Content Providing Apparatus for Seamless Sink Device Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

As the number of electronic devices owned by consumers increases, there is a need for efficient methods to connect and manage these devices to enable diverse and convenient functions, particularly in home networks where content transmission and control across devices are not seamlessly integrated.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for converting sink devices to allow content transmission from a source device to another sink device, involving receiving a conversion command, suspending transmission, transferring control authority, and separating video and audio signals for transmission to respective devices, enabling seamless content switching and management across devices in a network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a user owns multiple electronic devices and connects them to a network, then the number of available devices for content output increases, but the complexity of managing content transmission and control across devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of devices for content outputVSAvoidcomplexity of managing content transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a content providing apparatus as an intermediary between the source device and multiple sink devices. This intermediary manages the content transmission process, handles device conversion requests, and coordinates control authority transfer, thereby reducing the complexity burden on individual users while enabling versatile multi-device content output

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The content providing apparatus performs multiple functions including content transmission management, sink device conversion, control authority transfer, and coordination between source and sink devices. This multi-functionality consolidates management tasks into a single universal apparatus, enabling users to leverage multiple devices without increasing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If content transmission is switched from one sink device to another, then content output flexibility improves, but transmission interruption or delay may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent output flexibilityVSAvoidtransmission interruption or delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The content providing apparatus receives and processes sink device conversion requests in advance before actual content transmission switching is needed. By pre-managing the conversion process and preparing control authority transfer, the system minimizes transmission interruption time when users switch content output between different sink devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent ensures continuous content transmission by managing the conversion process seamlessly. The content providing apparatus coordinates the suspension of transmission to the first sink device and resumption to the second sink device in a continuous manner, minimizing perceptible interruptions and maintaining useful action throughout the switching process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If control authority is transferred between sink devices, then device management flexibility improves, but the complexity of control coordination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice management flexibilityVSAvoidcomplexity of control coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The content providing apparatus serves as an intermediary that manages control authority transfer between sink devices. It receives conversion requests, processes the transfer logic, and coordinates the new control relationship, thereby providing ease of operation for users while consolidating the complexity of control coordination within the apparatus itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables sink devices to initiate conversion requests autonomously, and the content providing apparatus automatically processes the control authority transfer without requiring complex manual coordination. This self-service approach improves ease of operation while the apparatus internally manages the coordination complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS9674557B2Method for swapping sink device and apparatus for providing contents using the same

Publication Date: 2017.06.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method for converting a sink device and an apparatus for providing a content using the same are provided. The method for converting the sink device includes receiving a sink device conversion command from a first sink device, transmitting the content to a second sink device if a conversion approval of the sink device is received from the second sink device, and transmitting a control authority related to a content provision from the first sink device to the second sink device.