Peer-to-Peer Media Queue Management for Multi-Device Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current peer-to-peer communication techniques in social settings are inadequate as they do not allow seamless sharing and playback of media content among multiple devices, with users being unaware of the content stored on other devices and requiring disconnection to stream from another device to a presentation device.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for playing media content across multiple source devices, where a player device maintains a single play queue and provides control services for remote devices to select and control media playback, enabling collaborative content selection and presentation across a network of communication devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single communication device is connected to a presentation device to stream media content, then that device can successfully present its content, but other devices in the group cannot stream their content without disconnecting the first device
Solution Approach 1:
The presentation device serves as an intermediary that receives media content from multiple source devices simultaneously through peer-to-peer connections. It maintains a play queue and manages playback of content from different devices without requiring disconnection, enabling seamless multi-device streaming capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The presentation device is designed with multi-functionality to perform both content presentation and queue management roles. It can handle multiple incoming media streams, maintain a unified play queue, and coordinate playback from various source devices, making it adaptable to different content sharing scenarios.
2Ease of operation
If each communication device operates independently with its own content, then each device has full control over its content, but users are unaware of content stored on other devices and cannot collaborate on playback
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the presentation device communicates with source devices about queue status, playback state, and content selection. This allows users to see what content is available on other devices and how their selections affect the overall playback, creating awareness without sacrificing individual control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges individual device content libraries into a unified play queue managed by the presentation device. While content originates from multiple independent sources, the playback coordination is combined into a single synchronized experience, allowing users to access and control content from any device through the unified interface.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple devices attempt to stream content simultaneously to a single presentation device, then content availability increases, but connection management becomes complex and requires disconnections
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the content delivery function by separating content source roles from playback control roles. Multiple devices can maintain peer-to-peer connections to the presentation device simultaneously, each contributing content independently. The presentation device segments the play queue into manageable units and coordinates playback without requiring connection disconnections.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for collaboratively presenting content that is distributed among a plurality of communication devices are disclosed. The method includes providing a control service at a player device to enable communicatively coupled controller devices to control playback of media on the player device, and creating a single play queue at the player device that includes identifiers of media content selected by the controller devices. A stream of particular media content from one of the multiple source devices is received when the particular media content is identified at a top of the single play queue, the particular media content is rendered at the player device, and the rendered media content is presented to users associated with the controller devices.