Multi-Path Content Transmission for Wi-Fi Streaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing content redirection technologies in Wi-Fi communication-enabled displays and streaming devices often face service failures or prolonged wait times due to insufficient transmission rates between access points and TVs during content delivery.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for multipoint content transmission, where a terminal receives content from a content server through multiple paths, including an AP-TV path and a terminal-TV path, to enhance the transmission rate and prevent delays by dynamically determining and utilizing the best available transmission paths based on real-time conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single point connection between AP and TV is used for content redirection, then the system complexity is low, but the transmission rate is insufficient causing service failure or prolonged wait time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission rateVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the content transmission into multiple parallel paths: AP-to-TV path and terminal-to-TV path. The terminal device receives content from the content server and forwards it to the TV simultaneously with the AP receiving and transmitting content. This segmentation of the transmission function resolves the contradiction by providing multiple transmission channels without requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple transmission paths (AP-TV direct path and terminal-TV path) into a unified content delivery system. Both paths operate simultaneously to deliver content to the TV, combining their transmission capabilities to achieve higher overall transmission rates while maintaining manageable system complexity through coordinated operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If multiple transmission paths are used to increase transmission rate, then the transmission rate improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission rateVSAvoidpath management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device acts as an intermediary in the multi-path transmission system. It receives content from the content server, manages the terminal-to-TV transmission path, and coordinates with the AP-to-TV path. This intermediary role simplifies path management complexity by centralizing control at the terminal while enabling multiple transmission paths to operate efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If content is transmitted through AP only, then the system operation is simple, but the transmission rate is insufficient leading to prolonged wait time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewait timeVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs preliminary actions by receiving content from the content server in advance and preparing it for transmission to the TV. This preliminary content acquisition enables the terminal to immediately forward content to the TV without waiting for AP transmission, reducing wait time while maintaining operation simplicity through automated pre-fetching and forwarding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3420731B1Multi-point content transmission method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.02.26 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3420731B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3420731B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3420731B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for transmitting a content by a terminal is provided. The method includes sending a request for multi-point transmission for the content to a display device, receiving information about a first transmission rate between the display device and an access point (AP) from the display device, determining a first content distribution ratio for the display device and a second content distribution ratio for the terminal based on a demanded transmission rate for transmission of the content and the first transmission rate, sending information about at least one of the first content distribution ratio and the second content distribution ratio to the display device, receiving a second content portion corresponding to the second content distribution ratio of the content from a content server, and sending the second content portion to the display device.