Unified Device Discovery for Multi-Protocol First Screen Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protocols for client device interoperability in establishing video sessions with first screen devices face issues such as device duplication and protocol interoperability problems, leading to user confusion and potential selection of sub-optimal protocols, as well as disruption of existing sessions when attempting to join using different protocols.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that utilizes a control server to manage device discovery, deduplicate device listings, and facilitate session establishment across multiple protocols, ensuring seamless interoperability by generating unique application identifiers, maintaining pairing and session status information, and enabling indirect coupling through the control server when protocol compatibility is lacking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a device supports multiple protocols for establishing video sessions, then protocol versatility and adaptability are improved, but device duplication occurs in discovery listings causing user confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple discovery paths and protocol results into a single unified device listing. The system consolidates device information from DIAL, CAST, and manual pairing pathways, presenting one unified entry per device rather than multiple duplicate entries, thereby maintaining protocol versatility while eliminating user confusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that acts as a mediator between multiple discovery protocols and the user interface. This intermediary consolidates device information from various protocols and presents a unified view to the user, resolving the contradiction between supporting multiple protocols and providing a clean user experience.
2Device complexity
If discovery modules function independently for each protocol, then protocol independence and modularity are improved, but protocol interoperability fails when attempting to join existing sessions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal session management system that can handle multiple protocols (DIAL, CAST, manual pairing) through a single interface. This universal layer allows independent discovery modules to function autonomously while ensuring interoperability when joining existing sessions, as the universal manager coordinates protocol-specific operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary session management layer that sits between independent discovery modules and the actual video sessions. This intermediary maintains session state information and coordinates protocol-specific operations, enabling devices to join existing sessions regardless of which protocol was used to establish them.
3Loss of information
If a device is presented multiple times in discovery listings across different protocols, then complete device visibility is improved, but device duplication causes confusion and sub-optimal protocol selection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple device listings that represent the same physical device into a single unified entry. The system consolidates information from DIAL discovery, CAST discovery, and manual pairing into one comprehensive device listing, maintaining complete visibility of available devices while eliminating confusing duplicates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary consolidation of device information before presenting listings to the user. By pre-processing discovery results from multiple protocols and merging duplicate device entries beforehand, the system provides a clean, non-duplicated device list while preserving complete device visibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A second screen device discovers a first screen application operating on the first screen device and a plurality of coupling protocols available to connect to the first screen device. The second screen device provides a device list based on the discovering, the device list including a plurality of entries each associated with the first screen application and a respective coupling protocol of the plurality of coupling protocols. The second screen device obtains pairing information for the first screen application from a control server. The second screen device updates the device list using the pairing information from the control server. The second screen device performs device deduplication using the updated device list to generate a deduplicated entry for the first screen application, and presents the deduplicated entry for the first screen application in a user interface.