Portable Media Player Remote Access via Residential Gateway
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current home theater systems lack remote access to media content stored in other devices within the home, and conventional remote control devices are often expensive and limited in functionality, using proprietary communication channels.
Innovation Solution
A portable personal media player with a processor, display, and keypad that communicates with a residential gateway to access and stream media content from various home devices via a network, allowing remote control and playback of media content using dedicated control keys and wireless communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a representative media device serves as a central store of media content, then media content can be stored and accessed within the home theater system, but access to media content stored in other devices within the home is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The remote control device is transformed into a multi-functional device that not only controls the home theater system but also provides universal access to media content stored in any device within the home network. The device can retrieve and display media from multiple sources including local storage and remote devices, making it a universal access point for all media content in the home.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote control device acts as an intermediary between the user and the home network's media storage devices. It communicates with the home theater system and external devices through standardized protocols (IR, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi), mediating access to media content without requiring direct connections to each storage device.
2Ease of operation
If conventional remote control devices are used to control the media device, then the media device can be controlled to deliver media content within a residence, but remote access to media content is not provided and functionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The remote control device integrates multiple functions including traditional remote control capabilities and media access functionality. It can control home theater devices while simultaneously providing access to media content from various sources, eliminating the need for separate devices for control and media access.
Solution Approach 2:
The device dynamically adapts its functionality based on user needs and available resources. It can switch between control modes and media playback modes, and adaptively select communication protocols (IR, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) based on the target device and desired operation.
3Reliability
If proprietary communication channels are used by the remote control device, then control of the media device is achieved, but the device becomes expensive and functionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The remote control device incorporates multiple communication protocols including infrared, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi, allowing it to communicate with various devices using standardized protocols. This multi-protocol capability provides both reliable control communication and broad compatibility with different devices and systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a first interface, and a processor. The first interface connects to a wide area network and communicates with a first electronic device via the wide area network. The processor is configured to initiate transmission of a request while the processor is disconnected from a local area network. The processor is configured to initiate transmission of a second request to a second electronic device via the first interface. The second electronic device is located in a facility remote to the residential gateway. The processor is further configured to receive media content sent from the second electronic device responsive to the second request.