TV Browser Content Conversion for Heterogeneous Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for capturing screen content from a TV browser on a smartphone are hindered by noise issues, poor image quality, and inefficient data sharing, especially when dealing with heterogeneous devices with different control structures.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that detect and convert browsing content from a TV browser into data suitable for an external device, allowing seamless transmission and sharing by requesting and processing data based on the external device's capabilities through a communication network.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user directly takes a picture of the screen using the smartphone's camera, then the screen content can be captured, but noise is captured depending on the frequency at which the smartphone's sensor or TV updates, and the sensor may not easily recognize the captured data due to poor image quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreen capture operationVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a browser extension as an intermediary component that bridges the TV browser and smartphone. The extension captures screen content through structured data extraction (DOM, CSS, JSON) rather than direct image sensing, eliminating the noise and recognition issues of direct camera capture while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical camera system with a digital data extraction system. Instead of using the smartphone camera to photograph the screen, the system extracts browsing content as structured data (HTML, CSS, JSON) through the browser extension, substituting physical imaging with digital data capture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If captured data is stored and shared as images, then the screen content can be shared, but a large amount of data traffic is generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata sharingVSAvoiddata traffic
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential browsing content data (DOM structure, CSS styles, JSON metadata) rather than capturing complete screen images. This extraction approach retains the necessary information for sharing while dramatically reducing data volume and traffic requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the data representation parameter from binary image data to structured text-based data (HTML, JSON). This parameter transformation maintains information fidelity while reducing data size, enabling efficient sharing with minimal data traffic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If remote UIs are provided to control heterogeneous devices with different control structures, then device control is enabled, but the remote UIs are most likely not suited to each other and require separate stacks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidcontrol structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal browser extension framework that works across heterogeneous devices (smartphones, tablets, computers) without requiring device-specific stacks. The extension uses standardized web technologies (HTML, CSS, JSON) that can be universally interpreted, enabling one extension to control multiple device types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent standardizes the control interface parameters using web-standard data formats (JSON, HTML, CSS). This parameter standardization allows the same extension to adapt to different devices by interpreting standardized data rather than requiring device-specific control structures, reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2589012B1Method and apparatus for converting content
Publication Date: 2019.07.31 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2589012B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2589012B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses for converting content are provided. A predetermined request signal from an external device is received. All or a portion of currently browsed content is converted into data that can be browsed on the external device, based on information about the external device contained in the predetermined request signal. The data is transmitted to the external device.