Media Playlist Consistency via Server State Monitoring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing media resource playlists in local area networks are temporary and become invalid when the media server goes offline or its IP address changes, affecting user playback experience.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for processing media resource playlists that involve updating the playlist and playlist element table in real-time when the media server's state changes, ensuring consistency by integrating a control point and media renderer, and using SSDP messages to monitor and update IP addresses and availability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a temporary playlist is generated and sent to the media renderer, then the playlist can be created quickly and simply, but the playlist becomes invalid when the media server goes offline or its IP address changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplaylist generation speedVSAvoidplaylist validity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control point performs preliminary actions by storing the media server's IP address and generating a playlist element table in advance. When the media server goes offline or changes IP, the control point can quickly update the playlist using the pre-stored information, avoiding complete playlist regeneration and maintaining continuous playback validity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the control point continuously monitors the media server's online status and IP address changes. When changes are detected, the control point automatically updates the playlist and notifies the media renderer, ensuring the playlist remains valid without user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the playlist is updated manually when media server state changes, then the playlist can remain valid, but the system complexity increases and user operation becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplaylist validityVSAvoiduser operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control point automatically performs playlist updates by monitoring media server status changes, detecting IP address modifications, and regenerating playlists without user intervention. The system also automatically notifies the media renderer of updates, making the entire playlist maintenance process self-service and eliminating manual user operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control point implements continuous feedback monitoring of the media server's online status and IP address. When changes are detected, the system automatically triggers playlist regeneration and notification to the media renderer, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains playlist validity without requiring user awareness or action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the control point continuously monitors media server status, then the playlist can be updated in real-time, but the system complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplaylist consistencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the control point employs periodic status checks and event-driven updates. The system monitors for specific events such as media server offline/online transitions and IP address changes, updating the playlist only when such events occur. This periodic/event-based approach maintains playlist consistency while reducing system complexity and energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2696295B1Processing method, device and system for media resource playlist in local area network
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 HUAWEI DEVICE (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP2696295B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2696295B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2696295B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for processing a media resource playlist in a local area network, where the local area network includes a media server and a media renderer, includes: updating a stored playlist and a stored playlist element table when determining that a state of the media server changes; and sending the updated playlist to the media renderer. In addition, a playlist processing apparatus and a communication system are provided correspondingly.