Optical Disc Player External Buffering for MP4 Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical disc players with limited memory struggle to perform smooth playback of multimedia content from formats like MP4, RM, and AVI due to insufficient buffer space, leading to audio/video lags and inaccurate trick-mode operations, especially when seeking data on optical discs is time-consuming and memory-intensive.
Innovation Solution
An optical storage medium playback apparatus that utilizes an external storage device, such as a USB flash drive or hard drive, to buffer multimedia content and playback schedules, allowing for concurrent reading and playback operations, thereby alleviating memory constraints and improving playback performance and user interface control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all tables in the MP4 file are loaded into internal memory before playback, then playback smoothness is improved, but memory capacity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external storage device (USB flash drive, hard drive, or memory card) connected via USB interface as a new dimension of storage space. This external storage acts as a virtual extension of the internal memory, providing充足 space to buffer all MP4 tables without increasing the physical internal memory capacity of the optical disc player.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a memory management unit that acts as an intermediary between the optical disc, internal memory, external storage, and playback buffer. This unit intelligently manages data flow, copying necessary table data from the optical disc to external storage and coordinating the buffering process to ensure smooth playback without overwhelming the internal memory.
2Quantity of substance
If tables are loaded on demand from the optical disc, then memory usage is reduced, but seeking time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by proactively copying all MP4 table data from the optical disc to the external storage device before playback begins. This pre-loading strategy eliminates the need for time-consuming seeking operations during playback, as all necessary table data is already available in the external storage buffer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous data flow by maintaining the external storage as a persistent buffer throughout the playback process. The memory management unit continuously supplies table data from external storage to the playback buffer, eliminating interruptions and seeking operations, thereby maintaining continuous useful action during playback.
3Quantity of substance
If the optical pick-up head seeks tables on the optical disc during playback, then memory constraints are satisfied, but playback lag occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a two-layer storage architecture where external storage serves as a high-capacity buffer layer that does not require mechanical seeking during playback. All table data is pre-copied to this external layer, allowing the playback system to read data continuously without the mechanical delays inherent in optical disc seeking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs copying by creating a complete duplicate of all MP4 table data in the external storage device before playback. This copy serves as a local cache that can be accessed rapidly without requiring the optical pick-up head to physically seek across the disc surface, thereby eliminating playback lag while satisfying buffer space requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical storage medium playback apparatus includes an optical storage access device, a connection port, and a controller. The optical storage access device is implemented for reading a multimedia content from an optical storage medium. The controller is coupled to the optical storage access device and the connection port, and is implemented for storing a portion of the multimedia content read from the optical storage medium into an external storage via the connection port when the external storage is electrically connected to the connection port, and for accessing the portion of the multimedia content which is stored in the external storage electrically connected to the connection port and performing a playback operation upon data read from the optical storage medium concurrently.