Portable Playback Control for Follow-Me Video Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-home video rendering systems require users to carry a special object or navigate complex interfaces to continue watching a video program across different rooms, which is cumbersome and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A distributed content rendering system with a portable control device and detection circuit that automatically redirects the video stream to the user's current location, using a 'most recent' button to resume the last started stream without requiring explicit stream identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users carry a special object (token) from room to room to maintain video streaming, then the follow-me scenario can be realized, but users find it onerous and may forget to take the object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the physical token object from the system and replaces it with wireless communication-based identification. The portable control device uses wireless signals (infrared, radio frequency, or other communication protocols) to transmit user presence information to rendering devices, eliminating the need for physical tokens while maintaining follow-me functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/token-based tracking system with a wireless communication system. Instead of physical tokens being detected by optical or mechanical sensors, the system uses wireless transmitters and receivers to detect user presence and redirect streams, substituting mechanical detection with electromagnetic field-based detection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a house map interface is used to drag and drop program streams between rooms, then stream redirection is possible, but the interface is too complex for many users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having the system automatically detect when a user activates a portable control device near a rendering device and automatically redirect the most recently viewed stream to that device. The system performs the stream redirection autonomously without requiring users to manually navigate complex interfaces or drag-and-drop operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining a record of the most recently viewed stream in the system memory. When a user activates the portable control device near a rendering device, the system immediately redirects the pre-recorded most recent stream to that device, eliminating the need for users to manually select or navigate to the desired stream.
3Ease of operation
If the system automatically redirects streams based on portable device activation, then user convenience is improved, but the system must track and manage stream state information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by focusing the system's stream management capabilities on only the most recently viewed stream rather than tracking all possible streams simultaneously. This selective tracking approach simplifies the system's memory and processing requirements while still providing the necessary follow-me functionality for the current viewing session.
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed content rendering system has a distributed communication structure (14, 14b) coupled between a stream source and a rendering device. A remote control device of the system has a “most recent” button. Control information is gathered for one or more streams of which rendering has been most recently started anywhere via the communication structure (14, 14b) before actuation of the “most recent” button (160). When actuation of the “most recent” button (160) is detected in association with the rendering device (10), one of the one or more streams selected and the information is used to direct that stream at the rendering device (10) that is associated with the actuated.