Multi-Protocol Media Grouping for Synchronized Playback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing media playback systems face challenges in seamlessly controlling and reflecting changes across multiple media playback protocols, leading to inconsistent command execution and group formation issues when using incompatible protocols.
Innovation Solution
A network media system forms a group of networked devices using a first media playback protocol, determines a group coordinator, and transmits a group network identity using another incompatible media playback protocol, enabling seamless control across different media playback protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a media playback system uses multiple media playback protocols to provide seamless entertainment experience, then adaptability is improved, but command execution consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bridge device that acts as an intermediary between incompatible media playback protocols. The bridge receives commands from a first protocol, translates them into the corresponding commands for a second protocol, and forwards them to the appropriate playback devices. This intermediary mechanism enables seamless multi-protocol support while maintaining command execution consistency through accurate translation and coordination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a media playback system forms groups using one protocol, then group formation capability is improved, but control from other protocols deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge device enables cross-protocol group control by receiving group formation commands from control devices using one protocol, translating these commands into the appropriate protocol for the playback devices, and managing the group formation process. The bridge maintains group state information and coordinates playback across grouped devices regardless of which protocol the control device uses, making group management seamless for users.
3Loss of information
If the system transmits group network identity across incompatible protocols, then information transmission accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge device accurately transmits group network identity information between incompatible protocols by maintaining an internal mapping of group states and device memberships. When a group is formed or modified, the bridge updates its internal state and notifies relevant devices using the appropriate protocol, ensuring that group identity information is preserved and transmitted accurately without loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge maintains copies of group state information in its memory, including group membership data and network identities. These copied state representations allow the bridge to translate commands and responses between protocols accurately, as it has local knowledge of the group configuration without needing to query the original source repeatedly.
Data Source
AI summary
While a first playback device is a member of a synchronous media playback group with a second playback device using a first media playback protocol, and after a particular playback setting is enabled using the first media playback protocol, the first playback device receives, from a media source device, a first media stream using a second media playback protocol. The first and second media playback protocols are incompatible. The first playback device determines that the particular playback setting is enabled and that the synchronous media playback group includes the first playback device and the second playback device. Subsequently, the first playback device (i) generates a second media stream based on the received first media stream, the second media stream including information for synchronous playback with the first playback device, and (ii) transmits, to the second playback device, the second media stream using the second media playback protocol.