Multi-User Media Index Point Management Across Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-user media systems lack a robust index point management system that allows multiple users and devices to access and update index points for media assets across the system, limiting the flexibility and user experience in resuming playback from different devices and locations.
Innovation Solution
An interactive media guidance application that enables users to establish, manage, and update personal index points for media assets, allowing multiple index points per asset, with features like custom identifiers, cached video previews, and seamless access across devices, ensuring that users can resume playback from any device in a multi-user or multi-room media system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a centralized index point management system is implemented, then index points can be accessed and updated across multiple user equipment devices, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A media guidance application server acts as an intermediary between multiple user equipment devices and the index point database. The server receives index point requests from any user device, queries the database, and returns appropriate index points. This intermediary approach enables cross-device access while centralizing management logic to reduce individual device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The media guidance application server performs multiple functions: it manages index point storage, retrieves index points for different users, updates index positions, and provides these services across multiple user equipment devices. This universal approach consolidates what would otherwise be separate management systems into a single multi-functional platform.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple index points are maintained for a single media asset, then users can access different viewing positions, but the data storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The index point data is segmented into distinct records, with each record representing a specific viewing position for a particular user. Each index point contains only the necessary information (position, user identifier, media asset reference) rather than duplicating entire media files or comprehensive viewing histories. This segmentation reduces data quantity while maintaining multiple access points.
Solution Approach 2:
Only the essential index point information is extracted and stored, separating the critical viewing position data from the full media content. The system stores minimal necessary data (timestamp, user ID, asset reference) rather than retaining complete media files or extensive metadata, thereby reducing storage requirements while enabling multiple viewing positions.
3Measurement precision
If index points are updated continuously during playback, then the resume position is always accurate, but the system response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous real-time updates, the system employs periodic index point updates at significant playback events such as pause, stop, or buffer threshold crossings. This periodic approach maintains sufficient viewing position accuracy for resume functionality while dramatically reducing system response time and processing overhead compared to continuous updating.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-loads index point data into memory caches before actual playback resumes are needed. By maintaining index points in readily accessible memory structures and updating them at periodic intervals, the system ensures fast response when a user requests to resume playback without requiring real-time continuous updates during the actual resume operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for providing more flexible multi-user media content access using index points is provided. A plurality of custom index points are maintained in a multi-user or multi-room media system. After receiving a request to view an asset, a listing of the index points associated with the requested asset is presented to the user. Each index point may be associated with a current viewing location within the asset. After receiving a selection of an index point, the asset is accessed at the viewing position referenced by the index point, and the index point is updated based on the user's progress through the asset. Users may assign custom names and descriptions to the index points and be presented with cached video around the index point in order to more easily identify the relevance of the index point.