Cloud-Mediated Synchronous Media Control Across Playback Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote control systems for networked devices often require direct communication and physical proximity, limiting the flexibility and scalability of controlling multiple devices across different networks and locations.
Innovation Solution
A network service acts as an intermediary between remote controls and controlled devices, using unique identifiers to facilitate communication and control operations over a network, allowing devices to be paired and controlled remotely through a cloud service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct communication between remote control and controlled device is used, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and scalability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that mediates communication between remote controls and controlled devices. The server receives control commands from remote controls, identifies the target controlled devices using device identifiers, and forwards the commands to the appropriate devices. This intermediary approach maintains communication reliability while reducing the complexity of direct peer-to-peer connections between multiple devices.
2Stability of the object's composition
If direct connection between remote control and controlled device is required, then communication stability is improved, but adaptability and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal control system where a single remote control can control multiple different types of controlled devices through the server. The server maintains a database of device identifiers and maps control commands to appropriate devices, enabling one remote control to adapt to and control various devices without requiring device-specific remote controls or direct connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as a mediator that handles the complexity of device identification and command routing, allowing remote controls to communicate with any controlled device through standardized protocols without requiring direct stable connections between specific device pairs.
3Reliability
If direct pairing between remote control and controlled device is used, then security is improved, but ease of operation and scalability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The server serves as a secure intermediary that manages device identification and authentication. Instead of requiring direct secure pairing between remote controls and controlled devices, the server verifies device identifiers and routes commands appropriately, maintaining security while simplifying the user experience and enabling scalable device management.
Data Source
AI summary
The subject matter of the present disclosure can be implemented by, among other things, a remote control application executed by a mobile device to identify media player devices connected to a network, present the media player devices for selection in a user interface (UI), receive a selection of multiple media player devices via the UI, and receive a unique group identifier associated with the multiple media player devices from a network service. By transmitting a message containing the unique group identifier and control information to the network service, a media playback by the multiple media player devices is controlled by the remote control application.