Content Sharing Across Networks via Automatic Device Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current content sharing between devices, especially across different local area networks, is cumbersome as users must manually locate and configure settings on both sending and receiving devices, and devices may not be capable of loading certain types of content due to compatibility issues.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows users to select content to share, identifies nearby devices capable of loading that content, and automatically transmits it across different networks, enabling seamless sharing regardless of network connectivity by using a registration module, request module, device selection module, and transmission module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual configuration of settings is required on both sending and receiving devices to share content, then content sharing can be achieved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome configuration steps
Solution Approach 1:
Devices perform preliminary actions by automatically discovering available content sharing options and pre-configuring necessary settings before the user initiates sharing. The system proactively identifies compatible receiving devices, checks content compatibility, and prepares sharing pathways in advance, eliminating the need for manual configuration during the actual sharing moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The content sharing system performs self-service by automatically detecting devices, determining content compatibility, and establishing sharing connections without requiring user intervention for configuration. The sending device autonomously identifies suitable receiving devices and initiates the sharing process, while receiving devices automatically accept compatible content sharing requests.
2Adaptability or versatility
If devices must be located and settings configured on both sending and receiving devices, then content sharing is possible, but device complexity increases due to multiple configuration steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex configuration and device location tasks from the user's responsibility and transfers them to the system's automatic handling. By separating the manual user actions from the automated system functions, the interface presented to users is simplified while the backend performs the complex discovery and compatibility checking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a universal content sharing mechanism that automatically adapts to different device types, networks, and content formats. A single sharing initiation action universally triggers device discovery, compatibility assessment, and connection establishment across diverse device configurations, eliminating the need for device-specific configuration procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If content sharing is limited to same subnetwork, then network security is maintained, but adaptability deteriorates as sharing across different networks becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism that enables secure content sharing across different networks by mediating the connection between sending and receiving devices on separate subnetworks. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain network boundary security while facilitating cross-network content transfer through controlled communication channels.
4Ease of operation
If receiving devices must be pre-configured to access folders on sending devices, then content access is enabled, but ease of operation worsens due to setting configuration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically checking and configuring folder access permissions before content sharing is initiated. Receiving devices are pre-identified as having appropriate access capabilities, and necessary folder permissions are pre-established, so that when sharing occurs, no additional configuration is needed for content access.
Solution Approach 2:
The content access system performs self-service by automatically managing folder permission configurations. The sending device autonomously identifies which folders should be accessible and configures appropriate permissions, while receiving devices automatically receive and process these access settings without requiring manual user configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various aspects of the subject technology relate to systems, methods, and machine- readable media for sharing content with a nearby device. A system is configured receive, from a sending device, a request to share content, wherein the request comprises location information associated with a location of the sending device and content characteristics, determine, based on the location information and the content characteristics, that one or more receiving devices are within a proximity threshold of the location of the sending device and are capable of loading content associated with the content characteristics, receive, from the sending device, a selection of a receiving device from the one or more receiving devices and content to be shared, and provide the content to be shared to the selected receiving device.