Proxy File Pointer for Incompatible Media Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current media playback software, such as Apple's ITUNES®, cannot play FLAC files, leading to inconvenience and significant storage space requirements when converting incompatible file formats, limiting the use of high-quality audio files.
Innovation Solution
A media playback system generates a proxy file compatible with the media organizer, allowing playback of incompatible files like FLAC through a separate media player application that communicates with ITUNES® via AppleScript, enabling the media organizer to recognize and play the media file without actual file conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If FLAC files are used for high-quality audio storage, then audio quality is improved, but compatibility with media organizers like ITUNES is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy file as an intermediary between the FLAC audio file and the ITUNES media organizer. The proxy file contains metadata about the FLAC file and acts as a bridge, allowing ITUNES to recognize and display the FLAC file without actually playing it. This resolves the compatibility issue while preserving the original high-quality FLAC audio file.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the FLAC file's metadata information in the form of a proxy file. This proxy copy contains all the necessary information for ITUNES to identify and organize the FLAC file, but it does not contain the actual audio data, thus maintaining compatibility without requiring conversion of the original high-quality audio.
2Adaptability or versatility
If incompatible file formats are converted to compatible formats, then compatibility is improved, but storage space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential metadata information from the FLAC file and places it in the proxy file. By separating the metadata (which needs to be compatible with ITUNES) from the actual audio data (which remains as high-quality FLAC), the system achieves compatibility without duplicating the large audio file, thus significantly reducing storage space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of copying the entire FLAC file to a compatible format (which would double the storage space), the patent creates a lightweight proxy file that copies only the necessary metadata. This proxy file is much smaller than the original FLAC file, reducing storage space while maintaining compatibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If file conversion is performed to enable playback, then compatibility is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to significant inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by automatically creating the proxy file when a FLAC file is added to the media library. This automatic proxy generation eliminates the need for users to manually convert files or perform any special operations. Users simply add their FLAC files to ITUNES, and the system automatically handles the compatibility issue through proxy file creation, significantly improving user convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting FLAC files and generating appropriate proxy files without user intervention. The patent implements automatic proxy file creation when incompatible files are added to the media library, eliminating the need for users to manually convert files or configure settings, thus greatly improving ease of operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If original FLAC files are archived after conversion, then compatibility is achieved, but storage space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary metadata from the FLAC file and stores it in the proxy file, while leaving the original FLAC file intact. This extraction approach allows the system to achieve compatibility through the small proxy file without requiring the user to archive or delete the original high-quality audio file, thus avoiding unnecessary storage space consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy file serves as an intermediary that allows ITUNES to access and display FLAC files without requiring conversion or archiving of the original files. This intermediary approach maintains the original FLAC files for high-quality playback while using minimal storage space for the proxy metadata, eliminating the need to archive converted files.
Data Source
AI summary
A media file playback system, method and computer readable medium which provides for the playback of a media file (e.g., audio files, video files, etc.) through a separate media organizer (e.g., Apple's iTunes®, Windows® Media Player, etc.) when the target media file is in a format that is incompatible with the media organizer (e.g., the Free Audio Lossless Codec files or FLAC format). The media file playback system generates a “proxy” pointer file that is compatible with the media organizer and prompts the system to play the incompatible media file. Advantageously, a user that would otherwise be unable to playback an incompatible file through the media organizer due to limitations of the media organizer (e.g., the restriction against playing FLAC files through the Apple iTunes® software application), is able to execute playback using the media file playback system via interactions with the familiar and centralized interface provided the media organizer.