IP Media Player for Seamless AV Distribution Over Ethernet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for distributing high-quality audio/video signals within a home over Internet Protocol (IP) networks face limitations in seamlessly accessing and sharing content across multiple devices, particularly in unmanaged IP infrastructure, with existing solutions often being point-to-point and lacking in dynamic channel selection and server-client integration.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for audio/video distribution over IP networks that enables dynamic channel selection and integration of servers and clients, allowing multiple devices to access and share content through low-latency encoding and IP networks, supporting various video and audio interfaces, and enabling remote control and user interface management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If point-to-point IP based media distribution systems are used, then content can be transmitted over IP networks, but the systems cannot traverse traditional Ethernet infrastructure and are limited to direct connections only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces IP media players as intermediary devices that bridge content sources and display devices over traditional Ethernet infrastructure. These players receive content from sources via IP network, decode it, and output to displays, enabling content distribution across the network without requiring direct point-to-point connections between sources and displays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the media distribution function into separate components: content sources, IP media players, and display devices. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while communicating over standard Ethernet infrastructure, resolving the limitation of point-to-point direct connections.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple content sources and display devices are connected to different receivers, then each device can be controlled independently, but content cannot be shared across devices in the home
Solution Approach 1:
The IP media player is designed as a universal device that can receive content from multiple different content sources (DVD players, set-top boxes, DVRs, etc.) and output to multiple different display devices. This multi-functionality enables content sharing across the entire home network while maintaining compatibility with various source and display types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of content reception, IP network communication, decoding, and display output into a single IP media player device. This consolidation allows content to flow from any source through the IP network to any display, creating a unified content sharing system without requiring complex multi-device configurations.
3Ease of operation
If wireless HDMI solutions are used for HD video transmission, then high quality video can be transmitted wirelessly, but a dedicated infrastructure is required that replaces point-to-point cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical point-to-point cable connections with an IP network-based wireless transmission system. Content is converted to IP packets, transmitted over the wireless Ethernet infrastructure, and reconstructed at the IP media player, eliminating the need for dedicated wireless HDMI infrastructure while maintaining HD quality transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for video distribution over a range of devices over Internet Protocol (IP) networks are provided. The system and method provide for connecting at least one client to the network (902), communicating a request over the network to the content sources (904), the request requiring each of the plurality of content sources to identify channels on which each of the plurality of content sources provides content, selecting a channel identified by the at least one client (906), and providing content to the at least one client on the selected channel (908).