Resource Abstraction Layer for Seamless Media Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Authors of media presentations face challenges in incorporating Web-enabled content due to fluctuating network connectivity, leading to glitches and inaccessibility issues for consumers, and existing systems struggle to ensure seamless access to both online and offline resources.
Innovation Solution
A resource abstraction layer is introduced, featuring a configuration file and computer-executable instructions that utilize virtual resource identifiers and location selection criteria to manage resource access, enabling seamless access to both network-based and locally-accessible resources by prioritizing storage locations and providing placeholder resources when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network-based resources are used in media presentations, then current advertising and information can be provided, but fluctuating network connectivity causes glitches and delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by downloading and caching network-based resources (advertising, images, information) to local storage before they are needed during media presentation playback. This allows the system to have resources ready in advance, so when network connectivity fluctuates during playback, the cached resources can be accessed locally without causing glitches or delays, thus maintaining both content currency and access reliability.
2Loss of information
If Web-enabled content is included in media presentations, then current information and advertising can be delivered, but consumers experience errors and delays due to network fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary downloading and caching of Web-enabled content to local storage before media presentation playback. This ensures that advertising, images, and information are available locally without requiring real-time network access during playback, eliminating errors and delays while maintaining content availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a caching mechanism as an intermediary between the network and the media presentation system. This cache stores copies of network-based resources locally, acting as a buffer that decouples the media playback from network connectivity requirements, thereby preventing glitches and delays caused by network fluctuations while ensuring content is delivered.
3Adaptability or versatility
If resources are accessed directly from network locations, then current content can be retrieved, but access is unreliable when network connectivity fluctuates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements preliminary action by caching network resources to local storage in advance. This allows the media presentation system to access content reliably from local cache during playback, while still maintaining the capability to update content from the network when connectivity is available, thus improving access reliability without sacrificing content update capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A resource abstraction layer for use in a media processing environment includes a configuration file and a set of computer-executable instructions. Both network-based and locally-accessible resources are indirectly accessible via the resource abstraction layer. The configuration file has at least two data structures—a first data structure storing “virtual resource identifiers,” which reference particular resource usable in connection with rendering a particular media presentation, and a second data structure storing “virtual location identifiers,” which reference one or more locations at which particular resources are stored. The set of computer-executable instructions facilitates use of the configuration file, and seamless indirect access by the media processing environment to particular resources, regardless of where such resources are located. Temporary resources may be rendered while a particular resource is being accessed via the resource abstraction layer.