Partial Digital Stream Deletion for Media Storage Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital video recorders (DVRs) lack the ability to selectively delete partial program streams, leading to wasted storage space as they can only erase entire recordings, regardless of viewed or unviewed content.
Innovation Solution
A method that identifies the last media storage device with a copy of a media file segment and prevents it from deleting that segment until another device stores a copy, allowing for partial file deletion and optimizing storage space by marking viewed content for deletion while allowing users to retain unwatched portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If entire program streams are deleted from storage devices, then storage space is freed up, but useful unviewed content is also lost and cannot be retained
Solution Approach 1:
The program stream is divided into multiple segments that can be independently managed. Each segment can be individually deleted or retained based on viewing status, allowing partial deletion of viewed content while preserving unviewed portions. This segmentation enables fine-grained control over storage space management without losing valuable content.
2Reliability
If multiple copies of media file segments are maintained across multiple storage devices, then data reliability is improved, but storage space efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates and manages copies of media file segments across multiple storage devices. By tracking which devices hold which segments, the system can safely delete copies from devices that are no longer needed while maintaining at least one copy for reliability. This enables intelligent space management without compromising data protection.
3Quantity of substance
If partial segment deletion is enabled, then storage space optimization is improved, but device complexity increases due to tracking requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a tracking mechanism that monitors which storage devices hold which media segments. This feedback system allows the device to make intelligent decisions about which segments can be safely deleted from which devices, enabling partial deletion functionality without requiring complex manual management by users.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, computer system, and/or computer program product enables a reuse of media storage space via partial file deletion. Multiple friends in a same social circle, which together have control of multiple media storage devices that are storing all segments of a media file, are identified. A last friend from the multiple friends, who has control of a last media storage device to have a last copy of a particular segment of the media file, is identified. The last media storage device is the only media storage device, from the multiple storage devices, to have a copy of the particular segment of the media file. The last media storage device is prevented from deleting the particular segment of the media file until another of the multiple storage devices stores a copy of the particular segment of the media file.