Multi-User Screen Sharing With Interleaved Frames for Independent Viewing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional screen sharing techniques often divide the display into smaller zones, distracting multiple viewers when they want to watch their respective content independently.

Innovation Solution

A system that generates a multi-content video signal by interleaving video frames from multiple media content items, allowing users to select their preferred content and using sync signals to display it on their devices at the original frame rate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the display is divided into smaller zones for multiple users, then multiple users can view content simultaneously, but individual viewing experience deteriorates and users are distracted by other users' content

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-user content viewing capabilityVSAvoiddistraction from other users' content

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the video content delivery by creating separate virtual channels for different users. Each user receives their own portion of the interleaved video signal through their electronic device, allowing simultaneous viewing of different content without visual distraction from other users' content on the shared display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, computers) serve as intermediary components between the set-top box and each user. These devices receive sync signals and corresponding video frames, displaying content locally on each user's personal device while the shared display shows the combined interleaved content, thus isolating users from each other's content.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If video frames from multiple content items are interleaved, then multiple users can watch different content on a single display, but the frame rate may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-content display capabilityVSAvoidframe rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic interleaving of video frames from different content items at a higher combined frame rate (e.g., 60 Hz). By alternating frames from different sources in a periodic pattern and using sync signals to synchronize display timing, the system maintains smooth video playback while delivering multiple content streams through the same display hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12368917B2Devices, systems, and methods for multi-user screen sharing

Publication Date: 2025.07.22 DISH NETWORK LLC

AI summary

The present technology is generally directed to multi-user screen sharing. In some embodiments, a method for media content screen sharing includes receiving a first media content item selection from a first user and receiving a second media content item selection from a second user. The method can further include generating a multi-content video signal, wherein the multi-content video signal includes the selected first media content item and the selected second media content item. The multi-content video signal can be displayed to both the first user and the second user. The method can include causing a first electronic device of the first user to display a first portion of the multi-content video signal that corresponds to the selected first media content item, and causing a second electronic device of the second user to display a second portion of the multi-content video signal that corresponds to the selected second media content item.