Distributing Data Streams Across Multiple Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face limitations in accessing data-intensive applications due to individual devices' insufficient bandwidth, despite having multiple devices with combined bandwidth sufficient for such applications, as existing techniques are restricted to fixed communication links and static endpoints.
Innovation Solution
A communication system that distributes a data stream among multiple devices, enabling the aggregation of partial data streams from diverse devices with different service providers and capabilities, forming a shared connection with increased overall bandwidth, allowing flexible addition or removal of devices during data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data transfer is performed through a single device with dedicated broadband connection, then data transfer speed is sufficient for data-intensive applications, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple devices with individual data connections into a unified data transfer system. The system merges the bandwidth capabilities of multiple devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops) to collectively provide sufficient data transfer speed for data-intensive applications, avoiding the need for any single device to have dedicated broadband infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data transfer task across multiple devices rather than concentrating it in a single device. Each device handles a portion of the data transfer load through its own data connection, and the system coordinates these segmented transfers to deliver complete data streams to the target device.
2Device complexity
If multiple devices are used to access data-intensive applications, then device cost and complexity are reduced, but individual device bandwidth is insufficient for high-speed data transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the bandwidth resources of multiple devices to achieve aggregate data transfer speeds sufficient for data-intensive applications. By coordinating data transfers across multiple device connections, the system provides high-speed access without requiring any single device to have dedicated broadband capabilities.
3Reliability
If traditional data transfer methods are used with fixed communication links, then connection stability is maintained, but flexibility to add or remove devices during data transfer is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic data transfer system where devices can be added to or removed from the data transfer group during active transfers. The system dynamically adjusts the participating devices and their respective data streams, allowing flexible reconfiguration while maintaining connection stability through coordinated protocol management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides universal compatibility across different device types (smartphones, tablets, laptops) and different service providers. The coordination mechanism works universally with various data connections and device capabilities, enabling flexible device substitution and addition without requiring fixed, device-specific communication links.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for distributing communication of a data stream among multiple devices are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include associating, at a distribution system, a sharing code with a shared connection to be established to distribute communication of a complete data stream among multiple devices, the associating of the sharing code with the shared connection being performed in response to a first request received from a first device. Disclosed example methods also include transmitting the sharing code from the distribution system to the first device in response to the first request. Disclosed example methods further include, in response to receiving a second request including the sharing code from a second device, establishing a data connection via which a first partial data stream corresponding to a portion of the complete data stream is to be transmitted from the distribution system to the second device.