Multi-screen Interaction Without Set Top Box Dependency

The patent segments the traditional centralized multi-screen interaction system into independent peer-to-peer connections between terminals. Each terminal device can independently establish direct communication channels with other terminals, eliminating the mandatory dependency on the STB or home media server. This segmentation allows multi-screen interaction to continue even when the central server is offline, as terminals can directly exchange media content and control signals through the network.

The patent introduces a network server as an optional intermediary rather than a mandatory central controller. The network server facilitates peer-to-peer connections between terminals by providing discovery, authentication, and connection management services, but does not mediate all data traffic. This allows terminals to establish direct communication paths while still benefiting from network-level services when available, improving reliability without excessive complexity.

The patent enables terminal devices to perform self-service transcoding operations. When a terminal receives media content from another terminal or the network, it automatically detects its own device parameters (screen resolution, processing capabilities, etc.) and performs local transcoding to adapt the content format, resolution, and bit rate to match its capabilities. This eliminates the mandatory need for centralized transcoding by the STB or home media server, allowing multi-screen interaction to proceed independently even when the central server is offline.

The patent implements dynamic parameter adjustment where terminal devices modify media content parameters (resolution, bit rate, format) based on their own device characteristics and network conditions. Each terminal autonomously changes these parameters to optimize playback quality on its specific hardware, enabling adaptability without centralized control and ensuring reliability across diverse device configurations.