Terminal Device Controller for Multi-Device Media Synchronization

The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary device that manages multiple streamers and players. The controller coordinates synchronization signals and control commands across the network, enabling synchronized media playback across multiple devices while maintaining the existing DLNA/AirPlay infrastructure. This mediator resolves the contradiction by adding synchronization capability without replacing the core media sharing protocol.

The controller is designed to work with multiple streamers and players simultaneously, providing universal control across different device types. It can manage both 1:1 and 1:N connections, supporting various playback scenarios including synchronized playback across multiple devices. This multi-functionality enables the system to maintain compatibility with existing media sharing protocols while adding synchronization and group control capabilities.

The system segments the control function from the media playback function by introducing a dedicated controller that manages multiple streamers and players. This segmentation allows the controller to handle complex multi-device coordination while each individual player maintains simple playback operations. The controller divides the system into manageable components that can be controlled independently yet coordinated centrally.

The controller acts as an intermediary that simplifies multi-device control by centralizing management functions. Instead of requiring complex peer-to-peer coordination between multiple devices, the controller mediates all control operations, receiving user commands and distributing appropriate instructions to streamers and players. This intermediary approach maintains ease of operation while enabling versatile multi-device connections.

The controller serves as a centralized intermediary that manages synchronization across multiple devices, consolidating the complexity of real-time coordination into a single device. Rather than requiring each player to independently synchronize with every other device (which would create exponential complexity), the controller receives synchronization signals from streamers and distributes coordinated playback commands to players, reducing system complexity while maintaining reliable synchronization.

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the controller monitors playback status from multiple players and adjusts synchronization signals in real-time. This feedback loop enables the controller to maintain accurate synchronization across devices despite variations in processing speed or network latency, achieving reliable media synchronization through continuous adjustment rather than complex pre-coordination.