Multimedia Synchronization via Play Time Stamps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing systems for sharing multimedia content among users are cumbersome and involve multiple steps, requiring data transfer through a server, which complicates the process and increases latency.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising multiple devices that generate and exchange play time stamps to enable synchronous playback of multimedia content, allowing users to invite others to play the same content simultaneously, with the option to transmit these stamps directly or through a third device, reducing latency and bundling signals for efficient transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is transferred through a server for sharing multimedia content, then content sharing is enabled among users, but the process becomes cumbersome and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the server intermediary from the data transfer path. Devices now exchange multimedia content and synchronization data directly peer-to-peer, eliminating the server's role in content transmission while the server maintains only coordination functions for session management
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as a coordination mediator rather than a data transfer intermediary. It facilitates session establishment, device discovery, and synchronization coordination without being involved in the actual content transmission, thus reducing latency while maintaining sharing functionality
2Productivity
If multiple steps of interaction are involved in content sharing, then content can be shared with authorization control, but the sharing process becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
Authorization and device pairing are performed in advance during session establishment. Once paired, devices can share content instantly without repeated authorization steps, as the preliminary authentication creates a trusted communication channel for subsequent content exchanges
Solution Approach 2:
The server performs multiple functions in one coordination mechanism: device discovery, session management, authorization verification, and synchronization coordination. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate interaction steps into a unified process
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system and a corresponding method for sharing multi-media content among a plurality of users. The invention further relates the corresponding devices and a corresponding computer program for conducting the sharing of multi-media content. The system comprises a first device comprising means for generating an invitation and a play time stamp and the system further comprises means for transmitting the play time stamp and the invitation to at least one second device. The system also comprises a third device that may generate a system time and distribute the system time. The at least one second device may play multi-media content synchronous to playback of the same multi-media content at the first device.