Cross-Device Content Retrieval Using Intent and Context Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems lack the capability to process user queries across multiple electronic devices, limiting the retrieval of relevant content to a single device and failing to leverage context-based indications for comprehensive search results.

Innovation Solution

A method and electronic device that analyze user requests to determine intent and context, identify and communicate with proximate electronic devices to retrieve content using menu trees, and dynamically fetch relevant information from these devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the first electronic device searches for content only within itself, then the search process is simple and fast, but the completeness and relevance of search results are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of search resultsVSAvoidcomplexity of search process
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the search process into two phases: first searching locally within the first electronic device, then expanding to nearby electronic devices only when local search yields insufficient results. This segmentation maintains simplicity for common cases while enabling comprehensive search when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs a partial search initially (only within the first device) and expands to a more extensive search (including nearby devices) only when necessary. This partial action approach balances speed and completeness by avoiding full multi-device search for all queries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Loss of information

If the first electronic device processes the query independently, then the response time is fast, but the ability to retrieve relevant content from other devices is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverelevance of retrieved contentVSAvoidquery processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The query processing is segmented into independent stages: context analysis, local search, and conditional multi-device search. This allows the system to achieve fast response for simple queries while enabling comprehensive content retrieval when the user intent indicates need for broader search.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary context analysis and intent determination before initiating the actual content search. This preliminary action enables the system to quickly eliminate queries that don't require multi-device search, saving time while ensuring relevant queries get comprehensive treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system expands search to multiple electronic devices, then the completeness of results improves, but the device complexity and communication overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to search across devicesVSAvoidcomplexity of multi-device coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first electronic device acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the user and nearby electronic devices. It analyzes user intent, determines which nearby devices to query, and aggregates results, thereby managing the complexity of multi-device coordination centrally rather than requiring complex peer-to-peer coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Nearby electronic devices autonomously determine whether they contain relevant content based on the query received from the first device, without requiring complex coordination protocols. Each device independently evaluates its own content against the search criteria and responds accordingly, simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3759618B1Method and device for retrieving content
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3759618B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3759618B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3759618B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a method for retrieving content by processing a user request received by a first device to search for content based on the user's intent and context, the method comprising identifying other devices in proximity to the first device, and retrieving content relevant to the user request from the other devices based on one or more menu trees associated with the other devices.