Mobile Video Synchronization via Mediator Server and Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current social media platforms and video conferencing systems do not allow for synchronized video playback control across multiple mobile devices, limiting collaborative video experiences and requiring users to rely on centralized services with limitations such as account requirements and restricted participant numbers.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for synchronizing video playback on mobile devices using a RESTful process and XMPP protocol, enabling real-time collaborative video watching by allowing a moderator to control video playback actions like pause, resume, seek, zoom, and rotate across multiple devices, with ad-hoc session management and end-to-end security, even across heterogeneous networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If centralized services like Google Plus Hangouts are used for video synchronization, then real-time video playback control can be achieved, but the system requires account registration and limits the number of participants to nine
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that facilitates peer-to-peer video synchronization without requiring centralized account management. The server coordinates the synchronization protocol between devices while allowing flexible participant addition, resolving the contradiction between reliable synchronization and participant accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the video stream into separate channels for different devices, allowing independent control and synchronization of each device's video playback. This enables unlimited participants by dividing the coordination function across multiple device-to-server connections rather than requiring a centralized participant limit.
2Ease of operation
If video streams are synchronized across multiple devices, then collaborative viewing is enabled, but network latency causes playback timing differences between devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where each device reports its playback position and timing to the server, which then adjusts synchronization instructions to compensate for network latency. This continuous feedback loop maintains precise playback timing across devices despite varying network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary timing calculations and buffer adjustments before video playback begins, pre-compensating for expected network latency. This preliminary action ensures that all devices start playback at the correct synchronized time point, reducing timing differences during actual viewing.
3Ease of operation
If playback control actions are transmitted in real-time to all devices, then synchronized control is achieved, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple playback control commands into single aggregated instructions where possible. For example, when multiple devices receive the same pause command simultaneously, the server transmits a single consolidated control signal to all target devices, reducing redundant network traffic while maintaining real-time control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method to synchronize video playback on mobile devices, the method including: receiving, from a first mobile device, a message directed to a second mobile device, the message including an instruction to display a video on the second mobile device; an indication of the time at which the first mobile device sent the message; and a video position of the first mobile device when the message was sent; calculating a delay between the first mobile device and the second mobile device; estimating a video seek time for the second mobile device to seek a video position on the second mobile device; seeking a video position p2 on the second mobile device; and starting display of the video on the second mobile device at video position p2.