Media Asset Recording Source Switching for Real-Time Rescheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems fail to accurately and efficiently update program listings in real-time when media assets are rescheduled to different channels due to computational intensity and dependence on announcer information, leading to incomplete recording of media assets.
Innovation Solution
A media guidance application monitors data packets to identify media assets and switches recording to similar content sources when the originally scheduled source is unavailable, using database queries and indicators to determine and update the recording location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If object and speech recognition are used to determine schedule changes in real-time, then the lag time is reduced, but the computational intensity increases and accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential information needed for schedule change detection directly from data packets (program identifiers, source identifiers) without using computationally intensive object or speech recognition. This extraction approach reduces computational load while maintaining real-time detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary data structure (event information table with program identifier and source identifier fields) that mediates between the incoming data packets and the recording system. This intermediary structure enables efficient real-time comparison and detection of schedule changes without requiring complex recognition algorithms.
2Loss of information
If program listings database is updated and downloaded to set-top box, then the correct content information is provided, but substantial lag time occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring and comparing program identifiers and source identifiers in incoming data packets against the scheduled program information before the actual program transmission begins. This allows the system to detect schedule changes and switch recording sources proactively, eliminating the lag associated with post-schedule-update downloads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the recorded program information is continuously compared with the scheduled program information from the program listings database. When discrepancies are detected (indicating a schedule change), the system provides feedback to switch the recording source, ensuring accurate content capture without waiting for database updates.
3Reliability
If the set-top box waits for database updates, then accurate program information is ensured, but the program recording may be incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic source switching based on real-time comparison of program identifiers and source identifiers. Instead of statically waiting for database updates, the system dynamically adjusts the recording source by detecting schedule changes through continuous monitoring of data packets, ensuring complete program recording even when schedule changes occur.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for efficiently determining that a media asset scheduled to be stored from one content source has been rescheduled to another content source. For example, by examining the contents of data packets received with a media asset which identify the media asset currently being received (e.g., a field in an event information table), a media guidance application executed on a set-top box or other user equipment device may determine in real-time that the media asset scheduled to be stored is not currently being transmitted from the originally-scheduled content source. In response to determining the media asset is not available from the originally-scheduled content source, the media guidance application may search through packets received from other content sources to determine a content source the media asset has been rescheduled to and store the media asset from that content source.