Remote-Control Unit Content Transfer Without Application-Specific Protocols

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in seamlessly transferring application context among remote-control units and integrated output devices in a physical room, particularly in educational settings, without relying on specific data transfer protocols, which hinders efficient utilization and usability of computer applications.

Innovation Solution

A remote-control unit (RCU) is programmed to recognize user instructions and manage content transfer between integrated output devices by generating and transmitting updated source data, including commands, based on session modes and user interactions, enabling seamless transfer across various computer applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If specific data transfer protocols are used for content transfer between devices, then data transfer reliability is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer reliabilityVSAvoidprotocol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a session manager as an intermediary component that handles protocol-specific operations separately from the content transfer logic. The session manager acts as a mediator between the source device, target device, and underlying data transfer protocols, abstracting away protocol complexities while ensuring reliable transfer. This allows the content transfer system to remain protocol-agnostic while maintaining transfer reliability through dedicated protocol handling in the session manager.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If specific data transfer protocols are used for content transfer between devices, then data transfer reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer reliabilityVSAvoiduser operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The session manager serves as an intermediary that shields users from protocol complexity. Users simply initiate content transfer through intuitive interfaces without needing to understand or configure underlying data transfer protocols. The session manager automatically handles protocol selection, configuration, and management, ensuring reliable transfers while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If application context is transferred seamlessly among devices, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent transfer efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the content transfer system into distinct functional components: content identifier extraction, session management, and device coordination. The session manager is further segmented into separate handling of protocol operations versus content transfer logic. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, improving overall productivity while managing complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The session manager acts as an intermediary layer that simplifies the complexity of seamless content transfer. It manages the coordination between multiple devices, handles protocol-specific operations, and orchestrates the transfer process, thereby enabling productivity improvement without requiring end users or application developers to deal with the underlying system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If application context is transferred seamlessly among devices, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent transfer efficiencyVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The session manager serves as an intermediary that automatically handles the complex coordination required for seamless content transfer. Users experience simplified operation through intuitive content sharing interfaces, while the session manager manages device discovery, session establishment, protocol selection, and context transfer in the background, thereby achieving both high productivity and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12425460B2Content transfer among remote-control units and integrated output devices

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 PROMETHEAN

AI summary

A method performed by a remote-control unit (RCU) of managing a content transfer to or from integrated output devices (IODs) in a physical room is disclosed. The content transfer involves moving application context of a computer application with which a user can interact, which includes a computer object being operated on and relevant metadata. The RCU is programmed to recognize simple user instructions for the content transfer and perform the content transfer from a source device to a target device in real time, regardless of data transfer protocols specific to computer applications. Specifically, the RCU is programmed to obtain source data from the source device, generate updated source data by combining the source data with one or more commands specifying how the source data is to be handled based on a session mode indicating a type of activity being performed in the physical room, and transmit the updated source data to the target device for further user interaction.