Master-Slave Modular Digital Photo Frame System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital photo frame systems are limited in their ability to display a variety of and up-to-date images, requiring multiple power sources and lacking customization options, especially in a society heavily reliant on social media.
Innovation Solution
A digital photo frame system comprising a master digital photo frame that powers multiple slave frames, allowing for a single power source and customizable arrangements, with the ability to retrieve and display media from social media platforms via wireless networks, enabling users to easily update and arrange the displayed content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent digital photo frames are used to display more images, then the variety and selection of displayed media is improved, but the number of power sources required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple digital photo frames into a unified modular system where slave frames are powered through the master frame via daisy-chained connections. This merging approach allows multiple displays to show different media simultaneously while sharing a single power source, resolving the contradiction between display variety and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The master frame serves multiple functions: it acts as a display device, a power distribution hub, and a communication coordinator. By making the master frame universal, the system can support multiple slave frames with diverse media content while using only one power source, thus improving media variety without increasing power source count.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional digital photo frame systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the functionality is limited and outdated
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into modular master and slave frames that can be independently configured but work together as a unified system. This segmentation allows enhanced functionality through wireless media retrieval and social media integration while maintaining relatively simple individual frame structures, resolving the contradiction between functionality and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The master frame acts as an intermediary between the wireless network/social media platforms and the slave frames. It retrieves media content wirelessly and distributes it to connected slave frames, enabling advanced functionality without requiring each frame to have complex wireless capabilities, thus improving functionality while controlling overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple power sources are used for each digital photo frame, then each frame can operate independently, but the overall system complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power supply function into a single source that distributes power through the master frame to multiple slave frames via daisy-chained connections. This approach maintains system reliability through centralized control while reducing power supply complexity from multiple independent sources to a single distributed network.
4Adaptability or versatility
If users want to display updated media from social media, then the relevance and up-to-date nature of content is improved, but the system requires complex wireless communication capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The master frame serves as an intermediary that handles all wireless communication with social media platforms and cloud storage. It retrieves updated media content and distributes it to slave frames through simple wired connections. This approach improves media relevance and up-to-date content while concentrating wireless communication complexity in a single device rather than requiring it in all frames.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital photo frame system is described herein. The system comprises a master digital photo frame configured to display a master media and a plurality of slave digital photo frames configured to display a plurality of slave media. The master digital photo frame is configured to provide power to the plurality of slave digital photo frames, and receive a media package from a storage location. The media package comprises the master media and the plurality of slave media. The master digital photo frame is configured to send each of the plurality of slave media to a respective slave photo frame.