Multi-Device Media Scheduling via Profile-Based Transcoding

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional interactive media guidance applications are not designed to support portable media content delivery devices or scheduling across multiple devices, lacking automatic recommendation and scheduling features for media content presentation.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for scheduling media content presentation across multiple user devices, which involves receiving and storing user profile information to schedule media events on different devices, providing recommendations based on device availability, connectivity, and user preferences, and transcoding media content to compatible formats for presentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional interactive media guidance applications are used, then media content can be scheduled on stationary devices, but the system cannot support portable media content delivery devices or scheduling across multiple devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidsystem architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The media guidance application is designed to function across multiple device types including stationary devices (set-top boxes, televisions) and portable devices (portable media players, video players, video game systems). The system uses a unified user profile stored in memory that can be accessed and applied across different devices, enabling the same application to serve multiple functions and device categories without requiring separate implementations for each device type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Extent of automation

If manual content searching and scheduling is performed, then user control is maintained, but automatic recommendation and scheduling features are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic schedulingVSAvoiduser interaction
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically generates media content recommendations and schedules based on user profile information stored in memory. The processor analyzes the user profile and autonomously creates scheduling recommendations without requiring manual user input for each scheduling decision. The system serves itself by using its own stored user profile data to generate and implement scheduling decisions, reducing the need for continuous manual user interaction while maintaining personalized service.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If media content is scheduled across multiple devices with different capabilities, then user access is enhanced, but content format compatibility becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-device accessVSAvoidcontent compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system transcodes media content to formats compatible with different portable media content delivery devices. The processor detects the capabilities of each device and automatically converts the media content parameters (such as video codec, audio format, resolution) to match the specific requirements of the target device. This parameter transformation enables the same media content to be successfully delivered and played across multiple devices with varying technical specifications and format requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3731517A1Methods and systems for content scheduling across multiple devices
Publication Date: 2020.10.28 ADEIA GUIDES INC
  • EP3731517A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3731517A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3731517A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Methods and systems for scheduling media content presentation across multiple devices are disclosed. A media planner application generates media event presentation schedules for one or more users based on user-scheduled media events and automatic media event recommendations. Media events can be scheduled for presentation on multiple user devices, including portable devices. Media event recommendations can be generated based at least in part on user preferences and habits, such as user media preferences, device availability, device usage, device connectivity, and user mood.