Streaming Media Menu Templates with Visibility Criteria
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Solution Overview
Problem
Streaming media services face challenges in dynamically updating their menus without releasing new software versions, especially when external services are inaccessible, leading to user experience issues and potential loss of customer engagement and revenue during events.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for defining and distributing online streaming media asset menus with visibility criteria, allowing non-technical operators to update menus without new software releases and ensuring menu availability even when external services are down, by using a menu template with visibility checks and a 'lowest common denominator' or minimal menu approach.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a complex menu definition is used to adapt dynamically to user types, network types, and device types, then the adaptability of the menu is improved, but the device complexity increases making it difficult to maintain and update without software releases
Solution Approach 1:
The menu definition is segmented into a template component (stored locally in the software application) and a data component (provided by external services). The template contains the structure and logic, while external services provide dynamic content. This segmentation allows the complex adaptive logic to remain in the local template that doesn't require software updates, while external services handle the dynamic adaptation data.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary layer is introduced between the menu template and the external services. The menu template serves as an intermediary that can function with or without external service connectivity. When external services are unavailable, the template can still provide a functional menu using cached or default data, thus mediating between the need for adaptability and the need for simple maintainable definitions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If calls are made to external services to materialize the menu, then the menu can be dynamically updated, but the reliability decreases when external services are down or inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The menu template is prepared in advance and stored locally in the software application before external services are needed. The template contains pre-defined structures, visibility criteria, and logic that can be executed without external services. This preliminary action ensures that the basic menu functionality is already in place and can operate independently of external service availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed with a fallback mechanism where the local menu template serves as a cushion against external service failures. When external services are unavailable, the template can still provide a functional menu using cached data or default configurations, thus cushioning the impact of service outages on menu availability.
3Device complexity
If the menu cannot be materialized due to subsystem failures, then the system complexity is reduced, but the loss of information increases as users cannot access streaming media assets
Solution Approach 1:
A copy of the essential menu structure and logic is stored locally in the software application as a template. This local copy ensures that the fundamental menu functionality is preserved even when external services fail. The template is a simplified copy that contains the core navigation structure, visibility criteria, and logic needed to provide basic menu functionality without requiring external service connectivity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a new software version is released to update the menu, then the menu functionality is improved, but the productivity decreases due to the need for software release cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The menu system is segmented into a stable template component (stored in software) and a dynamic data component (provided by external services). Updates to menu features can be made by updating only the external service data without requiring software releases. The template remains stable and doesn't need to be recompiled or redistributed, thus enabling rapid menu updates through service updates alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The menu system is made dynamic by separating the static template from the dynamic data. The template provides the stable structure, while external services provide the dynamic content that can be updated without software releases. This dynamic architecture allows the menu to adapt to new features and content by updating service data rather than requiring full software updates.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of providing a menu for accessing media assets may include defining an media asset menu, defining an media asset menu item, the menu item including visibility criteria, adding the menu item to the defined menu, storing the defined menu, and distributing the stored menu to client devices over a network. A method of providing a menu for accessing media assets may include defining a new a menu for accessing media assets, loading a menu template from storage, the loaded menu template comprising a plurality of menu items, for each menu item among the plurality of menu items, determining if visibility criteria specified for the menu item are met, upon determining that the visibility criteria specified for the menu item are met, adding the menu item to the menu, otherwise excluding the menu item from the menu, and displaying the menu.