Device-to-Device Media Capturing via Proximity Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current media services lack convenient techniques for automatically adding a media content item actively playing on one user's device to another user's library, even if the second user is interested in the content.

Innovation Solution

A system for device-to-device media capturing, where proximity between devices triggers the transmission of an active media content item's identifier to the second user's library, using technologies like NFC, BLE, or Wi-Fi, allowing users to capture and store media content items by moving their devices close to each other.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual addition of media content items to library is required, then user control and accuracy are improved, but user convenience and time efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidtime for manual addition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring device proximity and movement patterns before the user explicitly requests content addition. When the second device is detected moving toward the first device, the system pre-prepares the content identifier for automatic transfer, eliminating the need for manual selection and addition steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The media content item automatically adds itself to the second user's library through the detected proximity interaction. The system enables self-service by allowing the content identifier to be automatically captured and stored without requiring manual user intervention, thus improving convenience while maintaining accuracy through automated detection protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If automatic media capturing is implemented, then user convenience is improved, but risk of unintended captures and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic capturingVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary monitoring of device proximity and movement patterns before triggering automatic capture. This preliminary action allows the system to distinguish between intentional and accidental approaches, reducing unintended captures while maintaining automatic operation convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the interaction between devices, analyzing movement patterns and proximity duration to determine user intent. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust its automatic capturing behavior, reducing false positives while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If device proximity detection is used, then automatic content sharing is improved, but power consumption and device resource usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic content sharingVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic action by checking device proximity at specific intervals rather than continuously monitoring. This approach maintains automatic content sharing capability while significantly reducing power consumption compared to constant monitoring, as the system only activates full detection protocols when periodic checks indicate potential interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4109912B1System for device-to-device media capturing
Publication Date: 2024.11.27 SPOTIFY
  • EP4109912B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4109912B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4109912B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system for device-to-device media capturing is described herein. An example system includes a media delivery system of a media service and at least a first and second device associated with respective first and second user accounts of the media service. The first device is also associated with an active media content item provided by the media delivery system that is automatically captured by the second device. For example, as the second device is moved proximate to the first device, one or more wireless communications are transmitted between the devices that trigger device-to-device media capturing. Resultantly, an identifier for the active media content item is stored to a library of the second user account of the media service. The identifier is stored in response to detecting the proximity of the devices and determining that the second device is moving towards the first device.