TV Media Player Control via Remote Command Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in controlling and playing web media on television displays remotely from a personal computing device, particularly due to distance and interference issues, making it difficult to operate a television set from a comfortable distance and integrate web browsing with normal viewing.
Innovation Solution
A system that enables remote control of a display device, such as a television, using a personal computing device by establishing a connection through a server system, allowing the personal computing device to select and control content playback on the display device, even if different media players are required, via a universal adapter to convert commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a computer is connected to a television set to watch Web media, then Web media can be displayed on the television, but it is difficult to control the system from a distance and interferes with normal television program viewing
Solution Approach 1:
A remote control application on a personal computing device serves as an intermediary between the user and the television/media player system. The application communicates with the media player over the network, allowing users to control content playback, playlists, and media player functions remotely from their computing device without being physically near the television.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service control where the personal computing device automatically manages the control session with the media player. The application establishes connections, sends control commands, and receives feedback automatically, reducing the need for manual configuration or physical interaction with the television system.
2Ease of operation
If a wireless device is used to control the television from a distance, then remote control is enabled, but it can be difficult to view a web browser display on the television set and may interfere with normal television program viewing by other persons
Solution Approach 1:
The remote control application acts as an intermediary that sends control commands to the media player without requiring the user to view the television screen or interfere with the viewing experience. All control operations are performed through the computing device's display and interface, leaving the television available for normal viewing by others.
Solution Approach 2:
The control function is segmented from the display function. The personal computing device handles all control operations and displays control information locally, while the television dedicatedly displays media content without control interface elements, allowing simultaneous control and viewing without interference.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different media players are required to play different content types, then content compatibility is improved, but device complexity and command conversion requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The remote control application implements universal control capability by maintaining a mapping between computing device control commands and media player-specific commands. This allows a single application to control multiple different media players and content types without requiring separate control interfaces for each player type.
Solution Approach 2:
The application serves as a command translation intermediary, converting universal control commands from the computing device into media player-specific commands. This translation layer handles the complexity of different media player protocols and interfaces, shielding the user from the underlying complexity while maintaining broad content compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling playback of various types of content includes a first computing device that provides a unique identifier to a second computing device to establish an association there between. By virtue of the established association, the second computing device can send one or more messages to the first computing device, the one or more messages referencing a piece of content associated with a first media playing element of a plurality of media playing elements, and one or more commands corresponding to the first media playing element. The first computing device can select the first media playing element based on the received one or more messages, and control how the first media playing element plays the referenced piece of content utilizing the one or more commands.