Wireless Media Playback Pointer Transfer via NFC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems for media content playback face issues with power consumption and connection stability when streaming media between devices, particularly when the initial device is moved, leading to increased battery drain and processing resource usage.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communications system that uses near field communication (NFC) to transfer a playback pointer from a first electronic device to a second, allowing the second device to play back media content without receiving it from the first, thereby conserving power and processing resources, and ensuring continuous playback without the need for constant streaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If media content is streamed wirelessly between devices, then media playback continuity is maintained, but power consumption and processing resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the media content transfer function from continuous wireless streaming, isolating only the essential metadata (playback pointer) that needs to be transferred between devices. This allows playback continuity to be maintained while eliminating the energy-intensive continuous media data streaming, thus resolving the contradiction between playback continuity and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of streaming the actual media content, the system creates and transfers a simplified copy - the playback pointer - which contains only the essential information needed to resume playback. This lightweight copy enables continuous playback functionality without the energy cost of transmitting full media streams.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If media content is streamed wirelessly between devices, then media playback continuity is maintained, but processing resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the critical playback pointer information from the full media content stream, transferring minimal data between devices. This dramatically reduces processing requirements while maintaining playback continuity, as the receiving device only needs to process the small playback pointer data structure rather than handling full media streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The playback pointer serves as a simplified copy that references the actual media content location and state. Transferring this lightweight copy instead of the full media content reduces processing overhead significantly while preserving the ability to maintain continuous playback across device transitions.
3Reliability
If near field communication is used to transfer playback pointer, then connection stability is improved, but communication range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The communication process is segmented into two distinct phases: (1) NFC-based playback pointer transfer for stable, short-range device pairing and initialization, and (2) subsequent Wi-Fi or other wireless protocols for actual media content streaming. This segmentation allows the system to leverage NFC's connection stability for the critical handoff phase while accepting its limited range, then transitioning to longer-range communication for the bulk data transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The playback pointer acts as an intermediary data structure that enables stable device-to-device communication through NFC. It serves as a bridge that transfers essential playback information between devices in a reliable, short-range manner, facilitating subsequent longer-range media streaming without requiring continuous stable connections during the entire media transfer process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces power consumption and processing demands on the initial device while maintaining seamless media playback across devices, enhancing battery life and system stability by allowing the second device to independently continue media playback using the playback pointer.
Implementation Method 1
NFC technology is commonly used for contactless short-range communications based on radio frequency identification (RFID) standards, using magnetic field induction to enable communication between electronic devices
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communications system may include a first electronic device comprising a first media content playback device, a first wireless transceiver, and a first controller coupled with the first media content playback device and the first wireless transceiver. The system may further include a second electronic device comprising a second media content playback device, a second wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with the first wireless transceiver, and a second controller coupled with the second media content playback device and the second wireless transceiver. The first controller may be configured to generate a playback pointer associated with playback of given media content, and wirelessly communicate the playback pointer to the second controller. The second controller may be configured to play back the given media content based upon the playback pointer, and without receiving the given media content from the first electronic device.