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 system that distributes a data stream among multiple devices by establishing a shared connection, splitting the data stream into partial streams, and aggregating them across devices with varying capabilities, allowing flexible combination of bandwidth and dynamic addition/removal of devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data-intensive applications are accessed using individual devices, then device simplicity and ease of operation are maintained, but bandwidth capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple devices into a coordinated system where each device contributes its bandwidth resources. The system merges the communication capabilities of multiple devices to achieve higher overall bandwidth for data-intensive applications, while each individual device maintains its simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data stream into multiple partial streams that can be distributed across different devices. Each device processes and transmits a portion of the data, allowing the system to leverage combined bandwidth while keeping individual device functions simple and manageable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed communication links and static endpoints are used, then connection stability is maintained, but flexibility in device composition is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic device addition and removal capabilities where devices can join or leave the communication system during operation. The system dynamically reconfigures the data stream distribution among available devices while maintaining stable data transmission through coordinated communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the communication system to allow flexible device composition. By modifying how data streams are segmented and distributed based on current device availability, the system achieves both flexibility in device composition and maintained connection stability.
3Productivity
If multiple devices are coordinated to provide combined bandwidth, then overall bandwidth capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coordination mechanism that acts as an intermediary to manage the complex interactions between multiple devices. This coordinator handles device registration, data stream segmentation, and dynamic reconfiguration, thereby enabling high overall bandwidth while managing system complexity through centralized control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the system with universal components that can perform multiple functions. Each device in the network can serve as both a data source and a data transmitter, and the coordination mechanism handles various tasks including device management, stream segmentation, and error handling, reducing overall system complexity through multi-functional design.
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 receiving, at a first device, a sharing code from a second device, the sharing code to associate multiple devices with a shared connection to be established to distribute communication of a complete data stream among the multiple devices, the multiple devices including the first device. Disclosed example methods also include transmitting a request including the sharing code from the first device to a distribution system to establish a data connection via which the first device is to receive a first partial data stream corresponding to a portion of the complete data stream from the distribution system. Disclosed example methods further include forwarding the first partial data stream from the first device to the second device.