Media Player Download Manager for Automated Content Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques for retrieving multimedia content are cumbersome, as users must manually select from multiple URLs and manage download applications, often leading to errors due to unsupported protocols and inefficient data retrieval.
Innovation Solution
A media player with a download manager that monitors media feeds for available content, analyzes metadata to identify suitable download applications, and selects the most efficient retrieval method based on resident applications and publisher-specified priorities, automatically choosing the best URL and network connection for seamless content retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user manually selects from multiple URLs to retrieve content, then the user can choose a specific download source, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors media feeds and selects appropriate download URLs without requiring user intervention. The download manager autonomously retrieves content by analyzing metadata and determining the best download source, eliminating manual URL selection while serving the user's content retrieval needs
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-monitors media feeds for available content and prepares download information in advance. By continuously monitoring and pre-processing feed data, the system has download URLs ready when users request content, eliminating the time needed for manual selection at the moment of need
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system provides multiple download applications for different protocols, then compatibility with various servers is improved, but the complexity of managing multiple applications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The download manager is designed as a universal application that can handle multiple download protocols and server types through a single interface. It automatically detects and adapts to different protocols (HTTP, FTP, peer-to-peer) without requiring separate applications, maintaining versatility while simplifying user interaction to a single tool
Solution Approach 2:
The download manager acts as an intermediary layer between the user and multiple download protocols. It translates user requests into protocol-specific actions, handling the complexity of different protocols internally while presenting a unified, simple interface to the user
3Extent of automation
If the system automatically monitors media feeds and selects download URLs, then user effort is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines feed monitoring, metadata analysis, URL selection, and download execution into a single integrated download manager. By merging these functions into one component rather than separate systems, the automation capability is enhanced while the overall system complexity is contained within a single manageable module
Data Source
AI summary
A media player monitors a media feed (e.g., a web feed) for availability of newly published content available over a network. Via the feed, the media player can receive notification that certain retrievable content (e.g., the same content or substantially similar content) is available from multiple different locations over the network. The notification can include multiple pointers for use by the media player to retrieve the content. For example, a first pointer of the multiple pointers can identify a first remote location over the network in which to retrieve the content, a second pointer can identify a second remote location over the network in which to retrieve the content, and so on. The media player can have an associated download manager that selects an appropriate one of the pointers to retrieve the content depending on which of one or more download by applications resides on a computer system.