Streaming Playback Transfer Using Shared Resume State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face difficulties in seamlessly transferring streaming media playback between devices, requiring manual selection of channels and playback positions when moving between rooms or devices, which is time-consuming and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows media devices to communicate over a common network, enabling automatic transfer of playback position information between devices using commands from remote controls or mobile apps, with optional system servers for centralized tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual channel and playback position selection is required when switching devices, then device independence is maintained, but user time and operational effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A system server acts as an intermediary between multiple media devices, receiving playback position data from the first device and distributing it to the second device. This mediator enables automatic playback resumption across devices without requiring manual user intervention to reselect channels or playback positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-transferring playback position information and channel data from the first media device to the second media device before the user needs to resume playback. This advance preparation eliminates the time required for manual reselection when the user switches devices.
2Ease of operation
If playback position information is manually tracked, then device complexity remains low, but operational convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system server serves as a centralized intermediary that handles all playback position tracking and data distribution. Individual media devices do not need complex local tracking mechanisms, as the server manages the playback state information centrally and makes it available to any device the user switches to.
Solution Approach 2:
The system server provides universal functionality by serving multiple media devices simultaneously, handling playback position tracking, channel identification, and data distribution for any number of devices in the system. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single centralized component.
3Ease of operation
If automatic playback transfer is implemented, then user convenience improves, but network infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system server acts as a network intermediary that manages all communication between media devices. Instead of requiring direct peer-to-peer communication between devices, the server centralizes network interactions, simplifying the network infrastructure requirements while enabling automatic playback transfer across multiple devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for transferring streaming media playback between streaming media devices. In an example embodiment, a user may be streaming content using a first media device. The user may then send a command to the first media device to transfer the streaming content to a second media device. The first media device may identify the second media device as being on a common network and transmit a wake command to the second media device as well as media playback state information indicating a playback position to resume playback. In some embodiments, the first media device may download the media playback state information onto a mobile device. The mobile device may then provide the media playback state information to the second media device to resume playback at the first media device's playback position.