Cross-Terminal Playback Position Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing content playing apparatuses fail to enable continuous playback across multiple terminals due to terminal-specific play start point information, lack of user-specific start point control, and incompatibility with non-identical content versions, leading to difficulties in synchronized playback.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for exchanging and managing play start position information between terminals, allowing continuous playback by determining the start position based on user-specific or terminal-specific logs, even if content is edited or cut differently across devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If play start position information is stored as program number and time code in nonvolatile memory, then continuous play can be realized within the same terminal, but the information cannot be shared between multiple terminals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous playVSAvoidterminal compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between multiple terminals. The server stores play start position information received from terminals and provides this information to other terminals, enabling cross-terminal continuity without requiring each terminal to maintain its own persistent storage of position data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from local storage (terminal-based) to centralized storage (server-based), adding a network dimension to the system. This allows play start position information to be shared across multiple terminals through the communication network, solving the terminal compatibility issue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If play start position is saved using terminal-specific program number and time code, then playback can resume accurately in the same terminal, but user-specific or situation-specific control is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplay start position accuracyVSAvoiduser-specific control

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments play start position information into multiple categories (e.g., by user, by terminal, by situation) and stores them separately in the server. This allows the system to retrieve and apply the appropriate start position information based on the current user, terminal, or situation, enabling flexible user-specific control while maintaining accurate position resumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If content is edited or cut differently across terminals, then each terminal can have customized content, but synchronized playback cannot be realized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent customizationVSAvoidsynchronized playback

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter used for identifying content from strict program number and time code (which assume identical content) to a more flexible identification method that can handle different content versions. This allows the system to recognize equivalent content across different terminals even when edited or cut differently, enabling synchronized playback while maintaining content customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8249434B2Contents playing method and apparatus with play starting position control

Publication Date: 2012.08.21 NEC CORP

AI summary

Play start position information updater stores play position information in play start position information storage unit based on the stoppage of play of a content. Play start position information exchanger transmits and receives play position information to and from other content playing apparatuses, and stores the received play position information in play start position information storage means. Play start position checker refers to the play position information and determines a play start position.