Relay Device for Multi-Server ACR Content Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing ACR technology requires multiple ACR clients to be mounted in a terminal device for each ACR server used, leading to increased costs and maintenance as the number of ACR servers increases, making it inefficient to utilize multiple ACR servers without a proportional increase in ACR clients.
Innovation Solution
A terminal device and relay device configuration that detects a relay device, reproduces content, transmits it to the relay device, and acquires a response from an identification server, allowing the relay device to extract signature data and generate queries for multiple ACR servers, enabling the terminal device to use multiple ACR servers without needing multiple ACR clients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple ACR servers are used to recognize diverse content, then content recognition capability is improved, but the number of ACR clients mounted in the terminal device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay device as an intermediary between the terminal device and multiple ACR servers. The relay device receives content from the terminal device, extracts signature data, and communicates with multiple ACR servers on behalf of the terminal device. This mediator approach allows the terminal device to use multiple ACR servers without mounting multiple ACR clients, thus resolving the contradiction between content recognition capability and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The relay device is designed with multi-functional capabilities: it can extract signature data from content, communicate with multiple different ACR servers, and return identification results to the terminal device. This single relay device performs the functions that would otherwise require multiple ACR clients in the terminal device, reducing the number of components needed while maintaining versatile content recognition
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of ACR clients is increased to support multiple ACR servers, then content identification versatility is improved, but maintenance cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the relay device as an intermediary that handles communications with multiple ACR servers, the patent centralizes the complexity of interacting with multiple servers. The terminal device only needs one simple client to communicate with the relay device, while the relay device manages the complexity of supporting multiple ACR servers. This separation significantly reduces maintenance burden on the terminal device side
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into two parts: a simple terminal device with one ACR client and a relay device that handles multiple ACR server connections. This segmentation isolates the complexity in the relay device, making it easier to maintain and update without affecting the terminal device. The terminal device benefits from reduced maintenance complexity while still accessing multiple ACR servers through the relay device
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal device including a transmitter and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to detect a relay device accessible to the terminal device via a communication network, reproduce content, control the transmitter to transmit the content to the relay device via the communication network, generate a request for the relay device to send a query in accordance with the content to one or more of a plurality of servers, control the transmitter to transmit the request to the relay device via the communication network, and acquire a response to the request. The response is received via the communication network from the relay device and includes information from the one or more of the plurality of servers responsive to the query. The circuitry is configured to acquire, responsive to the acquired response, an application. Further, the circuitry is configured to execute the application to display additional information corresponding to the content.