Media Playback Access Sharing with Authorization Codes and Tokens
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for accessing and sharing digital audio in an out-loud setting are limited, particularly in scenarios involving guest accounts and multiple users with different media-service accounts.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows a media playback system to share access to a media service by using authorization codes and tokens, enabling control and media playback from computing devices with different media applications, even if they have guest accounts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a media playback system uses traditional authentication methods, then security is maintained, but access sharing between devices with different media accounts is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary authentication mechanism using authorization codes and tokens. Instead of direct authentication between the media playback system and media service, the system uses intermediate credentials (authorization codes from computing devices, tokens from the media service) to enable indirect access. This mediator approach allows devices with different media accounts to share access without requiring complex multi-device authentication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The authorization code and token mechanism serves multiple functions: it authenticates the media playback system, enables access sharing between different devices and accounts, and maintains security. This universal authentication approach replaces the need for separate authentication systems for different access scenarios, allowing the same mechanism to handle both secure single-device access and shared multi-device access.
2Adaptability or versatility
If authorization codes and tokens are implemented, then access sharing between different media accounts is enabled, but the authentication process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication process is segmented into distinct stages: first, obtaining an authorization code from a computing device with media service access; second, exchanging that code for an authorization token with the media service; third, using the token to access media content. This segmentation breaks down the complex authentication process into manageable, standardized steps that can be implemented systematically across different devices and accounts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary authentication actions by obtaining authorization codes from computing devices before actual media playback. The authorization code serves as a pre-authenticated credential that simplifies subsequent access. This preliminary action ensures that only authorized devices can obtain tokens, maintaining security while enabling smooth access sharing during actual playback operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are integrated for synchronized playback, then listening experience is enhanced, but system coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple computing devices and media playback systems into a coordinated playback network. By using shared authorization tokens, these devices are combined into a unified system that can perform synchronized playback across multiple zones. The merging approach allows devices to function as a cohesive unit while maintaining their individual capabilities, reducing coordination complexity compared to managing completely independent devices.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Examples provided herein are directed to a computing device and media playback system sharing access to a media service corresponding to a media application installed on the computing device. In one example, a media playback system may be configured to (i) receive from the computing device an authorization code that corresponds to a media application installed on the computing device that is authorized to access media from a media service, (ii) transmit to the media service an authorization request with the authorization code, (iii) receive from the media service an authorization token that facilitates obtaining media from the media service, and (iv) transmit to the media service a request for media for playback by the media playback system, where the request for media includes the authorization token.