Prefetching Media Content for Travelers on Shared Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Travelers often face difficulties accessing their media content while on trips due to limited or no network connectivity on shared devices, such as hotel TVs or aircraft entertainment systems, and existing solutions do not effectively provide convenient access to subscription-based or personal media content during travel.
Innovation Solution
A service provider obtains user information and trip details to configure shared devices for media access, prefetch content for limited-bandwidth environments, and download content to user devices before trips, ensuring seamless access to desired media through a combination of travel, content, and configuration components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If travelers use shared devices during trips, then they can access media content, but network connectivity is limited or unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting trip events and prefetching media content to shared devices before the traveler reaches locations with limited or no network connectivity. This ensures content is available offline during the trip, resolving the contradiction between needing network access and traveling through areas without reliable connectivity.
2Productivity
If content is streamed during trips, then media access is provided, but bandwidth limitations prevent seamless access
Solution Approach 1:
The system prefetches media content to shared devices before the traveler reaches locations with limited bandwidth. By downloading content in advance when network conditions are favorable, the system eliminates bandwidth constraints during content consumption, allowing seamless access without real-time streaming requirements.
3Ease of operation
If shared devices are configured for media access, then travelers can access their content, but device configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically configures shared devices for media access without requiring manual user intervention. The configuration component detects trip events and automatically sets up the shared device to access and play media content, eliminating the need for travelers to manually configure device settings while ensuring content accessibility.
4Reliability
If media content is downloaded before trips, then offline access is enabled, but storage space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by prefetching only the specific media content relevant to the traveler's upcoming trip to the shared device, rather than downloading all possible content. This selective approach enables offline access capability while minimizing storage space requirements by storing only what is needed for the specific trip context.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is generally directed to providing access to media content for travelers during a trip, where the trip may include lodging, transit, and/or activities. A service provider may obtain information about a user and a trip. The service provider may determine information about the user, such as account information that may identify media content that is typically accessible by the user. An amount of available space on a device may be determined that can be used to store prefetched content for the trip. Recommended content may be selected to fill the amount of space on the device. The recommended content may be based on information about the user, information about the trip, and/or other information. The recommended content may be downloaded onto the device prior to the trip so that the user has access to the content from the device during the trip.