Reproduction Device Adaptive Decrement Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reproducing devices fail to appropriately manage the allowed number of reproductions of content items, particularly when different reproduction modes are involved, leading to redundant decrements in the number of allowed reproductions.
Innovation Solution
A reproducing device with multiple decoding processors and output controllers that performs synchronous and separate reproduction, managed by a number-of-reproductions manager, reproducibility determiner, and reproduction controller to accurately decrement the allowed reproductions based on the reproduction mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the allowed number of reproductions is decremented by one every time regardless of the reproduction mode, then the management process is simple, but the allowed number of reproductions is redundantly decremented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the decrement behavior adaptive rather than static. The number-of-reproductions manager dynamically adjusts whether to decrement the allowed number of reproductions based on the reproduction mode (separate or synchronous) and availability status. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple management operations while ensuring accurate tracking only when necessary, preventing redundant decrements in synchronous modes where multiple output controllers share the same content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of decrement behavior based on reproduction mode and availability status. Instead of always decrementing by one, the system changes the decrement parameter to either 1 (for separate reproduction) or 0 (for synchronous reproduction when already available), thereby maintaining operational simplicity while improving management accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate reproduction is performed for each output controller, then each controller can independently reproduce content, but the allowed number of reproductions is excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the number-of-reproductions manager serve multiple functions: it tracks allowed reproductions, determines availability status, and selectively decrements based on reproduction mode. This allows the system to maintain independent reproduction capability for each output controller while preventing excessive consumption through intelligent sharing when content is already available to another controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having the reproducibility determiner continuously monitor the availability status of content across different output controllers. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust decrement behavior in real-time, ensuring that separate reproduction consumes allowed reproductions only when necessary, thereby preserving the quantity of allowed reproductions while maintaining versatility.
3Productivity
If synchronous reproduction is performed by multiple output controllers, then content sharing is efficient, but the allowed number of reproductions should not be decremented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the decrement operation from the synchronous reproduction process. When multiple output controllers perform synchronous reproduction of the same content, the system extracts and eliminates the decrement action, preventing loss of reproduction tracking accuracy. This maintains content sharing efficiency while avoiding unnecessary reduction of allowed reproductions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by having the number-of-reproductions manager copy the availability status information across multiple output controllers. When one controller has content available, this status is copied to other controllers, allowing them to perform synchronous reproduction without decrementing the allowed number, thereby maintaining both productivity and tracking accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A reproducing device includes decoding processors and output controllers, and performs synchronous reproduction for reproducing a content item decoded by one of the decoding processors by at least two of the output controllers and separate reproduction for reproducing the content item decoded by one of the decoding processors by one of the output controllers. The reproducing device includes: a manager that manages an allowed number of reproductions of the content item; a determiner that determines, when a reproduction instruction is given, based on the allowed number of reproductions of the content item, whether the separate reproduction is possible and whether the synchronous reproduction is possible; and a controller that performs the separate or synchronous reproduction, based on the determination. The manager decrements by one the allowed number of reproductions of the content item when the separate reproduction is performed, and does not decrement it when the synchronous reproduction is performed.