Network TV Content Scheduling via Playback Queue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network connected TV devices often experience interruptions and conflicts when content is pushed from one device to another, disrupting the current viewing experience for multiple users in a household setting.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a scheduling method that adds content items to a list instead of immediately interrupting current playback, allowing users to prioritize and manage playback through a remote control interface, and providing feedback to the originating device to prevent unnecessary content transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If content is pushed to the TV from another device, then the new content can be played, but the current playback is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by adding incoming content to a queue before actual playback occurs. This allows the system to prepare for content transitions without interrupting current playback, resolving the contradiction between content switching capability and continuous playback assurance.
Solution Approach 2:
The playback system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on queue status and user preferences. When content is added to the queue, the system can either continue current playback or switch to queued content based on configured policies, providing adaptability while maintaining reliable playback through structured transition management.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple family members push content simultaneously, then all content requests are received, but conflicts arise regarding playback order
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes playback order in advance by maintaining a queue where content items are added in sequence. This preliminary ordering resolves conflicts before playback occurs, allowing multiple users to request content without real-time conflicts while maintaining clear playback sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback mechanisms that inform users about the current playback queue and their content's position. This feedback allows users to understand the playback order and make informed decisions about content selection, easing the management of multi-user content requests.
3Speed
If content is pre-loaded onto the TV for future playback, then playback can start immediately, but storage space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential information needed for future playback (metadata, playback parameters) rather than pre-loading the entire content. This allows the system to prepare for immediate playback without consuming significant storage space, resolving the contradiction between fast playback start and minimal storage usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The content queue acts as an intermediary layer between content sources and the TV's storage system. Instead of pre-loading content into TV memory, the queue stores playback instructions that reference external content sources, enabling fast playback initiation without occupying TV storage space.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and network connected rendering apparatus (130) are described. The network connected rendering apparatus (130) receives a command to play a content item and/or the content item to be played from another network connected device (110). Instead of automatically interrupting the current rendering activities of the rendering apparatus for playing the content item, the content item is added to a list of scheduled content items (140).