Location-Based Application Activation via Server-Side Media Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current location-based services require users to fully download applications before interacting with them, leading to cumbersome user experiences and increased storage and hardware demands, especially for applications that depend on location-based functionality.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for location-based application activation, where servers provide a minimum amount of application graphical representation and data to user devices only when they enter a trigger zone and interact with the application, allowing for seamless downloading and processing of media streams based on user position, orientation, and profile information, enabling lightweight computational tasks on user devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users fully download applications before interacting with them, then application functionality is complete and reliable, but storage requirements and download time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the application into multiple components: a core executable file that provides basic functionality, and separate media content files that are downloaded on-demand. This allows the application to function with minimal storage initially, while maintaining full functionality as content is progressively downloaded.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by downloading and caching only the essential core application file and a small amount of metadata before the user actually needs the full application. This preliminary setup enables immediate basic functionality while deferring the download of larger media content to when it is actually needed.
2Reliability
If users fully download applications before interacting with them, then complete application data is available, but download time and user waiting period increase
Solution Approach 1:
The application is segmented into a immediately-downloadable core component and on-demand media content components. This segmentation allows the user to access the application quickly for basic functions while media content downloads in the background or on-demand, significantly reducing initial wait time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by downloading only the minimum necessary application data (core executable and metadata) immediately, rather than waiting for complete application download. This partial download provides sufficient functionality for immediate use, with additional content loading as needed.
3Ease of operation
If application data is processed by user devices, then full application functionality is achieved, but hardware demands increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that performs heavy processing tasks such as media content encoding, format conversion, and preparation. The server processes content into multiple resolution streams and delivers pre-processed data to the user device, reducing the computational burden on the user's hardware while maintaining full functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple copies of media content in different resolutions and formats on the server side. Instead of requiring the user device to process and convert media files, pre-processed copies are delivered that are optimized for the user's specific device capabilities, reducing hardware demands while maintaining functionality.
4Reliability
If location-based services are provided with full application download, then complete service functionality is available, but network bandwidth consumption during download increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transfer into a small initial download of core application data and metadata, followed by progressive downloading of media content as needed. This segmentation dramatically reduces the immediate network bandwidth consumption while maintaining service functionality, with bandwidth usage distributed over time based on actual user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by downloading only the essential core application data and metadata initially, rather than downloading complete application packages with all media content. This partial download provides sufficient functionality for immediate location-based service operation, with additional content loading on-demand to reduce overall bandwidth consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method enabling location-based activation of applications. A server system stores and provides a persistent virtual world system comprising one or more applications virtually attached to virtual-world entities positioned according to real-world coordinates, the server system being configured to compute the state of the virtual-world entities and to process the applications. Upon detecting the user devices in a corresponding zone (e.g., by the wireless network detecting user devices connecting to the server), the server system sends a minimum amount of application graphical representation to the user devices. Upon user interaction with the application graphical representation, the user devices download a minimum amount of application data, prompting the server system to determine suitable application media streams. The server system performs heavy-load computational tasks on the media streams and delivers the streams to the user devices, which perform lightweight computational tasks on the media content.