Intermediate Module Pre-Recording for Digital TV Application Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for delivering application objects associated with digital TV streams result in significant latency when switching channels, leading to delayed activation of applications and degraded user experience due to the need for repeated insertion and retrieval of application components.

Innovation Solution

An intermediate functional module pre-records application objects for likely channels, allowing immediate delivery upon channel change by storing them in memory, reducing the time required to access and execute applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If application objects are inserted repeatedly into the audio-video stream (carousel method), then the application can be delivered to the decoder, but the user experiences significant latency when switching channels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel switching latencyVSAvoidintermediate functional module
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate functional module performs preliminary actions by detecting application objects in the audio-video stream in advance and storing them in memory before channel switching occurs. This allows the application object to be immediately available when the user switches channels, eliminating the latency experienced in traditional carousel methods where the application object must be detected and retrieved after channel switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the decoder extracts and executes application objects from the audio-video stream in real-time, then the application can run on the decoder, but the application does not work immediately after channel switching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication activation speedVSAvoidtime to receive complete application object
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

An intermediate functional module is introduced between the audio-video stream source and the decoder. This intermediary detects application objects in the stream, extracts them, stores them in memory, and makes them immediately available to the decoder upon channel switching. This mediator eliminates the delay that would otherwise occur while the decoder waits to detect and receive the complete application object from the stream.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If application objects are stored in memory for preprocessed channels, then channel switching latency is reduced, but memory resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel switching speedVSAvoidmemory space
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate functional module implements a selective storage strategy where application objects are stored in memory based on local quality criteria - specifically, only for channels that are likely to be switched to next. This is achieved by detecting frequently accessed channels or channels adjacent to the current channel, thereby optimizing memory utilization while still providing the latency benefits of pre-storage for the most relevant channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3167619B1Method for delivering an application object associated with a digital TV stream
Publication Date: 2020.10.28 SOFTATHOME
  • EP3167619B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3167619B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for delivering an application object from an intermediate functional module to a consumer module. Said intermediate functional module is capable of managing a plurality of channels output by a platform. Said method includes, during the real-time broadcast of a channel from the intermediate functional module: - a step of pre-processing at least one other channel likely to be selected next, the pre-processing involving saving, to a memory, the last version of the application object dedicated to the digital video stream from said other stream; and - a step of sending said application object to the consumer module once a channel changes from the channel being broadcast to said other channel.