Remote Server Control Logic for Multimedia Equipment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for controlling multimedia equipment from mobile terminals are limited by the need for complex and costly management servers, which restrict the offering of rich user services and compatibility with various mobile terminals and networks, and do not allow for secure access or streaming of multimedia content.

Innovation Solution

A method where all intelligence and control logic are delegated to a remote server, allowing any mobile terminal to control multimedia equipment without requiring costly adaptations, using a remote server that enriches data, implements authentication mechanisms, and provides a unified user interface across different usage scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a complex management server is implemented in multimedia equipment to provide rich user services, then service functionality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice functionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex management server functionality from the multimedia equipment and relocates it to a remote server. The multimedia equipment only retains basic control functions, while the remote server handles content management, authentication, and service delivery. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining rich service functionality through the remote server while simplifying the multimedia equipment structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mobile terminal as an intermediary device between the user and the multimedia equipment. The mobile terminal communicates with both the remote server and the multimedia equipment, enabling rich service delivery without requiring complex processing in the multimedia equipment itself. This intermediary approach allows service functionality to be enhanced while keeping the multimedia equipment simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multimedia equipment is adapted to support multiple mobile terminals and networks, then compatibility is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal remote server that handles communication with multiple types of mobile terminals and networks. The remote server provides a unified interface and protocol translation layer, allowing the simple multimedia equipment to work with diverse mobile devices without requiring multiple specialized components. This universal approach achieves broad compatibility while maintaining equipment simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If authentication mechanisms are implemented for secure access, then security is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts authentication mechanisms from the multimedia equipment and implements them in the remote server. The remote server handles user authentication, device authentication, and access control, while the multimedia equipment only needs to respond to authentication challenges. This extraction provides secure access while minimizing the complexity burden on the multimedia equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If transcoding servers are implemented for streaming support, then streaming capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestreaming capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts transcoding functionality from the multimedia equipment and relocates it to the remote server. The remote server performs format conversion, quality adaptation, and protocol translation for streaming content, while the multimedia equipment simply stores and transfers raw content. This extraction enables comprehensive streaming support while keeping the multimedia equipment simple and cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3054629B1Method for controlling a multimedia device from a mobile terminal, corresponding computer program, multimedia device and server
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 ORANGE SA
  • EP3054629B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3054629B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3054629B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for controlling multimedia equipment (5) for the playback and/or storage of multimedia content by a mobile terminal (1), the mobile terminal (1) and the multimedia equipment (5) being connected to a communication network (3). According to the invention, such a method comprises the following steps: - the mobile terminal (1) sends (E4) to a remote server (4), via the communication network (3), at least one request to launch a function on the multimedia equipment (5); - the remote server (4) translates (E7) said at least one request from the mobile terminal (1) into at least one query and transmits (E8) said at least one query to the multimedia equipment (5), via the communication network (3); - the multimedia equipment (5) receives and executes said at least one query (E9).