Image Signal Sharing Across Source and Sink Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a demand for allowing multiple electronic devices to share content from an external device, as existing systems often fail to efficiently facilitate the transmission and reception of image signals between devices.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device is equipped with a display, user input unit, communication unit, and processor to manage external signal sharing by outputting device lists, receiving user selections, and transmitting or receiving image signals via communication units, identifying as a source or sink device, and encoding/decoding signals as necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an electronic device receives content from an external device, then the electronic device can output the received content, but multiple electronic devices cannot efficiently share the content from the external device
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device is configured to function both as a source device (transmitting image signals to external electronic devices) and as a sink device (receiving image signals from external electronic devices). This multi-functionality allows any electronic device in the system to share content from external devices with other electronic devices, enabling versatile content sharing without requiring dedicated transmitter or receiver roles for different devices
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic device acts as an intermediary by receiving image signals from external devices (set-top box, game console, etc.) and then transmitting these signals to other electronic devices. This mediator role enables content sharing between multiple electronic devices connected to the same external device, solving the problem of efficient content distribution across the system
2Adaptability or versatility
If the electronic device transmits image signals to multiple external electronic devices, then content sharing is enabled, but signal routing and device identification become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device displays a list of available external electronic devices before the user initiates content sharing. This preliminary display of device options allows the user to easily select the desired external electronic device for receiving the image signal, simplifying the operation of multi-device signal transmission without requiring complex real-time routing decisions
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying lists of external electronic devices and their statuses. This feedback mechanism guides the user through the device selection process, making it easier to manage signal routing to multiple devices by showing which devices are available and currently receiving signals
3Productivity
If the electronic device encodes and transmits image signals, then signal distribution is optimized, but processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic device performs encoding only when necessary for transmission to external electronic devices, rather than continuously encoding all received content. This partial action approach optimizes signal distribution efficiency by applying encoding selectively, reducing unnecessary processing time and energy consumption while maintaining effective signal transmission when needed
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device for external signal sharing includes a display, user input unit, communication unit, memory storing instructions, and at least one processor configured to receive a request for external signal sharing; output a device list via the display; receive selections of an external device to provide an image signal and an external electronic device to transmit or receive the image signal from the device list; and transmit or receive the image signal via the communication unit. The device operates as a source device or sink device, with the source device transmitting image signals to external electronic devices and the sink device receiving image signals. The device list may include sink devices, source devices, and external devices, with information about devices using the same local network or user account.