critical file metadata.
2Productivity
If the file header and descriptor portion are sent to the second computing device while the file is being written, then near real-time delivery is achieved, but it is difficult to confirm that the synchronised copies are the same
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the media file into three distinct parts: file header, descriptor portion, and file body. The file header and descriptor portion are sent separately to the second computing device before the file writing process completes. This segmentation allows the critical metadata to be transmitted and processed independently, enabling near real-time delivery while the larger file body is still being written. The separation of these components resolves the contradiction by allowing verification of the header and descriptor without requiring the entire file to be complete.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods of synchronising a media file between two computing devices. The media file includes a file header, at least one descriptor portion enabling reading of media elements in the body portion and at least one file body in which media elements are stored. The synchronising of the media file occurs between a first copy of the media file stored at a first computing device and a second copy of the media file stored on a second computing device and the synchronisation of the second copy of the media file with the first copy of the media file commences before finalisation of the first copy of the media file and continues at least while one or more media elements are being written to a file body of the first copy of the media file at the first computing device. Also disclosed are methods of sending synchronisation data to the second computing device and updating the second copy of the media file at the second computing device.