Remote Playback Queue Transfer Across Connected Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for accessing and listening to digital audio in an out-loud setting are limited, and there is a need for improved consumer technology to revolutionize the way people access and consume digital media.
Innovation Solution
A network media system that allows a mobile device to establish a connected state with one or more playback devices, enabling synchronized media playback and control of a playback queue across zones, with features like connected state indicators, automatic reconnection, and private queue management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile device establishes a connected state with playback devices in a network media system, then media playback control and queue management are enabled across zones, but the system complexity and connection management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects when a mobile device enters or leaves the network range and performs reconnection actions without user intervention. The playback queue and connected state are automatically restored, eliminating manual connection management while maintaining multi-zone playback control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes the connected state between the mobile device and playback devices before the user needs to use it. By detecting when the device is within range and automatically connecting, the system prepares the playback control infrastructure in advance, reducing the complexity of on-demand connection management
2Reliability
If the mobile device maintains connected state and playback queue control when out of range, then seamless playback continuation is achieved, but system resources and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connected state and playback queue control are dynamically adjusted based on the mobile device's location relative to the network range. The system maintains full control capability when in range and automatically transitions to a lower-power state when out of range, achieving playback continuity only when resources are available
Solution Approach 2:
The system ensures continuous media playback by automatically reestablishing the connected state and restoring the playback queue when the mobile device returns to range. This maintains the useful action of playback without requiring continuous resource consumption during periods when the device is out of range
3Ease of operation
If automatic reconnection and queue restoration features are implemented, then user convenience and playback seamlessness are improved, but the processing overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic detection of range changes, initiation of reconnection procedures, and restoration of playback queues without requiring user actions. This self-service approach improves ease of operation by eliminating manual intervention while the processing overhead is distributed across the network infrastructure rather than concentrating complexity in the mobile device
Data Source
AI summary
A network device is configured to (i) play back a media item indicated by a remote playback queue provided by a cloud-based computing system, (ii) receive an indication that a playback device is available for playback, (iii) display a now playing screen including information identifying the media item and an icon that indicates that the network device is not in a connected state with any other network device, (iv) receive a first input selecting the icon, (v) in response to the first input, display a list of one or more available network devices including the playback device, (vi) receive a second input selecting the playback device from the list (vii) after receiving the second input, update the list to indicate that the playback device is selected for playback of the remote playback queue, and (viii) transfer playback of the remote playback queue from the network device to the playback device.