Segmented Content Reproduction with Priority-Based Delay Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content reproduction devices experience significant delays when reproducing real-time content obtained through communication networks, as the reproduction position often falls behind the latest distributable segment, leading to a mismatch between the displayed content and the server's latest position.
Innovation Solution
A content reproduction device that obtains and reproduces content in segments, with each segment assigned a priority, allowing the reproduction controlling unit to manage the playback based on the delay and priority, enabling synchronization of the reproduction position with the latest distributable segment through 'Catch Up' or 'Just' processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the reproduction device obtains content segments through a communication network, then the content can be reproduced, but a large amount of delay occurs between the reproduction position and the latest distributable segment
Solution Approach 1:
The content is divided into multiple segments with different priorities. The reproduction device obtains and reproduces segments on a per-segment basis, allowing selective prioritization of critical content portions to minimize perceived delay while maintaining synchronization reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The reproduction device proactively obtains high-priority segments in advance and buffers them before they are needed for reproduction. This preliminary action reduces the effective delay for critical content by having segments ready before the reproduction position reaches them.
2Loss of time
If the reproduction device increases playback speed to catch up with the latest distributable segment, then the delay is reduced, but important segments may be skipped
Solution Approach 1:
Different segments of the content are assigned different priority levels. The reproduction device applies different reproduction strategies to different segments based on their priority - high-priority segments are ensured to be reproduced completely while low-priority segments can be skipped or reproduced at faster speeds when catching up.
Solution Approach 2:
When catching up, the reproduction device performs partial reproduction of low-priority segments (skipping some) rather than reproducing all segments at full speed. This partial action reduces delay while preserving important high-priority content.
3Reliability
If the reproduction device reproduces all segments in order, then content integrity is maintained, but the reproduction position falls behind the latest distributable segment
Solution Approach 1:
The reproduction device dynamically adjusts its reproduction speed and segment selection based on real-time conditions including the delay to the latest distributable segment, network bandwidth availability, and segment priorities. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain content integrity for high-priority segments while speeding up reproduction of lower-priority segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The reproduction device continuously monitors the delay between the reproduction position and the latest distributable segment, and uses this feedback to adjust its segment acquisition and reproduction strategy. When delay exceeds thresholds, the system activates catch-up modes that selectively reproduce segments based on priority.
Data Source
AI summary
A content reproduction device including: an obtaining unit configured to obtain the content including plural segments on a per segment basis from a server through a communication network, each of the segments being assigned with a priority; and a reproduction controlling unit configured to reproduce the content on the per segment basis by displaying the content on a display device on the per segment basis, in which the reproduction controlling unit is configured to control reproduction of a target segment based on an amount of delay and a priority of the target segment, the amount of delay being a difference between a distributable position indicating a position of a latest segment distributable by the server and a first reproduction position in the content that is currently reproduced.