Real-time Streaming Media Playback with Timestamp Buffering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for playing real-time streaming media from internet radio stations do not allow users to select desired sections or pause without missing content, as the data is transmitted in real-time and not stored as complete files, leading to interruptions when users need to attend to other tasks.
Innovation Solution
A method where an electronic device communicates with an internet radio station, decodes real-time streaming data into audio signals, assigns time stamps to temporarily stored data, and allows users to select and play designated sections by generating corresponding audio signals, enabling seamless playback and skipping of content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If real-time streaming media is transmitted and played continuously, then the media content can be listened to in real-time, but the user cannot select desired sections or pause without missing content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by temporarily storing received real-time streaming data in a buffer before playback. This allows the system to prepare and hold content in advance, enabling users to pause, seek, and select sections without losing content continuity. The buffer acts as a preliminary storage mechanism that decouples real-time reception from real-time playback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the continuous real-time streaming data into discrete data blocks with associated time stamps. This segmentation allows the playback system to treat different sections as independent selectable units while maintaining their temporal relationships. Users can select specific segments for playback without affecting the overall content integrity.
2Productivity
If real-time streaming data is processed continuously without storage, then memory usage is minimized, but users cannot resume or replay sections after interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by storing only a portion of the real-time streaming data in temporary memory rather than the entire stream. The buffer holds sufficient data to allow for pausing and section selection while avoiding the memory overhead of storing complete files. This partial storage approach balances memory efficiency with the ability to recover from interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a buffer as an intermediary between the real-time data reception and playback processes. This intermediary component temporarily holds data, allowing the system to decouple the continuous data flow from the playback operation. The buffer mediates between incoming data and playback requirements, enabling interruption recovery without requiring complete file storage.
3Device complexity
If the multimedia playing program processes real-time data without time stamps, then processing complexity is reduced, but the play length and section selection cannot be realized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical time measurement systems with a simpler time stamp metadata approach. Instead of using sophisticated synchronization mechanisms, the system attaches time stamp information to each data block, allowing the playback system to calculate play length and position through simple arithmetic operations on these time stamps, significantly reducing processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by introducing time stamps as a new parameter associated with each data block. This parameter transformation allows the system to derive play length and section position information from the time stamp differences, converting a complex measurement problem into a simple parameter calculation task.
Data Source
AI summary
A real-time streaming media playing method is provided. According to the present invention, plural streaming data are stored in an electronic device, plural time stamps are assigned to respective streaming data, and the plural streaming data are arranged according to the time sequence. When the user wants to listen to a specified section of the real-time streaming media, a designated section command is generated by dragging a scroll thumb. According to the position of the scroll thumb, a corresponding time stamp is selected by the electronic device. The streaming data corresponding to the selected time stamp is decoded by the electronic device, so that a designated section audio signal is generated.