Cross-Terminal Media Playback Resumption via Server-Side History Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in resuming media playback from a breakpoint across different portable terminals, such as mobile phones and PCs, due to the lack of a seamless way to save and synchronize media playback progress.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that store and retrieve a user's media history playlist on a server, using a unique ID like IMEI or account number, allowing users to resume media playback from the exact point on any compatible device by synchronizing the media history playlist.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If media playback progress is stored locally on each portable terminal, then playback can be resumed on the same device, but users cannot resume playback across different terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary to store and synchronize media playback progress. The server acts as a mediator between different portable terminals, receiving playback progress data from one terminal and delivering it to another, enabling seamless cross-terminal resumption without direct terminal-to-terminal communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the storage dimension of playback progress from local (single terminal) to cloud-based (server). By moving the data storage to a different dimensional space (network server), the system enables access from multiple terminals simultaneously, solving the cross-terminal resumption problem.
2Adaptability or versatility
If media history playlist is synchronized across multiple terminals, then users can resume playback on any device, but network traffic and server load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively pushing playback progress updates to the server as soon as changes occur on any terminal. This preliminary synchronization ensures that when users switch terminals, the data is already available, reducing the need for extensive real-time synchronization traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the server monitors playback progress from multiple terminals and intelligently determines when synchronization is needed. The system only transmits data when actual changes occur, avoiding redundant network traffic while maintaining synchronization across devices.
3Reliability
If playback progress is continuously synchronized in real-time, then data consistency is maintained, but system complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous real-time synchronization, the system uses periodic action by updating playback progress at specific intervals or trigger events (e.g., when playback starts, pauses, or ends). This approach maintains data consistency while significantly reducing the complexity of the synchronization mechanism compared to continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method and terminal device for playing media synchronously. The method comprises: triggering a function of playing media synchronously, acquiring a preset identification (ID) corresponding to an end user, obtaining a media history playlist including a history of an address and a play location of a media file that is listened or viewed by the end user corresponding to the end user according to the preset ID, and resuming the media file that is chosen by the end user according to the media history playlist.