Unified Virtual Stream for DVR Pause Buffer and Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital video recorders face issues with managing pause buffers and scheduled recordings, leading to content loss during channel changes, difficulties in back-to-back recordings, and confusion in accessing paused content, resulting in a poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
A unified recording format that stores both recorded programs and pause buffered broadcasts as a common virtual stream, with newer content at the start and aging content downstream, allowing for seamless management and access without distinction between the two, using pointers to identify boundaries and facilitate playback and recording operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pause buffer is implemented as a circular buffer on hard disk memory, then pause functionality is enabled with limited storage space, but content is lost when buffer reaches capacity or during channel changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the hard disk space into multiple pause buffer regions instead of using a single circular buffer. Each region can independently store paused content, allowing the system to preserve content across channel changes by switching between regions rather than overwriting within a single buffer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional circular buffer approach to a multi-dimensional storage structure where pause buffer content is organized across multiple regions and time segments. This allows content to be preserved indefinitely in archival storage while maintaining quick access to recent content, eliminating the capacity limitation that causes content loss.
2Productivity
If pause buffer stores content for limited duration, then storage space is efficiently utilized, but user access is restricted to brief time windows
Solution Approach 1:
The pause buffer is segmented into active regions for recent content and archival regions for older content. This segmentation allows the system to maintain efficient access to recent content while preserving older content in archival storage, effectively extending the accessible time window without sacrificing storage efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a nested structure where recent pause buffer content is stored in easily accessible memory regions, while older content is nested in archival storage regions. This allows the system to maintain the appearance of a simple buffer while actually providing extended retention through nested storage layers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate management structures are used for pause buffer and scheduled recordings, then each function operates independently, but system complexity increases and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of pause buffers and scheduled recordings into a unified file system structure. Both types of content are stored as files in the same namespace and managed by the same file allocation mechanisms, reducing system complexity while maintaining the functional independence needed for versatile operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The file system is designed with universal structures that can handle both pause buffer content and scheduled recordings through the same mechanisms. This multi-functionality allows the system to manage diverse content types with a single unified approach, simplifying the overall management structure while preserving adaptability.
4Ease of operation
If channel change flushes pause buffer, then current channel content is prioritized, but previously buffered content is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The pause buffer is segmented into multiple regions that can be independently managed during channel changes. When switching channels, the system can preserve content in one region while actively using another region, preventing content loss while still prioritizing current channel content for the active buffer region.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of flushing the entire pause buffer on channel change, the system selectively discards only the content that would be overwritten in the active region while recovering and preserving content in other regions. This allows channel switching to proceed smoothly while preventing information loss through selective retention.
Data Source
AI summary
A unified recording format allows both recorded programs and paused buffered broadcasts to be stored in memory as a common virtual stream. As content is received on a channel, it is placed into the virtual stream with newer content at the start of the stream and progressively aging content migrating farther downstream. A front section of the stream effectively operates as a pause buffer, as the currently tuned broadcast program is recorded in this section and is responsive to pause/resume commands. Recorded programs are also stored as part of the same virtual stream. Pointers are used to identify the boundaries of the pause buffer, as well as the beginning and end of each recorded program in the virtual stream.