Active Play Unit Video Transfer Across Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for video content sharing across devices during playback poses a challenge due to the need for content reconfiguration and seamless transition across different devices with varying characteristics, such as user interfaces, networks, and input devices.
Innovation Solution
An active play system and method that allows video content to be actively transferred and synchronized between devices by using an active play unit and client, which tracks content location, reconfigures content formats, and utilizes transcoding and quantization units to ensure smooth playback across different devices, including mobile phones, set-top boxes, and desktops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If video content is transferred between devices with different characteristics (user interfaces, networks, input devices), then content sharing capability is improved, but device compatibility and playback smoothness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes format parameters (resolution, bitrate, encoding) based on the target device's capabilities. The format conversion unit transforms video content from a source format to a target format suitable for the specific device, resolving the contradiction between content sharing versatility and device compatibility by adapting parameters rather than requiring universal compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The active play unit serves as an intermediary between the content source and various playback devices. It receives the content request, determines the appropriate format based on device characteristics, performs conversion if needed, and delivers the content in a device-appropriate format. This mediator approach enables broad device compatibility without requiring each device to handle all possible formats.
2Reliability
If active play unit determines format and performs conversion, then playback smoothness is improved, but processing time and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs format conversion in advance before content delivery, rather than during playback. The active play unit determines the target format based on device characteristics and converts the content beforehand, ensuring playback smoothness without causing delays during the actual viewing experience. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by separating the processing time from the playback time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical format conversion with software-based transcoding and rendering. Instead of physical media conversion, the system uses digital signal processing to transform video formats, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining playback smoothness. This substitution of mechanical processes with computational methods resolves the time complexity issue.
3Ease of operation
If content is reconfigured for different devices, then user experience is improved, but content delivery complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The active play unit automatically performs format determination and conversion without requiring user intervention. The system self-services by detecting device characteristics, selecting appropriate formats, and delivering optimized content seamlessly. This automation improves user experience while managing delivery complexity internally, as users perceive only the simplified outcome rather than the complex processes behind it.
Solution Approach 2:
The active play unit is designed with multi-functionality to handle various device types, formats, and protocols through a single unified system. It can determine formats, convert content, manage playback, and adapt to different device characteristics all through one component. This universal design approach improves user experience across multiple devices while consolidating delivery complexity into a single manageable unit rather than requiring separate solutions for each device type.
Data Source
AI summary
An active play system and method are provided that allow a piece of content to be transferred between multiple content devices associated with the user.