Central Server for Seamless Media Streaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for streaming digital media content to external players from portable devices are cumbersome, often requiring multiple native applications, leading to interruptions and inconvenience, especially when switching between different devices and internet connections.

Innovation Solution

A content distribution system that allows for automatic streaming of media content by using a central server to manage connections between content providers and devices, enabling voice commands to initiate streaming without the need for native applications on each device, and seamlessly switching between internet connections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple native applications are installed on portable electronic devices for different content providers, then content streaming functionality is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent streaming functionalityVSAvoidnumber of native applications

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple content provider functionalities into a single web browser-based interface. Instead of requiring separate native applications for different content providers, the system consolidates access to multiple content providers through one unified web interface that can be accessed from any portable electronic device with a web browser, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining content streaming versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The web browser interface serves as a universal platform that can access multiple content providers and stream content to various types of content players. This single universal interface replaces the need for multiple specialized native applications, allowing users to access different content providers and stream to different device types through one multi-functional web-based system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If native applications are installed on multiple portable electronic devices, then content streaming capability is improved, but time consumption and ease of operation worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-device streaming capabilityVSAvoidtime to install and locate applications

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the web browser as a copying mechanism that replicates content provider access functionality across all portable electronic devices without requiring actual installation of native applications. The web interface is accessed from any device by simply opening a browser and navigating to the service URL, eliminating the time-consuming process of installing and locating native applications on each device while maintaining cross-device streaming capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If media content is streamed through portable electronic devices to external players, then user experience is improved, but streaming interruptions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexternal content playback capabilityVSAvoidstreaming continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The portable electronic device serves as an intermediary that receives content from content providers via web browser and forwards it to external content players. The system architecture allows the content stream to bypass the portable device's media playback functions, reducing interruptions from phone calls, pictures, and other device activities while maintaining the ability to stream to external players

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If streaming is interrupted by device usage or connection changes, then device functionality is improved, but streaming reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionality accessibilityVSAvoidstreaming continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts to connection changes by automatically switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data connections to maintain content streaming. When the primary Wi-Fi connection is lost or interrupted, the system dynamically transitions to using the portable device's cellular data connection to continue streaming content to external players, thereby maintaining streaming reliability while allowing device functionality to remain accessible

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10115396B2Content streaming system

Publication Date: 2018.10.30 LOGITECH EUROPE SA

AI summary

A method of downloading media content to a content player is provided, including receiving a command at a content player to deliver media content; transmitting the command from the content player to a first server; determining that the command is a request to deliver media content from a content provider; transmitting a request to a content server of the content provider from the first server based on the determined request to deliver the media content from the content provider; receiving, at the first server, a first information link from the content server in response to the request; transmitting the first information link to the content player; downloading a first portion of a media file to the content player from the content server using the first information link; and delivering at least a portion of the media file to the user.