Resume Position Tracking for Non-Linear Playback Events
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for reproducing content items, such as e-books and videos, often lose the user's true viewing or reading position due to unintentional actions, making it difficult to resume from the correct position after non-linear events like skipping or searching.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that monitor input operations to determine whether to update the resume position based on reproduction progress, distinguishing between linear and non-linear events by setting a reference position and adjusting it accordingly, ensuring the resume position reflects the last valid consumption point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the resume position is updated at every input operation, then the resume position tracking is simple, but the resume position becomes inaccurate after non-linear events like skipping or searching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments input operations into two categories: linear events (sequential consumption) and non-linear events (skipping, searching). By dividing the operation types, the system can apply different update rules for each category, improving resume position accuracy without requiring complex analysis of every individual input operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the reference position based on the type of input operation detected. When a non-linear event is detected, the reference position is updated to the current reproduction position; when a linear event occurs, the reference position remains unchanged. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain accurate resume position tracking while keeping the underlying mechanism relatively simple.
2Measurement precision
If the reference position is updated frequently, then the reproduction progress measurement is accurate, but the system requires more processing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for resume position tracking by selectively updating the reference position only when non-linear events occur. This extraction approach avoids unnecessary processing of every input operation while maintaining accurate reproduction progress measurement, thereby improving processing efficiency without sacrificing precision.
3Reliability
If the system tracks every reproduction position change, then the resume position is always current, but the system cannot distinguish between intentional and unintentional position changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary classification of input operations into linear and non-linear categories before updating the resume position. By pre-defining these categories and their corresponding update rules, the system can reliably track resume positions without requiring complex real-time analysis of user intent, thus maintaining reliability while limiting complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of reproducing a content item includes monitoring an input operation. At the input operation, it is decided whether to update a resume position, based on a reproduction progress, the reproduction progress being determined with respect to a reference position. The method further includes determining whether the input operation corresponds to a linear or to a non-linear event, and updating the reference position if the input operation is a non-linear event.