Centralized Control for Synchronized Multi-Device Media Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face challenges in synchronizing audio and video content across multiple devices in their environment, such as TVs and speakers, without a centralized control mechanism, leading to difficulties in streaming media content seamlessly across different locations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows a computing device to select and control a group of devices connected to a network, where it identifies available devices and provides indications for content distribution from a remote server, enabling synchronized playback of audio and video content across multiple devices, including display devices and speakers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are used to play audio and video content in different locations, then content accessibility and user mobility are improved, but synchronization of playback across devices becomes difficult without centralized control
Solution Approach 1:
A computing device acts as an intermediary between the content source and multiple playback devices. The computing device receives content, determines which devices should play it, and sends control signals to coordinate synchronized playback across all selected devices, eliminating the need for manual coordination between devices
2Manufacturing precision
If a centralized control mechanism is implemented to synchronize playback across multiple devices, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device performs multiple functions: it acts as a content receiver, a controller for multiple playback devices, and a coordinator for synchronized playback. By consolidating these control functions in a single device that users already possess and interact with, the system achieves precise synchronization without adding specialized control hardware to each playback device
3Adaptability or versatility
If content is streamed to multiple devices simultaneously, then user mobility and viewing flexibility are improved, but network bandwidth requirements and streaming complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the content distribution task: the computing device handles content acquisition and processing, while individual playback devices handle local playback. The computing device sends control signals to each device rather than duplicating the entire content stream to all devices, reducing network bandwidth requirements and simplifying the streaming architecture
Data Source
AI summary
In one general aspect, a method can include receiving, by a computing device, a selection of a group of devices that receive content under control of the computing device, and identifying a first device and a second device included in the group of devices. The computing device and each device included in the group of devices can be connected to a network. The first and second devices can be available to receive content, under the control of the computing device, from a server connected to the network that is remote from the group of devices and the computing device. The method can include providing an indication that the content be provided to the first device by the server and providing an indication that at least a portion of the content be provided to the second device synchronously with the providing of the content to the first device.