Mobile Device Interface for Remote IPTV Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IPTV systems lack a user-friendly, portable interface for selecting and controlling media content from outside the home network, due to limitations in set-top box hardware and software, such as insufficient RAM, storage, and lack of keyboard and interface applications.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that interfaces a mobile device with a content source network and home network, using a framework extension to convert data formats and present media content and remote control options to the mobile device, allowing users to select content and send instructions via a cellular network for control of devices within the home network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a set-top box is used for media content selection, then media content can be selected and played, but the interface is not user-friendly and cannot be used remotely due to hardware and software limitations
Solution Approach 1:
A mobile device serves as an intermediary between the user and the set-top box. The mobile device runs a client application that communicates with the set-top box over the network, allowing users to control media content selection remotely. The set-top box processes the actual media selection while the mobile device provides the user-friendly interface and remote access capability.
2Ease of operation
If set-top box hardware is enhanced for better interface capabilities, then user-friendliness improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into two functional parts: the set-top box handles media processing and playback, while the mobile device handles user interface and control functions. This segmentation allows the set-top box to maintain simple hardware while the mobile device (which users already possess) provides advanced interface capabilities through its software application.
3Ease of operation
If set-top box software is enhanced for better interface applications, then ease of use improves, but storage and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex interface application software is extracted from the set-top box and moved to the mobile device. The client application on the mobile device provides the sophisticated user interface and control functionality, while the set-top box only needs to handle basic media playback and receive control commands over the network.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system is configured to interface a mobile device with a content source network and a home network. An options presentation module in the content source network provides options for selecting media content or remote control instructions to a mobile phone via a cellular network. A selection receiving module receives through the cellular network an indication of a selected option and determines whether the selected option is for media content or for a remote control instruction. In response to the selection receiving module determining the selected option is for media content, a media content transmitting module transmits the media content from the content source network to the home network. In response to the selection receiving module determining the selected option is for a remote control instruction, a remote control module transmits the remote control instruction to a device in the home network.