Portable Media Player Memory Management via Component-Level Parsing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in managing media content on Portable Media Players (PMPs) due to limited memory, requiring manual deletion of content and potential failed recordings when the PMP memory is full, as existing systems lack efficient methods for managing media components based on user preferences and usage patterns.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that parses media content into components, associates play counts with each component, and manages memory by removing least-used components to free up space for synchronization and storage, allowing for efficient transfer and playback based on user tendencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the entire transport stream is synchronized to the PMP, then complete content availability is achieved, but memory consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent availabilityVSAvoidmemory consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transport stream into individual program components (video, audio, subtitles, etc.) and transfers only the selected portions to the PMP, rather than transferring the entire TS. This segmentation allows selective synchronization of content based on user preferences and available memory space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts only the necessary program components from the complete transport stream for transfer to the PMP. By taking out only the required elements (e.g., main video, selected audio tracks, subtitles) and leaving unnecessary components on the CPE, memory consumption on the PMP is significantly reduced while maintaining content availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If manual deletion of content is required when PMP memory is full, then user control is maintained, but operation complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoidtime for managing content

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automatic memory management where the CPE monitors PMP memory status and autonomously deletes least recently used or least important content components when memory becomes full. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual user intervention in content deletion while maintaining optimal memory utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where the CPE continuously monitors PMP memory status and adjusts content synchronization accordingly. When memory thresholds are reached, the system automatically responds by managing content deletion, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to memory conditions without user intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If scheduled recordings are made without checking available memory, then recording flexibility is maintained, but recording reliability decreases when memory is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecording flexibilityVSAvoidrecording success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary checks of available PMP memory space before scheduling recordings. By anticipating memory constraints and pre-verifying sufficient space availability, the system prevents failed recordings while maintaining scheduling flexibility. This preliminary action ensures that only recordings with guaranteed storage space are scheduled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple content components are stored on PMP, then content functionality is enhanced, but memory requirements exceed available space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent functionalityVSAvoidmemory requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by storing different types of content components with different priorities and quality levels on the PMP based on their importance and usage patterns. Critical components (main video, primary audio) are stored with high priority, while less important components (alternative audio tracks, subtitles, director's commentary) are stored with lower priority or not at all, optimizing memory usage while maintaining essential functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9197923B2System and method for synching portable media player content with storage space optimization

Publication Date: 2015.11.24 GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

A device is provided for use with a content provider that is operable to provide content, which includes a plurality of content components. The device includes a communication portion, a memory portion, a parsing portion, a counting portion and a processing portion. The communication portion can receive the content from the content provider. The parsing portion can parse the content into the plurality of content components and can store the parsed plurality of content components within the memory portion. The counting portion can provide a counter for each of the parsed plurality of content components within the memory portion, respectively. The processing portion can retrieve and process one of the parsed plurality of content components within the memory portion. The counting portion can further increment the counter associated with the retrieved one of the parsed plurality of content components within the memory portion.