Casting Extension for Cross-Protocol Screen Mirroring
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no existing solution for remotely displaying the native screen of a device, such as an iOS device, on a target device like a Citrix Ready workspace hub when the two devices do not share a common remote-display protocol, as seen with the lack of built-in connectivity between iOS devices and Citrix Ready workspace hubs that lack AirPlay support.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a source device application that stores target device information, scans a QR code to establish a connection, and uses a casting extension to stream the source device's screen content, overcoming the limitations of broadcast extensions by having the main application handle user interface and security-related tasks, enabling screen casting even without native protocol support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the source device operating system does not natively support the target device's display protocol, then direct screen casting cannot be achieved, but using a casting extension introduces additional system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a casting extension as an intermediary component that bridges the source device operating system and the target device's display protocol. The extension receives content streams from the OS, encodes them according to the target protocol, and transmits them to the target device, thereby enabling compatibility without modifying the core OS architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the screen casting functionality into separate modular components: the main application handles user interface and QR code scanning, while the casting extension handles protocol-specific encoding and transmission. This segmentation allows the extension to be developed and maintained independently, reducing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the main application handles all functions including QR code scanning and UI operations, then functionality is complete, but the casting extension would need extensive permissions that may violate security constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides application functionality between the main application and the casting extension. The main application performs QR code scanning, displays UI, and manages user interactions. The casting extension is responsible only for receiving content streams and transmitting them using the target display protocol. This segmentation ensures the extension requires minimal permissions, maintaining security compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The main application automatically retrieves target device information (such as IP address and port) from the shared memory where the casting extension stores it. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for the extension to expose its internal state or require additional permissions for information retrieval.
3Productivity
If the casting extension obtains target device information directly, then connection establishment is streamlined, but the main application loses control over connection management and UI coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The casting extension pre-stores target device connection information (IP address, port, protocol parameters) in shared memory before the main application needs it. When connection establishment is required, the main application simply retrieves this pre-prepared information, enabling fast connection setup while maintaining centralized control in the main application.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of casting a source device display screen to a target device includes, by an application on the source device, storing information about the target device in a shared memory and issuing a request to an operating system to initiate capturing and casting for the source device display screen. The operating system responds to the request by launching a casting extension and supplying a content stream containing content of the source device display screen. Upon being launched, the casting extension (1) obtains the information about the target device from the shared memory and uses the information to establish a display connection with the target device, and (2) forwards the content stream to the target device on the display connection.