Smart Personal Device for Seamless Content Handoff
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current content delivery systems restrict user mobility due to physical location limitations, require user intervention for device access, and result in inefficient power consumption and bandwidth usage, as well as the management of multiple user interfaces and remote controls.
Innovation Solution
A smart personal device that discovers, registers, activates, and deactivates target devices using RFID or other communication technologies, allowing seamless content delivery across multiple devices without user intervention, and employing a Direct I/O method to reduce power consumption and enhance mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple target devices are kept on in multiple locations for user mobility, then user accessibility to content is improved, but energy consumption and bandwidth usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading content to a portable device before the user actually needs it. The system monitors user behavior patterns, device usage, and content access trends to proactively transfer content in advance, so when the user moves to a different location or device, the content is already available locally without requiring the source device to remain powered on.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of maintaining multiple original content sources across multiple devices, the system creates copies of content on portable devices. The content management system generates local copies that can be accessed offline, eliminating the need for multiple devices to remain connected and powered on simultaneously. This copying approach allows users to access content on any device without the source device being active.
2Speed
If content is stored locally on each target device for fast access, then access speed is improved, but device complexity and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The portable device serves as an intermediary between the content source and the target display device. It downloads and caches content locally, then transfers it to the target device for playback. This intermediary approach maintains fast access speeds because the content is pre-loaded on the portable device, while reducing target device complexity since they only need basic playback capabilities rather than full content management systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the content delivery function across multiple components: the content management system handles content acquisition and processing, the portable device handles local caching and transfer coordination, and the target device handles only playback. This segmentation allows each component to be simpler while maintaining overall system performance, as no single device needs to perform all functions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If seamless content continuation across devices is enabled, then user mobility and convenience are improved, but system complexity and synchronization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the portable device continuously monitors content playback status, buffer levels, and user behavior. This feedback information is used to dynamically adjust content pre-loading strategies, determine when to initiate transfers, and synchronize playback across devices. The feedback loop enables seamless continuity without requiring complex manual synchronization, as the system automatically responds to user actions and device states.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable device is designed as a universal platform that can interface with multiple different target devices (TVs, computers, media players) using standardized protocols. It implements a universal content transfer and synchronization mechanism that works across different device types and networks, reducing system complexity by providing a single multi-functional solution rather than device-specific implementations for each target device.
Data Source
AI summary
A content delivery system and method for use with plurality of digital multimedia data processing systems and legacy systems spanning across one or more network environments. The system and method enable users with freedom of mobility while maintaining access to the user's selected content while the user transitions from one device in one location to a different device in a difference location, substantially without interruption and without the need for user action to turn on and off these target data processing systems. The Instant Invention can provide high bandwidth content delivery solutions based upon hardware and software components by activating a target device while the system is proximate to the target device and, in one embodiment, automatically redirecting the content while the system is proximate to a new target device without user intervention. The target devices include digital multimedia data processing systems and legacy systems including, but not limited to, HDTVs, TV, Personal Computers, digital music systems, printers, radios, and fax machines.