Sliding Time Window Buffer for Ambient Media Content Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for capturing and storing ambient media content do not efficiently manage media content over time, lacking a mechanism to continuously receive, store, and share sensory data across a sliding time window, and provide it to applications configured to use this content.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that continuously receive media content from sensors, store it in a buffer over a sliding time window, and allow the operating system to provide this content to applications selected by the user, enabling efficient sharing and usage of ambient media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If media content is continuously captured and stored indefinitely, then the quantity of available media content increases, but the storage space is consumed and the system becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic time window mechanism where the buffer automatically adjusts its content based on a sliding time window. Media content is retained only for a specified duration, after which it is automatically removed. This dynamic approach ensures that the buffer always contains the most recent media content while maintaining a bounded storage footprint, resolving the contradiction between having abundant content and avoiding storage exhaustion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all captured media content is made available to all applications, then the versatility of the system increases, but the complexity of managing content distribution increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an operating system-level intermediary that manages media content distribution between the buffer and applications. This intermediary layer provides a standardized interface that allows multiple applications to access media content without requiring complex peer-to-peer management. The operating system handles content distribution, permissions, and coordination, thereby maintaining system versatility while reducing overall complexity through centralized management.
3Ease of operation
If media content is stored in a fixed time window, then the storage management becomes simple, but the system cannot adapt to varying time requirements of different applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic time window mechanism where the buffer automatically adjusts its content based on a sliding time window. Media content is retained only for a specified duration, after which it is automatically removed. This dynamic approach ensures that the buffer always contains the most recent media content while maintaining a bounded storage footprint, resolving the contradiction between having abundant content and avoiding storage exhaustion.
Data Source
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AI summary
An example method may include continuously receiving, from a sensor of a computing device, media content collected from an ambient environment of the computing device on an ongoing basis. The method includes storing in a buffer an amount of the media content collected over a sliding time window, and removing stored media content from the buffer as the predetermined time period expires. The method may also include providing, by an operating system of the computing device, a listing of one or more applications configured to run on the computing device. The method further includes receiving, by the operating system of the computing device, a selection of an application from the listing of one or more applications, and based on the selection, causing the selected application to be initiated on the computing device and providing the portion of the media content to the application.