Centralized Server for Digital Frame Contextual Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital display systems, such as those in hotels, lack centralized management capabilities for large-scale deployment of digital frames, limiting dynamic and contextual multimedia content dissemination across multiple locations.

Innovation Solution

A process where digital frames periodically transmit requests to a centralized server with contextual information, receiving responses that include media content and actions, allowing for dynamic slideshow updates and control, utilizing sensors for contextual data and enabling remote management and interaction with mobile devices through QR codes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If digital frames use MRSS or DNLA standards for remote display, then they can display multimedia content, but centralized management of large numbers of frames is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultimedia content display capabilityVSAvoidcentralized management capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a centralized server as an intermediary between content sources and digital frames. The server receives requests from frames, manages content distribution, and coordinates updates across the network. This mediator enables centralized control without requiring complex peer-to-peer management between frames and content sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments functionality by separating the digital frames (display only) from the centralized server (management and content control). This segmentation allows frames to remain simple devices while the server handles complex management tasks, resolving the contradiction between display capability and management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If digital frames are deployed in large numbers across multiple locations, then content dissemination coverage is improved, but management and control becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeographic coverage areaVSAvoidmanagement ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized server provides universal management capabilities that work across all digital frames regardless of location. A single server can manage frames in multiple hotels or locations, providing unified content distribution, update management, and control interfaces. This multi-functional server resolves the difficulty of managing geographically dispersed frames.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If contextual information is collected and personalized content is provided, then user experience is enhanced, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalized content capabilityVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex data processing and contextual analysis functions from the digital frames and places them on the centralized server. Frames simply collect basic contextual data (location, time) and display content, while the server performs sophisticated personalized content generation based on collected data. This extraction reduces frame complexity while enabling personalization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2904522B1Communicating digital display device
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 REVPOR GRP FZ
  • EP2904522B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2904522B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2904522B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A process for controlling the displaying of media on a display device, such as a digital frame (200), under the control of a centralized server (150) accessing a contextual database (160). The process is based on the periodical transmission by said frame (200) of a request comprising an identifier of said display device and also comprising headers defining contextual information reported to said server 150) and stored within said contextual database (160), said server responding to said request by means of a response defining the media to display, accompanied by headers defining one or more actions to be executed by said display device (200).