Aggregating Media Provider Identifiers via Unified Entries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in accessing and managing identifiers for media items across multiple media providers, leading to duplication and inefficiencies in tracking and storage.
Innovation Solution
An overlay application aggregates different provider identifiers for media items using unique identifiers and metadata, allowing for easier access and reducing storage space by merging duplicate entries and obtaining missing information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users access media items through multiple media providers, then the variety of media items increases, but the complexity of managing identifiers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple provider-specific identifiers into a single unified identifier entry. The system receives media item identifiers from different media providers, consolidates them into one unified entry that maps multiple provider identifiers to a single media item, thereby simplifying identifier management while maintaining access to diverse media sources
Solution Approach 2:
The unified identifier entry serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a unique identifier for the media item, a mapping table for multiple provider identifiers, and an aggregation point for metadata from different sources. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate management systems for each provider
2Reliability
If duplicate identifier entries are maintained for the same media item, then access to media items is maintained across providers, but storage space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges duplicate identifier entries by consolidating multiple provider identifiers that reference the same media item into a single unified entry. This reduces the total number of stored entries while preserving all access paths to the media item across different providers
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of storing complete duplicate entries for each provider, the system creates a unified entry that contains references to all provider identifiers. This single entry serves as a master record that maintains access to the same media item through multiple providers without replicating the entire data structure
3Loss of information
If separate identifier entries are used for each media provider, then provider-specific information is preserved, but identification of consumed media tracks becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The unified identifier entry merges provider-specific information with a standardized structure. Each provider identifier is preserved and mapped to the same media item entry, allowing the system to maintain provider-specific details while enabling easy identification of consumed tracks through the unified structure
Solution Approach 2:
The unified identifier entry acts as an intermediary between provider-specific identifiers and the central media item database. It preserves provider-specific information by maintaining mappings to original provider identifiers while facilitating easy identification and tracking of consumed media across all providers through a single unified interface
Data Source
AI summary
A server device may receive multiple provider identifiers for a media item from multiple client devices. The multiple provider identifiers may each be associated with different media providers and may each be associated with the same media item. The server device may aggregate the multiple provider identifiers into entries in a data store. The server device may also analyze the entries in the data store and may request missing provider identifiers, merge entries that have duplicate information, and may indicate whether a media item is playable.