Media playing

• US 20040073693A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Sparkes, Andrew Michael, Slater, Alastair Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,770,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10768 by pre-caching the initial portion of songs or other recorded or downloaded data for starting playback instantly
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2312 Data placement on disk arrays data placement in general G06F3/0604
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26208 the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A fast access storage device, e.g., a disc, stores initial portions of many movies. A tape library stores many tapes, for the remainder of each movie. A controller controls drives for the disc and tape so the remainder of a particular movie is read from the tape after the initial portion of a particular movie is read from the disc so a viewer is unable to perceive that the movie is recorded on the disc and tape and can start watching the movie sooner than if the movie were recorded only on a tape.

Claims

1. A method of playing a rich media file, wherein a first part of said file is on a fast access memory device and a second part of said file is on a slow access memory device;

the method comprising;

readying said slow access memory device for playing;

playing an output derived from said first part from said fast access memory device while said slow access memory device is readied for playing;

playing an output derived from said second part from said slow access memory device; and

synchronizing said playing of said outputs derived from said first part and said second part so said outputs derived from said first and said second parts play contiguously.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said slow access memory is readied for playing during playing of said output derived from said first part of said file.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein (a) said first part has first sequential data having an end and said second part has second sequential data having a start, and (b) data towards said end includes end region data which is substantially the same data as data towards said start and that comprises start region data, and further including synchronizing playing of said end region data and playing of said start region data by playing at least one of said end region data and said start region data through a buffer.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said buffer has an output datastream, the method further including temporally registering in said buffer data from said end data region with data from said start data region so as to synchronize data output in said output datastream from a first moment in time originating from said fast access memory device and at a second changeover moment in time originating from said slow access memory device.

5. A method according to claim 3 further including playing both said end region and said start region through said buffer.

6. A method according to claim 3 further including playing said first part and said second part of said file through said buffer, and wherein said buffer has a first part data input, a second part data input, and a datastream output, and causing data derived from said datastream output to be changed from originating at one point in time from said first part data input to originating at a later point in time from said second part data input.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second part includes a sequence of data that is substantially the same as a corresponding sequence of data provided in said first part, the method further comprising advancing said slow access memory device beyond a sequence of data that is being played from said first part.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said slow access memory device includes header data representative of at least one marker in said second part of said file, said marker being indicative of a place in said second part of said file at which marker associated data are found, the synchronizing step including responding to the at least one marker.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second part includes a marker indicative of a point in the rich media file at which a changeover in playing said output derived from said first part to playing said output derived from said second part is associated, the synchronizing step including responding to the marker.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the synchronizing step includes comparing said output derived from said first part with said output derived from said second part.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the slow access memory device includes plural slow access mediums each including respective second parts of respective rich media files, the method further comprising selecting a chosen slow access medium for playing an output from the chosen slow access medium.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein there are plural rich media data files each having a respective first part on fast access memory and respective corresponding said second parts on different slow access medium, the method further including playing a selection of a selected first part while readying said corresponding second part for playing.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said plural slow access mediums are in a slow access medium library, the method further including automatically (a) retrieving a selected slow access medium from the slow access medium library, (b) inserting the selected slow access medium into a slow access medium drive, and (c) playing the selected slow access medium;

supplying a controller with a request for the playing of a specified rich media file, causing the controller to identify (a) a location of said first part of said data file in said fast access memory, (b) a location of said corresponding slow access medium in said slow access medium library, and (c) a position on said corresponding slow access medium to which said corresponding slow access medium is to be advanced for playing from said corresponding slow access medium; and

causing said controller to play (a) data derived from said first part of said selected data file while causing the corresponding slow access medium to be retrieved and placed in said slow access medium drive and advanced to a position where said corresponding second part is to be found, and (b) an output derived from said corresponding slow access medium.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second part has substantially the same data on it as said first part and significantly more data downstream.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second part has on the order of at least ten times as much data of said file on it than is stored in said first part in said fast access memory.

16. A method according to claim 1 wherein said rich media file comprises a video file and wherein said playing of said first and second part comprises playing said video file so as to present to a viewer said video file with a seamless joint between said first and second parts, as perceived by said viewer.

17. A media playing device for playing a media product file, said device comprising a fast access memory device, a slow access memory device, a control processor, and an output line adapted to output a media datastream;

said fast access memory being capable of storing data representative of an initial portion of said media product file and said slow access memory device being capable of reading data from a slow access medium including data representative of at least a later portion of said media product file;

said control processor being arranged, upon receiving a request for playing of said media product file, for playing data from said fast access memory over said output line and for preparing said slow access medium for reading said later portion of said media product file from said slow access drive mechanism, while said initial portion is being read, and to switch data that is output on said output line from originating from said fast access memory device to originating from said slow access memory device.

18. A device according to claim 17 further including a buffer memory adapted to receive data from said slow access memory device and adapted to be used for controlling switching of data output from said output line from originating from said fast access memory to originating from said slow access memory device, via said buffer.

19. A device according to claim 17 wherein said fast access memory stores sequential data representative of said initial portion of said media product, and wherein said initial portion has a read duration of not more than ten minutes.

20. A device according to claim 17 wherein said slow access medium stores data that comprises said later data portion, said control processor being arranged for causing said later data portion to be contiguous with said initial data portion stored in said fast access memory.

21. A device according to claim 17 wherein said slow access medium stores said later portion and at least some of said initial portion of data, said control processor being arranged for causing some overlap in data stored in said fast access memory and data stored on said slow access medium.

22. A device according to claim 17 wherein said slow access medium has synchronization data on it and media product file data on it, said synchronization data being arranged for causing the control processor to switch data contributing to said output datastream from being from said fast access memory to being from said slow access medium.

23. A device according to claim 22 wherein said fast access memory stores synchronization data and media product file data, said control processor being arranged to be responsive to the fast access synchronization data and slow access medium synchronization data to control switching of data output via said output line to being from said slow access medium drive.

24. A device according to claim 17 wherein a greater proportion of said media product file is stored on said slow access medium than the proportion of said media product file which is stored in said fast access memory.

25. A device according to claim 17 wherein said controller is adapted to have access to an address memory having (a) details of locations of specific slow access mediums that are playable in said slow access device and their content, and (b) addresses corresponding to said initial portions of media product data files recorded on said slow access medium.

26. A device according to claim 25 further comprising a video library having slow access medium storage adapted to store a library of video files a slow access medium retrieval device adapted to retrieve a selected slow access medium from said slow access medium storage and to insert said slow access medium into a slow access medium drive, and wherein said controller is adapted in use to control movement of said slow access medium retrieval device using information from said address memory.

27. A device according to claim 17 further including a buffer memory, said fast access memory device being adapted to produce a fast memory datastream, and said slow access memory device being adapted to produce a slow memory datastream, and wherein said control processor is arranged for feeding at least one of said fast memory datastream and said slow memory datastream to said buffer memory arrangement.

28. A device according to claim 27 wherein the control processor is adapted in use to monitor data which enters said buffer memory arrangement to identify a synchronization switch marker or characteristic, a datastream switch adapted to be responsive to said marker or characteristic for causing data on said output line to be switched from being from said fast access memory device to be from said slow access memory device.

29. A device according to claim 17 wherein the medium comprises a tape and the slow access memory device includes a tape reader, the device being adapted to be responsive to a plurality of tapes having later portions of respective media products stored on them, and the initial portions of said product files being not more than 10% of said media product files.

30. A machine readable data carrier which, when operational in a control processor for controlling data coupled to an output line of a media playing device having a slow access memory and a fast access memory each accessing a respective media product data file, the data carrier storing signals causing said output line to be responsive to output signals from said fast access memory at a first time and to be responsive to output signals from said slow access memory at a time subsequent to the first time.

31. A rich media file output device comprising an output line and a controller, said controller being arranged for (a) accessing a slow access medium datastream output of a slow access memory device, (b) accessing a fast access memory datastream of a fast access memory device, (c) synchronizing said slow access memory device datastream originating from said slow access memory device with said fast access datastream originating from said fast access memory device, and (d) switching data that is fed to said output line from being the fast access datastream to the slow access datastream with substantially no viewer or listener perceivable interruption or discontinuity in datastream output via said output line.

32. A rich media file output apparatus comprising a control processor, a fast access memory reader, a slow access memory reader, a plurality of fast access data files which are readable by said fast access memory reader, and a plurality of slow access media which are readable by said slow access memory reader and are in a library, the arrangement being such that in use when a request is received for a selected rich media file to be played said control processor is capable of (a) locating a corresponding selected fast access data file, said fast access data file comprising an initial portion of said selected rich media file, (b) arranging for said fast access data file to be read by said fast access memory reader and to be played out of said apparatus, (c) causing an appropriate slow access medium to be located in said library, said slow access medium comprising data which are representative of a subsequent portion of said selected rich media file sequentially later than said initial portion of said fast access data file, (d) causing said located tape to be loaded into said tape drive and played, (e) synchronizing signals derived from said fast access memory reader with signals derived from said slow access memory device and (f) changing what is played out of said apparatus from being from said fast access memory reader to being from said slow access memory device.

33. A network comprising a server, a fast access memory device including an initial portion of a rich media product, and a slow access memory device usable with a medium including a subsequent portion of said rich media product downstream of said initial portion, the network being arranged such that in use in response to said server receiving a signal representative of a request for a rich media product to be transmitted to a receiver, said server being arranged to cause (a) said initial portion of said rich media product stored in said fast access memory device to be coupled from said fast access memory device and transmitted to said receiver, (b) playing of the medium in said slow access memory device for producing an output of said slow access memory device, (c) output from said fast access memory device to be synchronized with output from said slow access memory device, and (d) then switch data transmitted to said receiver from being data originating from said fast access memory device to data originating from said slow access memory device.

34. A method of creating a distributed readable rich media data file comprising storing data representative of an initial portion of said datafile in a fast access memory and storing data representative of a subsequent portion of said datafile on a slow access memory.

35. A sequential data file player for playing a sequential data file from a data carrier, said data file having at least a first part and a second part, said data carrier including at least said second part;

said data file player comprising fast access memory including said first part of said data file, a data reader capable of reading data from said data carrier, and a controller;

said controller being adapted, in use, to play said first part of said data file from said fast access memory means while said data carrier is readied for reading, and to read said second part from said data carrier, and to join data from said second part to data from said first part in a seamless, temporally contiguous output comprised at one time of data from said first part and at a later time of data from said data carrier.

36. A method of reading a data file comprising:

providing a first part of said file on a fast access memory;

providing a second part of said file on slow access memory;

obtaining said second part from said slow access memory; and

obtaining said first part from said fast access memory while said second part is obtained from said slow access memory.

37. A method according to claim 36 further including synchronizing said first part and said second part so as to play data derived from said first and said second parts as an output contiguously, as experienced by a user.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein said first part and said second part have an overlap in data content.

39. A method of providing access to data from a library of fast access data records held in fast access memory and a library of slower access data records held in a slower access memory, the method comprising replacing a data record held in said fast access memory with a data record from said slower access memory if there is a greater current demand for said slower access data record than the current demand for said fast access data record.

40. A method according to claim 39 wherein said data records comprise video files.

41. A data record playing apparatus comprising a library of fast access data records stored in fast access memory;

a library of slower access data records held in slower access memory;

a fast access library update communications link between said slower access library and said fast access library; and

a control processor;

said control processor being arranged to replace a first access data record in said fast access memory with a selected slower access data record from said slower access memory in response to a determination that there is a request for playing of said selected slower access data record and that said fast access data record that is to be replaced is not currently being played.

42. A rich media product for use with a rich media playing apparatus adapted to be responsive to a fast access memory device and a slow access memory device, the slow access memory device being adapted to be responsive to many slow access memories, each storing at least a majority of a rich medium, the fast access memory device being adapted to be responsive to many fast access memories, the product comprising the fast access memory medium, the fast access memory medium storing only an initial portion of many of the rich media.

43. The rich media product of claim 42 where at least some of the initial portions including synchronization data for enabling the rich media playing apparatus to synchronize the rich media of the fast access memory device and the slow access memory device.

44. A rich media product for use with a rich media playing apparatus adapted to be responsive to a fast access memory device and a slow access memory device, the slow access memory device being adapted to be responsive to many slow access memories, each storing at least a majority of a rich medium, the fast access memory device being adapted to be responsive to many fast access memories, the product comprising the slow access memory medium, the slow access memory medium storing only a portion of one of the rich media subsequent to an initial portion of said one of the rich media.

45. The rich media product of claim 44 where the slow access memory medium includes an initial segment and including synchronization data for enabling the rich media playing apparatus to synchronize the rich media of the fast access memory device and the slow access memory device.