Replay Device Search Information Storage for Multi-Server DLNA Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in easily searching and replaying desired contents across multiple server devices in the Digital Living Network Alliance (DNLA) system, as they need to repeatedly select and specify classification categories and properties, especially when the desired content is stored on a different server device.

Innovation Solution

A replay device with server device selection, search information specification, and cumulative storage of search information allows automatic specification of classification categories and properties when switching between server devices, ensuring seamless content searching and replaying without the need for repeated designation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the user repeatedly selects different server devices to search for contents, then the user can find desired contents stored on different servers, but the user must repeatedly specify classification categories and properties, increasing operation complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to search across multiple server devicesVSAvoidoperation complexity when switching servers
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The replay device performs preliminary action by storing search information (classification categories and properties) in advance before the user needs to search on a new server. When switching between server devices, the previously stored search information is automatically applied to the new server, eliminating the need for users to repeatedly specify the same search parameters and significantly reducing operation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the replay device stores and reuses search information across server switches, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional storage and management functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of searching across serversVSAvoidcomplexity of search information management
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The replay device applies universality by designing a search information storage unit that serves multiple purposes: it stores classification categories and properties for current searches, preserves them for future use when switching servers, and automatically applies them to new servers. This multi-functional design consolidates what would otherwise require separate mechanisms into a single unified system, managing complexity while enabling cross-server search continuity.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2133803B1Replay device
Publication Date: 2011.05.11 FUNAI ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP2133803B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2133803B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2133803B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

From when any one of several DMSs 2 is selected, until contents are downloaded from that DMS 2, a DMP 1 stores the search information which has been specified for that DMS 2. And if some other DMS 2 is selected before contents have been downloaded from the DMS 2 which was first selected, then the DMP 1 specifies this search information which is stored to that other DMS 2. Accordingly, it is possible greatly to enhance the ease of use when it is not known upon which DMS 2 the desired contents is stored.