Automated Content Playback Transfer Between Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inconvenience when transitioning content playback from personal devices to alternate media devices, requiring manual intervention to resume playback at the correct position, especially when moving between devices with different capabilities and locations.

Innovation Solution

A management component detects the personal device, determines the current play position, and automatically transfers playback to a more capable media device, such as a home A/V system, allowing seamless content transition without user intervention, using networked devices and location tracking to synchronize playback across devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual intervention is used to transfer content playback between devices, then the user can control the playback transition, but the user convenience and time efficiency deteriorate due to the need to manually locate playback position and instruct devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidtime to transfer playback

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects when a personal device is playing content and autonomously transfers playback to an alternate media device without requiring user intervention. The management component monitors playback status, determines the current play position, and executes the transition automatically, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring manual user control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection and preparation actions before the actual playback transfer. The management component continuously monitors for playing personal devices and pre-identifies suitable alternate media devices, so that when a transfer is needed, the system can execute it immediately without delay for device discovery or position localization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If manual streaming instruction is given from personal device to media device, then content can be transferred between devices, but the automation level deteriorates as the user must manually instruct the personal device at the desired time of playback

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated playback transitionVSAvoiduser intervention required

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The management component continuously monitors the playback status of personal devices and receives feedback about current play positions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically determine when content is being played and to track the playback progress, enabling automated transfer decisions without requiring user input about playback status or timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The management component acts as an intermediary between the personal device and the alternate media device. It receives playback information from the personal device, makes the automated decision to transfer, and instructs the alternate media device to begin playback, thereby mediating the entire transfer process without requiring direct user intervention between the two devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If playback position is not tracked during device transition, then the transfer process simplifies, but the playback continuity deteriorates as the user must manually locate the resume position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplayback continuityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management component serves multiple functions: it monitors personal devices for playing content, tracks the current play position, identifies suitable alternate media devices, and executes the transfer. This multi-functional approach consolidates the complexity into a single component that handles all aspects of playback continuity, rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical operations (physically locating playback position, manually instructing devices) with automated electronic monitoring and control. The management component electronically tracks playback position data and automatically executes transfer commands, substituting manual mechanical user actions with automated electronic systems that maintain playback continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9549021B2Automated transition of content consumption across devices

Publication Date: 2017.01.17 AUDIBLE INC

AI summary

Features are disclosed for transferring the presentation or playback of content from device to device. The content may include, but is not limited to, aural, video, and multimedia content. A personal device may be detected playing content. A current play position of the content can be obtained, and playback can be halted. The play position can be transferred to a media device wherein playback is automatically resumed. Additionally, the playing of content may be transferred between two or more media devices, for example in response to the movement of a user. Personal device movements and content operations may be monitored in order to determine improvements to the automatic transfer of content consumption from device to device.