Screen Mirroring Discovery Control for Low-Multicast DLNA

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) screen casting methods result in excessive multicast messages, consuming large amounts of network bandwidth due to continuous notify multicast from devices without a screen casting intention, leading to resource waste.

Innovation Solution

An access point or hub device adaptively enables or disables the DLNA function of devices based on detected screen casting intentions, using detection devices like cameras or smart locks to determine user presence, thereby reducing unnecessary multicast traffic.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If devices continuously send notify multicast messages to discover screen casting destinations, then device discovery capability is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice discovery capabilityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control of multicast message transmission by the access point based on real-time detection of screen casting intentions. When a screen casting intention is detected, the access point enables multicast transmission; when no intention is detected, it disables multicast transmission. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptive to actual needs rather than operating in a fixed continuous state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where detection devices monitor the environment for screen casting intentions and report back to the access point, which then adjusts multicast transmission accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that multicast messages are sent only when necessary, resolving the contradiction between maintaining discovery capability and reducing bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If devices send multicast messages frequently to ensure timely screen casting connection, then connection establishment speed is improved, but bandwidth waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection establishment speedVSAvoidbandwidth waste
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs detection devices to perform preliminary detection of screen casting intentions before multicast transmission is activated. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare for potential screen casting needs without immediately consuming bandwidth, enabling fast connection establishment when needed while avoiding unnecessary bandwidth waste during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The access point periodically checks for screen casting intentions through detection devices and adjusts multicast transmission in periodic intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action maintains the ability to establish connections quickly when needed while significantly reducing overall bandwidth consumption compared to continuous transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the DLNA function remains enabled continuously on devices, then screen casting availability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen casting availabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically controls the DLNA function state on devices based on detected screen casting intentions. When a screen casting intention is detected, the access point sends instructions to enable the DLNA function; when no intention is detected, it instructs devices to disable the function. This dynamic state adjustment maintains screen casting availability when needed while reducing power consumption during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables devices to automatically adjust their DLNA function state based on environmental conditions detected by detection devices, without requiring manual user intervention. This self-service mechanism ensures screen casting availability is maintained when needed while automatically conserving power when not needed, resolving the contradiction between availability and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If multicast transmission is enabled always to ensure device discoverability, then network service reliability is improved, but network resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice discoverabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback-based control mechanism where detection devices monitor for screen casting intentions and report to the access point, which then adjusts multicast transmission status accordingly. This feedback loop ensures device discoverability is maintained when screen casting is needed while improving network resource efficiency by eliminating unnecessary multicast transmission during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The access point dynamically adjusts multicast transmission based on real-time environmental conditions and detected screen casting intentions. This dynamic adjustment ensures that network service reliability for device discoverability is maintained when needed while optimizing network resource efficiency by adapting transmission levels to actual requirements rather than operating at fixed high levels continuously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4546740B1Screen mirroring method and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4546740B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4546740B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP4546740B1 patent drawingFigure 1c

AI summary

This application provides a screen casting method and an electronic device. The method includes: determining whether a screen casting intention exists in an environment; when the screen casting intention exists in the environment and a digital living network alliance DLNA function of a second device in the environment is in a disabled state, sending a first enabling indication to the second device, where the first enabling indication indicates the second device to enable the DLNA function; and sending a second enabling indication to the second device in response to receiving a first event from a first device, where the first event indicates that the first device has the screen casting intention, the second enabling indication indicates the second device to send multicast, and the multicast is used by the first device to discover the second device for screen casting. In this application, the second device may be adaptively controlled to enable the DLNA function and send the multicast, so that bandwidth occupied by the multicast can be reduced.