Media Server Streaming Control for External Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video streaming systems often require users to carry additional devices and be connected to local WiFi to access their media services on external displays, limiting accessibility and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A media server system that allows users to control and stream media services to external displays without direct connection, using a unique identification embedded in the datastream, enabling seamless authentication and content selection based on user location and subscriptions, with optional independent control of sub-streams for multiple displays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users connect to local WiFi and use additional devices to access media services on external displays, then media streaming functionality is achieved, but device complexity and accessibility are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the media player functionality directly into the display device, eliminating the need for separate streaming devices. The display device itself performs media playback functions, allowing users to access their media services directly on external displays without carrying additional devices or connecting to local WiFi networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The display device is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a display and a media player. This universal approach allows the same device to function as both the presentation medium and the content playback engine, reducing the overall system complexity and improving ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If media services are streamed to external displays without direct connection, then accessibility is improved, but system reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cloud-based service as an intermediary that manages the streaming connection. Instead of requiring direct peer-to-peer connections between user devices and displays, the cloud service mediates the connection, handling authentication, content delivery, and session management. This improves reliability by providing a stable, managed connection infrastructure while maintaining the convenience of wireless streaming.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users control different parts of a display independently, then versatility is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display into multiple independent control zones, allowing different users to control different portions of the screen simultaneously. Each zone can be independently configured and controlled, enabling multiple users to access different media services or control different aspects of the display without interfering with each other. This segmentation approach manages complexity by creating modular, independent control regions rather than a monolithic control system.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a media server having a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate sending a datastream to a display device. The datastream may include an identification thereof. Upon receiving the identification from a user, the media server associates the datastream with the user. The media server may send to the user, a listing of the media services to which the user has subscribed. Upon receiving, from the user, a selection of a selected media service, the media server streams the selected media service to the display device over the datastream. The datastream may be controlled with the user for as long as the media server detects the user in a vicinity of the display device. Other embodiments are disclosed.