Remote Content Playback Control via Server-Mediated Media Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in controlling content playback on display devices from a distance, particularly on television sets, due to difficulties in viewing web browser displays and interference with normal viewing, especially when using personal computing devices like mobile phones.
Innovation Solution
A system that enables remote control of display devices using a personal computing device, where a server system facilitates communication between the device and the display, allowing for content selection, playback control, and media player management through a network, utilizing a synchronization code and universal adapter to handle different media players.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a personal computing device is used to control content playback on a television display from a distance, then the user can control the display remotely, but it becomes difficult to view the web browser display on the television set and may interfere with normal television program viewing by other persons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server system as an intermediary between the personal computing device and the display device. The server receives control commands from the personal computing device, translates them into appropriate media player commands, and relays them to the display device. This mediator approach allows remote control functionality while preventing direct interference with normal television viewing, as the server handles the control traffic separately from the content delivery path.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the control functionality from the content display functionality. Control commands are transmitted and processed separately from the content streams. The server system divides the overall system into distinct functional components: the personal computing device for control input, the server for command translation and coordination, and the display device for content output. This segmentation allows independent operation of control and content delivery, reducing interference between them.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a server system is introduced to facilitate communication between the personal computing device and the display device, then remote control and media player management is enabled, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server system is designed with universal adaptability to work with multiple types of display devices and media players. It implements a standardized interface layer that can translate control commands across different device types and media player formats. This universal design enables the server to accommodate various display devices (televisions, monitors, projectors) and media players (video players, audio players, multimedia players) without requiring device-specific implementations, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite the added server component.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling playback of various types of content includes a first computing device that provides a unique identifier to a second computing device to establish an association there between. By virtue of the established association, the second computing device can send one or more messages to the first computing device, the one or more messages referencing a piece of content associated with a first media playing element of a plurality of media playing elements, and one or more commands corresponding to the first media playing element. The first computing device can select the first media playing element based on the received one or more messages, and control how the first media playing element plays the referenced piece of content utilizing the one or more commands.