Multi-Camera Live Stream Control With Low-Bandwidth Editing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies do not allow for real-time control and editing of live streams from multiple camera applications on client devices, requiring manual control of each device individually and lacking centralized management.

Innovation Solution

A director application on a controller device can remotely control and edit live streams from multiple camera applications on client devices, allowing for centralized management, real-time adjustments, and synchronized editing across devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual control of each camera application is used, then individual device operation is maintained, but centralized management and coordination are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentralized controlVSAvoidsystem architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a director device as an intermediary between multiple camera applications. The director application on the controller device receives control inputs and distributes them to appropriate camera applications, enabling centralized management without requiring direct complex interconnections between all camera devices. This mediator architecture resolves the contradiction by providing centralized control while maintaining manageable system complexity through a hierarchical structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If real-time live stream transmission is implemented, then centralized monitoring is enabled, but network bandwidth and data transmission requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelive stream monitoringVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by allowing each camera application to capture and process video at full quality locally, then transmit only essential control data and selected video feeds to the director device. The director application can request specific video streams or metadata rather than all camera feeds simultaneously. This approach enables effective centralized monitoring while reducing network bandwidth consumption by transmitting only necessary data at appropriate quality levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If multiple camera applications are coordinated through a single interface, then operational efficiency improves, but control flexibility for individual devices decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination efficiencyVSAvoidindividual device control
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control system into hierarchical levels: the director application provides high-level coordinated control for production efficiency, while each camera application maintains its own local control interface for individual device flexibility. The segmentation allows control to be distributed appropriately - routine coordinated operations are managed centrally for productivity, while individual device adjustments can still be made locally when needed, preserving adaptability without sacrificing coordination efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4648050A1Remote control of camera applications executing on client devices
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 APPLE INC
  • EP4648050A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4648050A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4648050A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A director application executing on a controller device can be paired with multiple camera applications operating on respective client devices. The cameras on the respective client devices can be (a) controlled remotely by the director application in communication with the camera applications or (b) directly through a GUI of the camera applications. The client device can be controlled individually or as a group. Each client device transmits a first version of a live stream to the controller device and stores a second version of the live stream locally. The first version may be a lower quality version or otherwise different than the second version. Edits to attributes of the live stream can be made to the first, lower quality version of the live stream provided to the director device and subsequently applied to a second, higher quality version of the live stream.