Unified Media Aggregation Interface for Portable Clients

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inconvenience when trying to access and copy media content from multiple sources, as they need to connect to each source separately and search for desired content, which can be time-consuming and inefficient, especially when unsure which source contains the desired media.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allows a client device to aggregate and unify media content from multiple sources, enabling users to list, search, and copy media content from a single interface, with features for automatic synchronization and digital rights management to handle copying limitations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users connect to each media source separately to access and copy media content, then they can access content from multiple sources, but the operation becomes time-consuming and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of accessing media contentVSAvoidtime to connect and search multiple sources

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple media sources into a single unified interface on the client device. The system aggregates media content from multiple sources (PCs, set-top boxes, servers) and presents them together in one location, eliminating the need for users to separately connect to and search each source individually.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The client device acts as an intermediary between the user and multiple media sources. It receives published data from various sources, aggregates the media content information, and provides a unified interface for users to access and copy content from any source without direct connection to each source.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If users manually search each media source for desired content, then they can locate specific media, but the process becomes inefficient especially when unsure which source contains the desired media

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to locate desired media contentVSAvoidefficiency of media content retrieval

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the search capabilities across multiple media sources into a single unified search interface. Users can search for media content across all connected sources simultaneously through one interface, rather than manually searching each source separately, significantly improving retrieval efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The client device provides a universal interface that can access and search multiple different types of media sources (PCs, set-top boxes, servers, digital audio/video systems) through a single unified system, making the search process independent of the specific source type or location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If media content is pushed from host PC to portable devices using 1-to-1 connection model, then content can be transferred, but users must physically move the portable device to each source location

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of content transfer mechanismVSAvoidconvenience of content copying

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional push model by implementing a pull model where the client device initiates the content transfer. Instead of the host PC pushing content to the portable device, the client device pulls content from multiple sources through a unified interface, eliminating the need for users to physically move the device to each source location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The client device serves as a universal access point that can retrieve content from multiple different media sources through a single interface. This multi-functional capability allows users to copy content from any connected source without needing to establish separate 1-to-1 connections or physically relocate the portable device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7607582B2Aggregation and synchronization of nearby media

Publication Date: 2009.10.27 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media make media content (e.g., audio, video, or pictorial data) from multiple sources available through a single interface of a client device. The client device may be a portable media playing device (such as a laptop, Tablet PC, MP3 player, portable video player, or the like). By aggregating media content from plural sources (such as a desktop PC, a set top box, etc.) and providing a unified listing of the available media content from these multiple sources on the client device, a user can view all available media content at a single location, without making multiple connections to multiple different sources. Additionally, the user can pull media content from these multiple sources to the client device. Features also are provided to automatically synchronize, obtain, and update media content on the media source(s) and/or the client device. Various ways of handling digital rights management issues associated with copying at least some media content also are described.