Multi-Source Media Indexing for Bandwidth Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital media distribution methods require re-downloading full digital assets across multiple devices, consuming network bandwidth and time, and lack efficient synchronization of components from different media sources.
Innovation Solution
A multi-source media content play system that creates and maintains an index associating digital assets with domain locations, allowing synchronization and retrieval of only missing assets from media content providers, reducing redundant downloads and optimizing playback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If digital assets are re-downloaded from media content providers for each device, then media content can be played on multiple devices, but network bandwidth consumption increases and playback time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a domain-wide index of digital assets and their locations before playback occurs. When a device needs to play media content, it queries the index to determine which assets already exist in the domain and which need to be retrieved, enabling efficient asset sharing across devices without redundant downloads
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a domain index as an intermediary structure that mediates between media content providers and multiple playback devices. This index tracks which digital assets are already stored in the domain and their locations, allowing devices to retrieve assets from each other rather than re-downloading from providers, thus reducing network bandwidth consumption
2Adaptability or versatility
If digital assets are re-downloaded for each device, then media content can be accessed on multiple devices, but playback time increases due to redundant downloads
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary indexing of digital assets and their domain locations before playback is needed. This pre-established index allows devices to quickly determine which assets are already available in the domain and retrieve only what is missing, significantly reducing playback time by eliminating redundant downloads
Solution Approach 2:
The domain index acts as an intermediary that enables fast asset location and sharing between devices. Instead of each device independently downloading all assets, the index mediates the retrieval process by providing a map of existing asset locations, allowing devices to directly access or share assets that already exist in the domain
3Loss of energy
If digital assets are retrieved in segments, then network bandwidth consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases for tracking and managing segments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments digital assets into manageable units and tracks them individually in the domain index. Each segment is associated with its location and status, allowing the system to retrieve only the specific segments needed for playback while reducing network bandwidth consumption by avoiding redundant transfers of complete assets
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems described herein play multi-source media content. A multi-source media content includes digital assets from multiple media sources. The digital assets may include a video digital asset, an audio digital asset, or a textual digital asset. The digital assets may be provided by different media content providers. The digital assets from multiple media sources may be played such that various components (e.g., a video component, an audio component, or a textual component) of a media content are synchronized. When a digital asset or a digital asset segment for a media content is retrieved from a media content provider into the domain, an index is created to associate the digital asset with the media source from which the digital asset or the digital asset segment may be retrieved. As such, a media content may be played without retrieving, from a media content provider, those digital assets or digital asset segments already existing in the domain.