Self-Configuring Media Hub Devices with Passive Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional networked media devices require manual configuration, which is time-consuming and prone to errors, and systems struggle to identify consumer behavior both online and offline, making it difficult to reach users effectively.

Innovation Solution

Self-configuring networked media hub devices that obtain configuration data from a remote source and passively monitor user devices, allowing automatic setup and failover recovery, and transmit targeted media through in-channel or shifted channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual configuration is used for networked media devices, then configuration accuracy can be ensured, but setup time increases and error probability increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidsetup time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The media hub device automatically configures itself by receiving configuration data from a remote device and using it to set up its network parameters, device identifiers, and operational settings without requiring manual configuration by an administrator, thereby reducing setup time while maintaining accuracy through automated processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Configuration data is prepared in advance on a remote device or server, including network parameters, device identifiers, and operational settings. When a new media hub device joins the network, it receives this pre-prepared configuration data, eliminating the need for real-time manual configuration and reducing setup time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If manual configuration is used for networked media devices, then configuration control can be maintained, but configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration controlVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The media hub device autonomously performs configuration tasks by receiving configuration data from a remote device and automatically applying it to its settings, eliminating the need for administrators to manually configure complex parameters and reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

A remote device or server acts as an intermediary that prepares and transmits configuration data to new media hub devices. This intermediary handles the complexity of configuration data management, authentication, and distribution, simplifying the process for both administrators and new devices joining the network

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If passive monitoring is used to track user devices, then user behavior identification capability improves, but monitoring resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser behavior identification capabilityVSAvoidmonitoring resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The media hub device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides media content delivery, network management, and passive monitoring of user devices. By combining these functions in a single device, the system achieves comprehensive user behavior identification capability without requiring separate dedicated monitoring infrastructure, thereby managing resource consumption efficiently

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

Data Source

PatentEP3780490B1Self-configuring media hub devices with passive monitoring of user devices and targeted media transmission
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 CATALINA MARKETING CORP
  • EP3780490B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3780490B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3780490B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Various systems and methods of self-configuring networked media hub devices with failover recovery of peers are disclosed. For example, a media hub device may be configured in an "out-of-the-box" solution in which the media hub, upon startup, obtains configuration data from a remote device. Peer media hub devices may be connected to one another via a local network and may each be self-configured in the same manner. Each media hub device may monitor other media hub devices on the local network and may automatically configure a newly detected media hub device on the network. Once configured, each media hub device may passively monitor user devices and transmit targeted media through in-channel transmissions that use the same channel used to monitor the user devices, or shifted channel transmissions that are different than the channel used to monitor the user devices.