Content Streaming Bifurcation via Intermediary Mediator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless devices face limitations such as small screens, poor sound quality, and operational constraints when streaming content to larger devices, due to latency issues, range limitations, and bandwidth constraints, which can lead to degraded performance and interruptions during simultaneous operations like phone calls or peripheral use.

Innovation Solution

A system that bifurcates content streaming, allowing the wireless device to control playback while the content is streamed from an alternative source, such as a web server or media provider, via a more reliable connection, thereby alleviating bandwidth and power consumption issues and enabling better quality streaming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If content is streamed from a wireless device to a presentation device, then the user can view content on a larger screen with better sound quality, but the wireless device experiences bandwidth limitations and power consumption issues that degrade streaming quality and cause interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestreaming qualityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a content repository as an intermediary source, allowing the presentation device to stream content directly from the repository rather than from the wireless device. This mediator approach eliminates the bottleneck of wireless device bandwidth and power constraints while maintaining the ability to stream high-quality content to the presentation device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the streaming function into two independent paths: control commands remain with the wireless device while content delivery is separated to flow directly from the content repository to the presentation device. This segmentation allows each component to operate within its optimal capabilities without being constrained by the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the wireless device streams content while handling telephone calls or peripheral operations, then the device maintains communication functionality, but the streaming quality deteriorates or interruptions occur due to bandwidth and processing limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-operation capabilityVSAvoidstreaming continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the streaming system into control functions (remaining on the wireless device) and content delivery functions (handled by the content repository). This segmentation allows the wireless device to handle telephone calls and peripheral operations while the content repository maintains continuous, high-quality streaming to the presentation device without being affected by the wireless device's processing limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Area of stationary object

If the wireless device re-transmits content to an intermediary or destination device, then the content can be displayed on a larger screen, but latency issues and range limitations reduce the overall system performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay screen sizeVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The content repository acts as a direct source mediator to the presentation device, eliminating the need for content to traverse back and forth through the wireless device. This direct path significantly reduces latency while still enabling content to be displayed on the larger presentation device screen.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If the wireless device streams content over a wireless connection, then the device maintains mobility and flexibility, but bandwidth limitations and vulnerability to interference constrain transmission rates and reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice mobilityVSAvoidtransmission rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The content repository serves as a mediator that handles the bandwidth-intensive content delivery, allowing the wireless device to maintain its mobility while relying on the repository's high-capacity connection for actual content transmission. The wireless device only needs to transmit lightweight control commands, preserving both mobility and high transmission rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9749373B2System and method for improved content streaming

Publication Date: 2017.08.29 APPLE INC

AI summary

A system and methods for improved streaming of content. After streaming of a content item from a wireless device (e.g., a smart phone, a table computer) commences to a presentation device (e.g., a media receiver, a television), the presentation device determines that it can stream the content item from an alternative source, such as a web server, data server or other content repository residing on the Internet or other network. The presentation device initiates the alternative streaming and notifies the wireless device that it may stop streaming. The wireless device may continue to provide control inputs to allow a user to pause, play, fast forward or otherwise control the presentation, and may or may not present the content item locally. If the presentation device must cease streaming of the content item from the alternative source, it notifies the wireless device, which resumes streaming.