Variable Rate Buffer Emptying for Seamless Playback Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
State-of-the-art Digital Video Recording (DVR) systems transition abruptly from fast playback of buffered content to real-time playback, causing a jarring effect for viewers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for smoothly transitioning from buffered content playback to real-time playback by emptying the buffer at a faster rate than it is filled, with the rate varying over time, ensuring continuous playback from the point where the content was paused.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the buffer is emptied at a constant fast rate to quickly catch up to broadcast, then the time to complete playback is reduced, but the transition to real-time playback becomes abrupt and jarring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the buffer emptying rate variable rather than constant. The playback rate dynamically adjusts during the buffer emptying process, transitioning from a faster rate to match the real-time broadcast rate. This dynamic adjustment eliminates the abrupt transition while still efficiently playing back buffered content, resolving the contradiction between speed and viewer comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of playback rate from a fixed constant to a variable that changes over time. By implementing a time-varying playback rate that gradually decreases from a higher initial rate to the real-time broadcast rate, the system achieves both efficient buffer emptying and smooth transition, addressing the contradiction between minimizing playback time and avoiding jarring effects.
2Productivity
If the buffer is emptied faster than it is filled to catch up to broadcast, then productivity is improved, but the transition smoothness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the playback rate during buffer emptying, starting at a higher rate to efficiently clear the buffer and then gradually reducing to match the real-time broadcast rate. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain high productivity during buffer emptying while ensuring stability and smoothness during the transition to real-time playback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a structured, phased approach to buffer emptying where the playback rate follows a predetermined pattern over time. This periodic action with varying rates allows efficient buffer clearance in early phases while ensuring smooth transition in later phases, resolving the contradiction between productivity and stability.
Data Source
AI summary
Provides convergent playback of buffered content to real-time content play A content viewing system includes a content player to receive a content stream from a content source, a content viewer to receive the content from the content player, and a buffer into which the content player may store the received content and from which the player may provide the stored content to the content viewer, where the content player is operative to buffer the content stream to the buffer responsive to a request to pause play of the content stream, and retrieve the content from the buffer for playback of the buffered content stream responsive to a request to resume play of the content stream, thereby emptying the buffer, where the buffer is emptied at a faster rate than the rate at which the content stream is buffered, and the rate at which the buffer is emptied varies.