Streaming Data Buffer Control for Immediate User Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing data transmission systems face delays and data rupture issues when users perform operations like channel changes or speed adjustments during streaming, as the system reproduces stored data sequentially, leading to inconvenience and lack of immediacy in reflecting user actions.

Innovation Solution

A data transmission system with a receiving apparatus that includes an operation-detecting section to control the transfer rate and reproduction speed of streaming data, allowing for fast-forward reproduction when user operations are detected, thereby reducing delays and preventing data rupture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the reproduction section reproduces streaming data after a fixed period of time has elapsed, then the streaming data can be smoothly reproduced with sufficient buffer storage, but the user operation response becomes delayed and the system loses immediacy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmooth reproductionVSAvoiduser operation response time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the buffer management dynamic rather than fixed. The determination section dynamically decides whether to maintain or clear buffer data based on real-time detection of user operations (channel changes, fast-forward, reverse). This allows the system to adapt buffer behavior to user needs, clearing buffers immediately when user operations are detected to enable immediate response, while maintaining buffers during normal playback for smooth reproduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of buffer storage duration based on user operation state. When no user operation is detected, the buffer maintains data for a fixed period to ensure smooth playback. When user operations are detected, the buffer is cleared immediately, changing the storage duration parameter from fixed to operation-dependent, thereby achieving both smooth reproduction and immediate response.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the buffer stores streaming data for a fixed period, then continuous playback is ensured, but user operations like channel changes or fast-forward are not immediately reflected causing data rupture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous playback durationVSAvoiduser operation immediacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having the determination section continuously monitor user operations and immediately respond by clearing the buffer when operations are detected. This feedback mechanism ensures that user actions (channel changes, fast-forward, reverse) are immediately reflected in the system state, eliminating data rupture while maintaining continuous playback capability through the reproduction section's ability to handle various playback modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Stability of the object's composition

If the streaming data is reproduced sequentially from the buffer, then data continuity is maintained, but the system cannot immediately reflect user operations causing inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata continuityVSAvoidoperation response speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the determination section detect user operations in advance and proactively clear the buffer before the fixed playback period expires. This preliminary detection and clearing action prevents data rupture from occurring, allowing the reproduction section to immediately switch to the new data stream when needed, thereby maintaining data continuity while improving operation response speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP1879393B1Data transmission system, receiving apparatus, receiving method as well as computer program product
Publication Date: 2014.12.24 SONY EUROPE BV
  • EP1879393B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1879393B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1879393B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A data transmission system has a sending apparatus that sends streaming data, and a receiving apparatus (114) that receives the streaming data and transmits a request of switch of the streaming data to the sending apparatus, in which the sending apparatus switches the streaming data in response to the received request. The receiving apparatus (114) includes a receiving section (252b), a storage section (253) that stores the streaming data temporarily and transfers it, an operation-detecting section (115) that detects whether a user operates the request, and a control section (251) that controls a transfer rate of the streaming data stored in the storage section (253) to fast-forward the streaming data when the operation-detecting section (115) detects that the user operates the request of switch of the streaming data. The sending apparatus includes an information-adding section that adds to the streaming data additional information on the user's operation when receiving a notice of user's operation, and a sending section that sends the additional-information-added streaming data.