Home Media Server Aggregating Content for Multiple Thin Clients

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional set-top boxes (STBs) require each television in a household to have its own device, leading to increased costs and limitations in sharing recorded content across multiple TVs, as they typically operate independently without communication.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a client-server system with multiple home media servers that aggregate content and allow thin client devices to access media content from any server, enabling unified content viewing and restricting access based on user permissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If each television is connected to its own set-top box, then each TV can independently access media content services, but the cost increases and content sharing across multiple TVs is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent sharing capabilityVSAvoidnumber of set-top boxes required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the set-top box functionality into two parts: a full-featured media server that handles content storage and management, and thin client devices that provide user interface and playback capabilities. This segmentation allows one media server to support multiple thin clients, enabling content sharing across multiple TVs without requiring separate full-featured set-top boxes for each television.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The media server is designed as a universal device that can serve multiple thin client devices simultaneously. It provides content storage, management, and delivery services to multiple clients, enabling a single media server to replace multiple traditional set-top boxes and enable content sharing across the entire household.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple set-top boxes are deployed for each television, then content access is independent and reliable, but household costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent access reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of devices required

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the content storage and management functions into a single centralized media server, while distributing the playback functionality across multiple thin client devices. This consolidation reduces the total number of devices needed while maintaining reliable content access, as the media server centrally manages all content and can serve multiple clients simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional set-top boxes operate independently without communication, then device complexity is low, but content sharing across multiple TVs is not enabled

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent sharing capabilityVSAvoidsystem configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The media server acts as an intermediary between multiple thin client devices and the content source. It receives content from various sources, manages the content library, and delivers content to requesting thin clients. This intermediary role enables seamless content sharing across multiple TVs while the media server handles the complexity of content management and distribution transparently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8732761B2Content discovery and delivery with multiple servers

Publication Date: 2014.05.20 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

A system may include a client and a home media server in communication with the client. The home media server may be configured to receive a request for media content from the client; determine content restrictions associated with the client; discover at least one other home media server; receive content listings of media content from the at least one other home media server; aggregate the received content listings to create a unified content listing including instances of media content stored on multiple home media servers; filter the unified content listing according to the content restrictions; and send the filtered unified content listing to the client.