Media Server Mediator for Multi-Device Playback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional remote control devices are limited in managing and controlling multiple user devices during media consumption, lacking flexibility and visual feedback, especially when dealing with diverse media types and multiple queued files, and are restricted to one-to-one device pairing.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows a controller user device to send a media query to another user device, receive meta data about currently playing and queued media files, provide a visual display of this information, and issue control commands, enabling multiple user devices to coordinate media file consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional remote control devices use simple direct communication or prearranged pairing, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability and control capability over multiple devices deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a media server as an intermediary component that mediates between the remote control device and multiple media players. The media server receives control commands, determines target devices based on media metadata, and executes playback control, thereby enabling multi-device control without requiring complex direct pairing between controller and each player
Solution Approach 2:
The remote control device is designed with universal functionality to control multiple different media players through the media server. The controller can send unified control commands that work across different device types (set-top boxes, smart TVs, streaming devices) without needing device-specific protocols or pairings
2Loss of information
If conventional remote controls provide only basic control functions, then ease of operation is improved, but information feedback and user awareness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the media server send media metadata (including thumbnails, titles, and playback status) back to the remote control device. The controller displays this information on its screen, providing users with visual feedback about current playback state and queued media without requiring them to look at the main display device
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system supports multiple queued media files across different devices, then adaptability improves, but device complexity and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The media server acts as a central coordinator that manages the media queue across multiple devices. It receives play queue information from different media players, maintains a unified queue structure, and distributes playback commands appropriately, thereby simplifying the control architecture despite supporting multiple devices and queued files
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension of control by implementing a hierarchical structure where the media server operates at an intermediate layer between the controller and individual players. This dimensional addition allows the system to manage complex multi-device scenarios through a simplified interface at the controller level
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect provides a method, including: sending a media query from a controller user device to a second user device; receiving media meta data at the controller user device in response to the media query of the second user device, the received media meta data comprising media meta data regarding a media file currently playing on the second user device and media meta data regarding one or more queued media files; providing at the controller user device a visual display based on the received media meta data, the visual display comprising a visual indication of the media file currently playing on the second user device and a preview of the one or more queued media files to be played on the second user device; and issuing one or more control action commands from the controller user device to the second user device. Other aspects are described and claimed.