N-Screen Service Distribution in HbbTV Broadcast Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current broadcast systems, such as HbbTV, face challenges in providing N-screen services that consider priorities, relationships, and positions of broadcast service applications across multiple screens, limiting user experiences and efficient content sharing between devices.

Innovation Solution

The proposed apparatus and method for providing N-screen services in a broadcast system involve a Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TeleVision (HbbTV) system, where a main N-screen device and sub N-screen devices interact to run broadcast service applications based on their capabilities and relationships, with the main device determining which applications to run and how to distribute them across connected devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If broadcast service applications are distributed across multiple screens without considering priorities and relationships, then device complexity is reduced, but user experience and service quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the N-screen service system into a main device and sub devices, with the main device responsible for receiving AIT data and determining application distribution, while sub devices execute local operations. This segmentation allows complex decision-making to be centralized while keeping individual device operations simple, resolving the contradiction between user experience and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The main device performs preliminary actions by receiving AIT data in advance, analyzing application priorities and relationships, and determining the optimal distribution scheme before actual content delivery. This preliminary analysis enables intelligent routing and prioritization without requiring complex real-time processing at each device, improving user experience while maintaining manageable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If broadcast service applications are distributed without considering device positions and relationships, then system complexity is reduced, but content sharing efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent sharing efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the main device receives AIT data, analyzes application relationships and device capabilities, and dynamically determines distribution strategies. Sub devices provide feedback on their capacity and status, enabling the main device to optimize content sharing efficiency based on real-time system state without requiring each device to independently manage complex coordination logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If all broadcast service applications are run on the main device, then system complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different device capabilities deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice capability adaptationVSAvoidapplication distribution management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different roles and functions to different devices based on their capabilities. The main device performs complex AIT analysis and decision-making, while sub devices focus on executing specific applications locally. This differentiation allows the system to adapt to varying device capabilities without requiring every device to handle all possible application distribution scenarios, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2880868B1Apparatus and method for providing n-screen service in broadcast system
Publication Date: 2020.07.29 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2880868B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2880868B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP2880868B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~3

AI summary

A method for supplying an N-screen service by a main N-screen device in a broadcast system is provided. The method includes receiving an Application Information Table (AIT) including a screen_type indicating a type of N-screen device in which a broadcast service application will be run from a broadcast service provider, and one of running the broadcast service application based on the screen_type, performing an operation related to running the broadcast service application by considering a connection relationship between the main N-screen device and a sub N-screen device based on the screen_type, and discarding the AIT based on the screen_type.