Electronic Device Content Delivery via Beacon and Server Mediator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices require direct connection to output content, limiting the ability to provide multimedia services when an external device is not directly connected.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device and method that enable content output through a peripheral device based on user location, using beacon signals and a network environment to facilitate content provision without direct connection, leveraging proximity networking and cloud computing for multimedia data delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an external device requests content output directly connected to an electronic device, then the connection reliability is improved, but the system flexibility and adaptability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidsystem flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the external device and the electronic device. The server receives content requests from external devices, determines appropriate content based on user profiles, and transmits it to electronic devices without requiring direct connection between the external device and electronic device. This mediator enables flexible content delivery while maintaining connection reliability through established server-device communication channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If direct connection between external device and electronic device is required, then the device complexity is reduced, but the service versatility and user experience deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection complexityVSAvoidservice versatility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as a centralized intermediary that handles all connection coordination and content routing. External devices communicate with the server rather than establishing direct connections with electronic devices, reducing the complexity of peer-to-peer connection management while enabling diverse service scenarios including remote access, content personalization, and multi-device support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The server provides universal functionality by serving multiple purposes: receiving content requests, determining user profiles, selecting appropriate content, and routing to electronic devices. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for direct device connections while maintaining system versatility and improving service capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If content is provided based on user profile information, then the service quality and user experience are improved, but the information processing complexity and system requirements deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server serves as an intermediary that manages user profile information and content determination logic. Instead of embedding complex profile management and content selection capabilities in each electronic device, the server centralizes these functions, processing user profiles and determining content before transmission to devices. This reduces the complexity burden on individual devices while maintaining high user experience quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3716592B1Method for providing content and electronic device for supporting same
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3716592B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3716592B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3716592B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure includes: a housing; a user interface exposed through a portion of the housing; at least one communication circuit configured to discover and connect to another electronic device wirelessly without an access point or a base station; at least one processor operatively connected with the user interface and the communication circuit; and a memory operatively connected with the processor, wherein, when being executed, the memory stores instructions that cause the processor to transmit a plurality of first beacon signals for wireless connection by using the communication circuit during first time periods, to detect at least one second beacon signal for wireless connection, transmitted from an external device, by using the communication circuit, during one period of second time periods which are different from the first time periods, to receive multimedia data from an external server after detecting the at least one second beacon signal, and to output at least one of an audio, an image, or a video based at least in part on the multimedia data. Other embodiments are possible.