Multiplexed Content Storage Reducing Tuner Complexity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Content receivers require multiple tuners and resources to access and record different instances of simultaneously broadcast content, leading to inefficiencies and increased wear on storage devices due to frequent head movement during de-multiplexing and storage.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for storing and accessing multiplexed content, where multiple instances of content are multiplexed, scrambled, and stored in a single block, allowing users to access all selected channels within a time frame without de-multiplexing, using a single tuner and reducing storage device wear by maintaining the multiplexed form during storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple tuners are used to access different instances of simultaneously broadcast content, then content accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent accessibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple content streams into a single multiplexed signal that is stored and retrieved as one unit. Instead of using multiple tuners to access different content instances simultaneously, the system combines all selected content into a single block that can be accessed with one tuner, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining content accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by storing multiple instances of content in multiplexed form before they are needed for playback. The content is received, multiplexed, and stored in advance, allowing the system to retrieve and play back different content instances without requiring multiple tuners during actual viewing, thus reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If content is de-multiplexed and stored separately for each channel, then content accessibility is improved, but storage device wear increases due to frequent head movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent accessibilityVSAvoidstorage device wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple content streams into a single multiplexed block that is stored contiguously on the storage device. This eliminates the need for frequent head movement between different storage locations during playback, as all content instances are available in one continuous stream, thereby reducing storage device wear while maintaining the ability to access different content channels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of multiplexed content (difficulty in accessing specific channels) into a benefit by storing the multiplexed content in a way that actually facilitates easier access. By maintaining the multiplexed structure during storage and retrieval, the system avoids the wear and tear that would result from de-multiplexing and separately storing each channel's content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If content is stored in multiplexed form without de-multiplexing, then storage device wear is reduced, but content accessibility requires efficient scanning and identification mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage device wearVSAvoidcontent identification

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-organizing the multiplexed content structure with identifiable markers and indexing information before storage. This allows the system to efficiently scan through the multiplexed block and quickly identify the desired content instances without having to de-multiplex the entire stream, thus maintaining low storage device wear while solving the content identification challenge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary structures such as content identifiers, time stamps, and indexing data that act as mediators between the multiplexed content and the user's retrieval requests. These intermediaries enable efficient scanning and identification of specific content instances within the multiplexed block, making the system as accessible as if the content were separated, while still maintaining the benefits of stored multiplexed form.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8959566B2Storing and reading multiplexed content

Publication Date: 2015.02.17 DISH TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A method for displaying content stored in a block of multiplexed content, the multiplexed content including a plurality of instances of content where each instance of content includes an associated content identifier, the method including receiving, at a content receiver, content identifying information for the content and instructions for displaying the content, determining a selected content identifier based on the content identifying information, selecting the block from one or more blocks based on the selected content identifier, scanning the block for a content identifier and encountering the content identifier, comparing the encountered content identifier to the selected content identifier, and processing an instance of content associated with the encountered content identifier where the encountered content identifier corresponds to the selected content identifier. A system for displaying and a system for storing multiplexed content are also described.