Cross-Application Content Player Floating Window

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing content sharing platforms do not allow seamless playback of content across different applications, requiring users to pause videos when switching between applications, disrupting the viewing experience.

Innovation Solution

A cross-application content player that persists across user interfaces, enabling uninterrupted playback of content items like videos when interacting with multiple applications, allowing users to share or engage with content without interrupting the playback process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users switch between applications to share content, then content sharing capability is improved, but playback continuity deteriorates (video must be paused)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent sharing capabilityVSAvoidplayback continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by displaying the content player in a floating window that overlays the second application interface. This allows the content to be viewed in a different dimensional space (foreground overlay) while the user interacts with the sharing application in the background, resolving the contradiction between sharing capability and playback continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The content player is nested within the notification interface, which itself is part of the second application ecosystem. This nested structure allows the content playback to be embedded within the sharing workflow, enabling users to share content while maintaining playback in a nested view without fully exiting the sharing context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If content player is dismissed to allow full interaction with second application, then ease of operation is improved, but information retention deteriorates (content playback is lost)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication interactionVSAvoidcontent playback state

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the content player in the form of a floating window that persists independently when the notification interface is dismissed. This copy maintains the playback state and can be restored later, preventing information loss while allowing full interaction with the second application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The content player is prepared in advance by creating a persistent floating window instance before the notification interface is dismissed. This preliminary action ensures that the playback state is preserved and can be quickly restored, avoiding the need to reinitialize playback after dismissal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If notification interface is displayed to enable sharing, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase (audio content cannot be played)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesharing functionalityVSAvoidaudio playback restriction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic audio playback control based on the state of the notification interface. When the notification interface is displayed, audio playback is suspended; when it is dismissed, audio playback automatically resumes. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the audio behavior to the current user context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The audio playback operates in periodic cycles, alternating between suspended state (when notification interface is visible) and active state (when notification interface is dismissed). This periodic on/off pattern allows sharing functionality to take precedence when needed, while restoring audio playback when the sharing context is no longer active.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11868602B2Cross-application content player

Publication Date: 2024.01.09 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A method includes receiving, during playback of a content item in a content player of a first mobile application presented on a client device of a first user, an indication of a user request pertaining to a second mobile application, the user request corresponding to a first point in the content item played in the content player of the first mobile application. The method additionally includes causing the playback of the content item to continue in the content player presented on a client device while a user interface of the second mobile application is displayed on the client device, wherein the content player persists on top of the user interface of the second mobile application to provide the playback of the content item in a continuous manner from the first point in the content item. The method further includes causing the content item to be shared with a second user in response to an input event initiating sharing of the content item, the input event following a user interaction by the first user with the content player persisting on top of the user interface of the second mobile application.