Media Player Control Signaling for Cross-Protocol Device Set Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In audio-visual separation scenarios, controlling audio and video devices using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi protocols requires complex operations due to separate control planes, affecting user experience.

Innovation Solution

A transmission method and apparatus that indicates the signaling scope of control signaling as point-to-point or device set scope, enabling coordinated control and reducing the need for complex operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate control planes are used for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi protocols, then protocol compatibility and independence are maintained, but user operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotocol compatibilityVSAvoiduser operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges control operations across Bluetooth and Wi-Fi protocols by introducing a unified control plane that can issue control signaling acting on device sets. The control signaling includes indication information that identifies target devices regardless of their connection protocol, allowing users to control audio and video devices through a single interface rather than separate protocol-specific controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces control signaling as an intermediary mechanism between the user and multiple devices. The control signaling includes first indication information identifying the control operation and second indication information identifying target devices, acting as a mediator that translates user intent into protocol-appropriate commands for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices without requiring users to understand protocol differences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If control signaling acts on device set scope, then coordinated control across multiple devices is achieved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordinated control capabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control signaling into two distinct parts: first indication information that specifies the control operation, and second indication information that identifies target devices. This segmentation allows the signaling to be flexible and adaptive - when controlling a single device, only minimal information is needed, while when controlling multiple devices, the second indication information can specify a device set, thereby reducing redundant signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the scope parameter of control signaling from point-to-point to device set scope. The second indication information can indicate either a specific target device or a device set containing multiple devices. This parameter change allows the same control signaling structure to handle both single-device and multi-device scenarios, achieving coordinated control while minimizing signaling overhead by using device set identification rather than individual device addressing for each control operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4708927A1Transmission method and apparatus, and terminal
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4708927A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4708927A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4708927A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

This application provides a transmission method and apparatus, and a terminal, and the method may be applied to the communication field. The method includes: A media player receives first indication information and second indication information that are sent by a media controller, where the first indication information indicates control signaling, the second indication information indicates an signaling scope of the control signaling, and the signaling scope indicates that the control signaling acts on the media player; or the signaling scope indicates that the control signaling acts on devices in a device set, and the device set includes the media player; and the media player performs a corresponding operation based on the first indication information and the second indication information. Embodiments of this application may be applied to a smart home scenario or an in-vehicle scenario, to help prevent a user from performing complex operations when the user controls an audio device and a video device, and help improve user experience.