Transition Manager for Seamless Multi-Network Content Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users experience interruptions in service when transitioning between different network providers due to lack of communication and compatibility issues, such as when moving from a cable television network to a mobile phone network, as devices are unable to locate and access content seamlessly across different networks with varying transmission characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A transition manager system that monitors content transmissions across multiple networks, correlates necessary information like addressing, encryption, and codecs, and provides transitioning instructions to facilitate seamless handovers between networks without interrupting service, using a method that includes monitoring content, determining transition requests, identifying content, assessing accessibility, and generating new instructions for multicast or broadcast tier transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a device is bound to a single network provider to ensure proper signal processing and compatibility, then transmission reliability is improved, but network adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmission reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork provider adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a transition manager as an intermediary component that mediates between the device and multiple network providers. This transition manager stores network-specific transmission characteristics and automatically selects appropriate parameters when switching between providers, allowing the device to maintain reliable signal processing across different networks without being bound to a single provider

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is designed with multi-functionality to support multiple network providers through a single interface. The transition manager enables the device to adapt to different network transmission characteristics (compression, encryption, modulation) by storing and applying provider-specific parameters, making the device universally compatible across cable television networks, mobile phone networks, and other providers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a device supports multiple network providers to improve adaptability, then network versatility is improved, but service continuity during transition deteriorates due to lack of provider communication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-network access capabilityVSAvoidservice continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The transition manager performs preliminary actions by pre-storing transmission characteristics for multiple network providers before a transition is needed. When a user needs to switch networks, the device already has the necessary parameters (addressing schemes, encryption methods, codec information) ready, enabling seamless transition without service interruption. This is evident when the device automatically adjusts to different multicast addressing schemes or encryption protocols upon network switching

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the transition manager continuously monitors network availability and transmission characteristics. When the device detects a need to transition between networks, the transition manager uses stored information about the target network's transmission characteristics to automatically configure the device, ensuring continuous service without requiring user intervention or manual searching for content

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If manual intervention is required to locate content on a new network during transition, then user control is improved, but transition time and service interruption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser control over content selectionVSAvoidcontent location time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The transition manager enables self-service operation by automatically handling the complex task of locating and switching to content on a new network. When a network transition occurs, the transition manager uses stored transmission characteristics to automatically identify and tune to the correct content stream, eliminating the need for users to manually search for programs. The system serves itself by autonomously managing the transition process while maintaining user-selected content

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11871303B2Method and system of supporting continuous access to content transmitted over two or more networks

Publication Date: 2024.01.09 CABLE TELEVISION LAB INC

AI summary

A system and method of supporting access to content over first and second networks that allows a user to access content over different networks, either on the same device or with different devices. The access may be supported in a continuous or seamless matter without substantially interrupting access to the content, such as by instigating the transition during a period of time when minimal, if any content, or content of value, is likely to be missed.