Coordinated Content Distribution to Multiple Displays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing content distribution technologies are limited in their ability to wirelessly transmit multiple video contents concurrently to multiple display receivers, restricting user experience on mobile computing devices.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that employs a content distribution and coordination engine (CDCE) within mobile computing devices to encode and wirelessly transmit content to multiple display receivers using peer-to-peer display protocols like WiDi and wireless networking protocols like WiFi, enabling concurrent connections and coordinated content distribution across multiple displays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If content is transmitted to a single display receiver, then transmission simplicity is maintained, but content distribution versatility is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent distribution versatilityVSAvoidtransmission system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the content distribution system into multiple independent transmission channels, each capable of independently transmitting content to different display receivers. The content distribution server divides content into multiple streams and distributes them through separate wireless connections, enabling simultaneous transmission to multiple displays without requiring a single complex multi-output interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal content distribution architecture where a single content source can be distributed to multiple types of display receivers simultaneously. The system supports multiple display protocols and receiver types through a unified distribution mechanism, allowing one content source to serve multiple functions and multiple display devices with different capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If multiple content streams are transmitted concurrently, then content distribution capability is improved, but encoding and coordination complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent distribution capabilityVSAvoidencoding and coordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the encoding process into multiple independent encoders, each handling a separate content stream. This allows concurrent encoding of multiple content sources without requiring a single complex encoder to handle all streams simultaneously. Each encoder operates independently, simplifying the encoding architecture while enabling multi-stream output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a content distribution server as an intermediary that coordinates between content sources, encoders, and display receivers. This mediator manages the complex coordination of multiple content streams, handling stream routing, synchronization, and distribution logic, thereby reducing the coordination burden on individual encoding devices and simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If wireless transmission to multiple displays is enabled, then user experience is improved, but network bandwidth requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experienceVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements efficient content copying and distribution where the original content is encoded once and then distributed as compressed digital copies to multiple receivers. Instead of transmitting multiple full-resolution original streams, the system creates optimized copies tailored to each receiver's capabilities, significantly reducing total bandwidth consumption while maintaining quality for each display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes transmission parameters such as resolution, bitrate, and encoding format based on the specific capabilities and requirements of each display receiver. By adapting content parameters to match receiver capabilities, the system optimizes bandwidth utilization, transmitting only the necessary amount of data at the appropriate quality level for each device, thereby reducing overall network bandwidth requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3025504B1Coordinated content distribution to multiple display receivers

Publication Date: 2018.11.21 INTEL CORP

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AI summary

Apparatus, computer-readable storage medium, and method associated with content transmission are described. In embodiments, a computing device may include one or more content encoders, configured to encode content, a communication module, and a content distribution and coordination engine (CDCE). The communication module may be coupled with the one or more content encoders and may be configured to support a wireless networking protocol to wirelessly transmit encoded content to a plurality of display receivers. Each display receiver may be configured to support a display protocol. The CDCE may be coupled with the communication module and the one or more content encoders and may be configured to coordinate the one or more content encoders and the communication module to encode and respectively distribute a plurality of contents to the plurality of display receivers in accordance with the display protocol and the wireless networking protocol.