Time-Shift TV Control Channel for Media Server Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing time-shift TV systems face high memory costs and decreased response speed due to the need for massive storage of live data flows and repeated operations of establishing and closing communication connections, which hinder efficient switching between live and time-shift modes.
Innovation Solution
Establishing and holding a control channel between the playing terminal and the media server allows for the transmission of time-shift playing commands through this channel, enabling the media server to switch between live and time-shift data flows without closing and reopening communication connections, thereby improving response speed and user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the playing terminal records and stores live data flows locally to provide time-shift service, then time-shift playback functionality is achieved, but the memory cost becomes extremely high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the recording and storage function from the playing terminal and relocates it to a dedicated recording terminal. This separation allows the playing terminal to have minimal memory requirements while still providing time-shift playback functionality. The recorded data is stored at the recording terminal and only transmitted to the playing terminal when needed, rather than requiring the playing terminal to store all live data flows locally.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the playing terminal continuously records live data flows while watching, then time-shift playback can be supported, but the response speed of time-shift operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The recording operation is extracted from the playing terminal and performed separately by the recording terminal. This allows the playing terminal to focus on playback operations without the overhead of simultaneous recording, thereby improving response speed. The playing terminal can quickly switch between live and recorded content without being burdened by continuous recording operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The recording terminal performs recording operations in advance and stores data in a ready-to-transmit state. When a user requests time-shift playback, the data is already recorded and can be immediately transmitted to the playing terminal, eliminating the delay that would occur if the playing terminal had to start recording at the moment of request.
3Reliability
If the playing terminal establishes new communication connections for each mode switch between live and time-shift, then data transmission reliability is ensured, but the switchover time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control channel with the existing communication infrastructure between the recording terminal and playing terminal. The control channel is established once and reused for both live and time-shift mode communications, eliminating the need to repeatedly establish new connections during mode switching. This reduces switchover time while maintaining reliable data transmission through the persistent control channel.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for controlling the data flow of the time-shift TV is disreleased and includes: establishing and holding a control channel between a playing terminal and a media server; receiving, by the media server, a time-shift playing command from the playing terminal through the control channel; and performing, by the media server, an operation corresponding to the time-shift playing command in response to the time-shift playing command. Using the control channel, the time-shift playing command can be transmitted to the media server and the time-shift player can transmit the time-shift data flow and the live data flow to the playing terminal, improving the speed of implementing the time-shift playing, providing better experiences for subscribers and being good for the development and application of the time-shift TV technique.