Multimedia Fast Backward via Cluster Number Buffering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable multimedia devices with MLC Flash memories face challenges in fast backward operations due to unstable characteristics, leading to slow response times and excessive power consumption, as existing solutions neglect both operation performance and system resource management.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves storing cluster numbers corresponding to different playback time points in a buffering region, allowing for efficient fast backward operations by utilizing these offsets and cluster numbers to perform data access, thereby optimizing both performance and resource management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If fast backward operation searches from the beginning of the multimedia file to the target location, then the operation can be performed, but it causes long waiting time and high power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefast backward operation speedVSAvoidwaiting time

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-calculates and stores cluster number mappings for multiple playback time points (offsets) in the buffering region before fast backward operation is needed. This preliminary action allows the system to immediately jump to the target location without searching from the beginning, thereby reducing waiting time while maintaining operation speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If fast backward operation searches from the beginning of the multimedia file to the target location, then the operation can be performed, but it causes high power consumption due to many additional read operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefast backward operation speedVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the computationally intensive cluster number calculations and stores them in the buffering region in advance. During fast backward operation, it only needs to retrieve pre-stored cluster numbers corresponding to the target offset, dramatically reducing the number of read operations and power consumption while maintaining operational speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If large storage space is allocated for buffering to support fast backward operation, then operation performance can be maintained, but system resource management is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation performanceVSAvoidstorage space

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of buffering from storing actual multimedia data to storing only cluster number mappings (offset-to-cluster mappings). This parameter change dramatically reduces the storage space requirement while maintaining fast backward operation performance, as only metadata (cluster numbers) needs to be buffered rather than the entire multimedia file

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9497504B2Method for enhancing fast backward performance and associated electronic device

Publication Date: 2016.11.15 SILICON MOTION INC

AI summary

A method for enhancing fast backward performance includes: with regard to a plurality of offsets of a multimedia file, respectively storing corresponding cluster numbers into a first buffering region/buffer, where the offsets respectively correspond to different playback time points, and the cluster numbers respectively represent a plurality of clusters belonging to the multimedia file; and utilizing at least one portion of the offsets and the cluster numbers to perform a fast backward operation of the multimedia file. An associated electronic device is further provided.