Multimedia Content Playback via Pre-download and Local Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current multimedia content broadcast systems often fail to align with user interests and habits, leading to missed content due to fixed broadcast times, low data transmission rates, and suboptimal viewing or listening conditions, as users are forced to wait for delayed broadcasts or switch between channels in search of suitable content.

Innovation Solution

A method for playing multimedia content at a predetermined instant by sending a request to a remote server, receiving an identifier associated with stream markup information, storing this information, and downloading the content in advance, allowing for playback independent of real-time broadcast schedules and data transmission rates, enabling flexible viewing or listening and improved quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multimedia content is broadcast at fixed scheduled times, then content delivery is organized and predictable, but users cannot access content at their convenience and may miss content due to conflicting schedules

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent access flexibilityVSAvoiduser waiting time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting broadcast timing information in advance, automatically downloading content before the scheduled broadcast time, and storing it locally. This allows users to access content at their convenience without being constrained by fixed broadcast schedules, resolving the contradiction between scheduled delivery and user flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If multimedia content is streamed in real-time during broadcast, then network bandwidth is utilized efficiently for live transmission, but content quality is limited by data transmission rates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent qualityVSAvoiddata transmission rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system downloads content in advance during periods when network conditions may be more favorable and user demand is lower. This preliminary download allows the content to be stored locally at high quality without being constrained by real-time broadcast transmission rates, enabling high-quality playback independent of current network speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a local copy of the broadcast content by downloading it in advance. This copy can be played back locally without requiring real-time network transmission, thereby achieving high content quality independent of data transmission rate limitations during actual playback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If users switch between channels to find interesting content, then they can discover content matching their interests, but the viewing experience becomes fragmented and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent selection flexibilityVSAvoidchannel switching time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates user feedback mechanisms where user preferences and viewing habits are analyzed. Based on this feedback, the system automatically detects and downloads content that matches user interests during off-peak times, eliminating the need for users to manually switch channels and spend time searching for relevant content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Quantity of substance

If downloaded content must be viewed within a short period, then storage resources are conserved, but users must be available during specific times to access content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidcontent access convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically manages stored content based on multiple factors including user viewing patterns, content priority, available storage capacity, and expiration policies. This dynamic management allows the system to automatically delete or archive content when storage is full, while maintaining easy access to currently relevant content, thus balancing storage constraints with user convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3576418B1Multimedia content playback
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 ORANGE SA
  • EP3576418B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3576418B1 patent drawingFigure 2~6
  • EP3576418B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to the reading of multimedia content (CM1ut), at a predetermined time (tp1) inscribed in a broadcast stream received by a multimedia content reading device, characterized in that: - before said time, send (S3) to a remote server a request (RQ) for the provision of content to be read, receive (S4) an identifier (ID1) of the content, associated with a stream marking information (T1ut), store (S5) the identifier in correspondence with the marking information, download (S6) all or part of the content from the received identifier, - at the predetermined time, receive (S7) a stream containing marking information identical to said marking information already stored, read (S9) the downloaded content corresponding to the stored identifier, from the identical marking information received.