Server-Based Multimedia Recording and Access System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital video recorders (DVRs) are expensive to install and maintain, have limited storage capacity, and do not allow users to access programs broadcast in the past or record all available channels simultaneously, with network DVRs requiring significant data storage and lacking in user accessibility.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for recording and accessing multimedia data involves a server-based solution where multimedia content is recorded and stored, allowing customer premise equipment devices to request and access the entire content, with storage decisions based on user requests, storage capacity, and geographic popularity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If network DVRs store video data at a network server, then user accessibility to recorded content is improved, but the amount of data that must be stored increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser accessibilityVSAvoiddata storage requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential metadata and program information from the full video data and stores this at the network server. The actual video content remains distributed at local customer premises equipment, thereby maintaining user accessibility while significantly reducing the quantity of data that must be stored and transmitted over the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The network server acts as an intermediary that manages recording requests, stores metadata, and coordinates content distribution. It receives recording requests from multiple customers, determines which content should be recorded based on popularity and storage capacity, and manages the distribution of recorded content to appropriate local devices, thereby enabling accessibility without requiring all content to be stored centrally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If residential DVRs are deployed at each subscriber residence, then user control over recorded programs is improved, but installation and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoidinstallation and maintenance cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of multiple distributed DVRs into a single centralized network server that serves multiple customers. Instead of deploying and maintaining separate DVR units at each residence, the system merges recording and storage functions into one location while still providing individual user control through the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The network server provides universal service to multiple customers, handling recording requests, content distribution, and playback control for all subscribers. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated DVR hardware at each residence, reducing installation and maintenance costs while maintaining user control capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If DVRs have limited storage capacity, then device cost is reduced, but the convenience of expanding storage is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice costVSAvoidstorage expansion capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from local storage limited by physical device capacity to network-based storage that leverages the dimensional expansion of network infrastructure. Instead of expanding storage within a single device, the system utilizes the network to provide virtually unlimited storage capacity across multiple servers and locations, thereby maintaining low device cost while achieving high storage versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Adaptability or versatility

If DVRs record all available channels simultaneously, then content availability is improved, but storage capacity requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent availabilityVSAvoidstorage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of recording all available channels simultaneously, the system implements partial recording by selectively capturing only the most popular and requested content. The network server monitors viewing patterns and recording requests to determine which channels and programs warrant storage, thereby reducing overall storage capacity requirements while maintaining adequate content availability for users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS8719441B2System and method of recording and accessing multimedia data

Publication Date: 2014.05.06 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A method includes recording multimedia content at a server and receiving, at the server while the multimedia content is being recorded at the server, a request from a customer premise equipment device to initiate transmission of a stream of the multimedia content. The method also includes granting the request from the customer premise equipment device and providing the customer premise equipment device access to the multimedia content.