Set Top Box Playlist Sharing Over Internet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Set top boxes (STBs) face limitations in sharing large media files due to hardware constraints and upstream bandwidth limitations, making the process inefficient, especially over asymmetrical DSL connections.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for managing media content, where a set top box can generate and share playlists identifying multimedia content stored remotely, with a server or controller monitoring requests for access and granting permission, allowing access over the Internet, enabling efficient sharing of multimedia content between STBs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If large media files are shared between STBs over asymmetrical DSL, then media content can be transferred, but the process becomes inefficient due to upstream bandwidth limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia sharing efficiencyVSAvoidupstream bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of transferring large media files directly between STBs, the system creates and shares playlists that contain metadata and links to the media content. This copying approach allows STBs to access media content through remote playlists without actually transferring the large files over the bandwidth-constrained upstream connection, thereby improving sharing efficiency while reducing bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If STBs share media content directly, then content can be accessed by multiple devices, but hardware constraints and upstream bandwidth limit the sharing capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent sharing capabilityVSAvoidsystem hardware requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces playlists as an intermediary mechanism between STBs and media content. Playlists store metadata, identifiers, and access information about media content, allowing STBs to share content references rather than actual media data. This intermediary approach enables multiple STBs to access the same content through remote playlists, enhancing sharing capability while avoiding the hardware and bandwidth constraints that would apply to direct file transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8732755B2Apparatus and method for managing media content

Publication Date: 2014.05.20 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to generate a playlist that identifies multimedia content and to provide access to the playlist in response to a request for access, where the request for access is transmitted over the Internet, and where the multimedia content is stored remotely from the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.