DLNA Private Sharing Mode Secure Channel

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Solution Overview

Problem

DLNA devices face security issues with media content sharing in public Wi-Fi networks, as any control point device can discover and access shared media content without the device's knowledge, leading to privacy leakage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a private sharing mode that uses NFC, Bluetooth, or encoded signals to securely transmit private information between devices, allowing only authorized devices to access shared media content, and establishing a secure channel for data transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If DLNA devices use public Wi-Fi network for media content sharing, then device discoverability and content sharing capability are improved, but security and privacy protection deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice discoverabilityVSAvoidsecurity risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a secure channel as an intermediary between DLNA devices for private information exchange. This secure channel acts as a mediator that enables device discovery and content sharing while protecting against unauthorized access on public networks. The secure channel transmits private information (device identifiers, service descriptions) that enables controlled discovery without exposing devices to broad public network visibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the communication process into two distinct parts: public network communication for media content transfer and secure channel communication for private information exchange. This segmentation allows devices to maintain discoverability and sharing capability on public networks while isolating sensitive device identification and service description information to a separate secure communication path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If DLNA devices multicast online messages to the whole WLAN for device discovery, then device discoverability is improved, but privacy leakage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice discoveryVSAvoidprivacy leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The secure channel serves as an intermediary that replaces the traditional broadcast/multicast discovery mechanism on public networks. Instead of devices announcing their presence to the entire WLAN, the secure channel enables targeted discovery between specific devices without exposing private information to other network participants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the private information exchange function from the public network communication and relocates it to a separate secure channel. This extraction removes the privacy-leaking element (device discovery through public multicast) while preserving the essential functionality of device discovery and content sharing through the secure path.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If DLNA devices allow any control point device to access shared media content, then content sharing accessibility is improved, but security control deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent sharing accessibilityVSAvoidsecurity control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The secure channel acts as an intermediary authentication mechanism that controls which devices can access shared media content. By requiring private information exchange through the secure channel, the system enables accessibility for authorized devices while automatically blocking unauthorized access attempts, thus maintaining both ease of operation for legitimate users and security control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3139563B1Media content sharing method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.02.19 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3139563B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3139563B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3139563B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a media content sharing method and apparatus. The media content sharing method includes: using, by a first device, a private sharing mode, and acquiring first private information corresponding to the private sharing mode; and sending or displaying, by the first device, the first private information to a second device, so that the second device acquires the first private information and acquires shared media content of the first device according to the first private information. By sharing media content between a first device and a second device in a private sharing mode, a problem in the prior art that security of shared media content of a DLNA device is poor because any control point device accessing the public WLAN network can discover an online DLNA device and acquire shared media content of the DLNA device but the DLNA device knows nothing about this is solved, thereby avoiding privacy leakage.