Proximity-Based Service Discovery for Session Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in seamlessly switching or sharing program content or user sessions between devices on a network due to the need to sift through numerous remote discoverable devices that are not in close proximity, leading to inefficiencies in content distribution and session transfer.
Innovation Solution
A proximity-based service discovery system that uses short-range wireless signals with a defined key to differentiate devices in close proximity from those that are not, allowing users to easily select and switch devices for content sharing without manually filtering through all discoverable devices on the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually filter through all discoverable devices on the network to select devices for content sharing, then all devices on the network can be discovered, but the operation complexity and time required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network devices into two categories: proximity devices (detected via short-range wireless signals) and remote devices (detected via network). This segmentation allows users to quickly identify and select from only the relevant proximity devices, eliminating the need to manually filter through all network devices. The segmentation is implemented through separate detection mechanisms and a filtered device list that prioritizes proximity-based discoveries.
2Loss of information
If the system lists all discoverable devices on the network, then complete device discovery is achieved, but the complexity of navigating through multiple devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and highlights proximity devices from the complete list of network discoverable devices by using short-range wireless signal detection. This extraction creates a filtered subset of devices that are most relevant to the user's immediate needs, reducing navigation complexity while preserving the option to access the complete device list if needed. The proximity-based filtering automatically separates relevant from irrelevant devices.
3Productivity
If the system uses network-based device discovery only, then all devices can be found, but devices not in close proximity are also included, reducing selection efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces short-range wireless signals as an intermediary mechanism between the user device and network discoverable devices. This intermediary layer provides proximity verification, allowing the system to filter network devices based on physical proximity. The short-range wireless signal acts as a mediator that confirms which network devices are actually accessible and relevant to the user, reducing the number of devices that need to be evaluated for content sharing.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided that facilitate sharing or a hand-off of program content or a user session (e.g., running within a computer application) of a user device such that a user can easily select and then switch devices on which program content is being viewed or on which a user session is being run without having to sift through a myriad of other devices such as remote discoverable devices on the same network that are not in close proximity to the user device. A user device determines which of a plurality of discovered devices from which a short range wireless signal including a defined key was received and provides a list of discovered devices with which a session may be shared over the computer network with the user device based on this determination.