Media Playback Device Personalization via Server-Side Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional media playback systems lack portability and persistence of personalized settings, leading to loss of user preferences and limited access to fresh bonus content across different devices, requiring network login and memory constraints.

Innovation Solution

A system that associates media information, including playback settings and history, with a unique identifier on the media content, allowing storage on a server for persistence and portability across devices, enabling automatic retrieval and application of preferences without network login, using a media playback device and server communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If personalized playback settings are stored locally on the playback device, then the settings can be applied immediately during playback, but the settings are lost when memory is overwritten or the device is changed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersistence of personalized settingsVSAvoidmemory management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A server acts as an intermediary between the playback device and the user's personalized settings. The server stores media information files containing playback settings, bonus content consumption status, and viewing history, allowing the playback device to retrieve and apply these settings without permanently storing them locally. This resolves the contradiction by providing persistent storage externally while keeping the playback device's memory management simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If memory storage on playback devices is limited, then device cost and complexity are reduced, but personalized settings cannot be retained long-term or across devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory storage capacityVSAvoidloss of personalized settings

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The solution moves the storage dimension from local device memory to a remote server. By storing media information files on a server accessible via network, the system provides virtually unlimited storage capacity without increasing the playback device's memory. This allows personalized settings and viewing history to be preserved indefinitely and accessed across multiple devices, resolving both the storage capacity limitation and the time loss issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If bonus content is delivered through network registration and login, then fresh content can be provided, but the process requires user authentication and active participation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent freshness and personalizationVSAvoiduser authentication requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically retrieves and delivers bonus content based on the user's viewing history stored in the media information file on the server. When the user plays back a media file, the playback device automatically requests and receives relevant bonus content without requiring the user to log in or actively request content. The server autonomously determines which bonus content to deliver based on the stored viewing history, resolving the contradiction by providing personalized fresh content while eliminating authentication requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Adaptability or versatility

If conventional network content delivery is used, then bonus content can be refreshed, but all users receive the same content regardless of their viewing history

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebonus content varietyVSAvoidloss of user preference information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the user's viewing history stored in the media information file as feedback to determine which bonus content to deliver. The playback device sends this viewing history to the server, which uses it to automatically select and deliver personalized bonus content that matches the user's interests. This creates a feedback loop where the system learns from user behavior and adapts content delivery accordingly, resolving the contradiction by providing varied personalized content while preserving and utilizing user preference information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8364011B2System and method for providing a personalized media consumption experience

Publication Date: 2013.01.29 DISNEY ENTERPRISES INC

AI summary

There are presented systems and methods for enabling an association of media information relating to a playback of a media content file with a medium containing the media content file. In one embodiment, such a method for use by a playback device comprises obtaining a unique identifier present on the medium, transmitting the unique identifier, obtaining the media information relating to a usage of the media content file, and transmitting the media information. In another embodiment, such a method for use by a server comprises receiving a unique identifier present on the medium, storing the unique identifier in a memory, receiving the media information of the media content file according to the playing of the media content file, storing the media information in the memory, and associating the media information with the unique identifier.