Unified Multi-Screen Interface for Communication and Multimedia Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-screen communication applications lack a unified interface for accessing both communication sessions and multimedia content, requiring users to navigate different interfaces for communication and content retrieval, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enables multi-screen applications to receive a request string, search both user contact directories and keyword directory servers to determine connection identifiers, and establish multimedia connections using uniform resource identifiers (URIs), allowing users to access multimedia content through a consistent interface similar to communication sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multi-screen applications use separate interfaces for communication sessions and multimedia content access, then communication functionality is maintained, but user operation complexity increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-screen application implements a unified interface that serves multiple functions: it can initiate communication sessions with other users and access multimedia content through the same user interface. The application uses a common connection establishment mechanism that works for both communication partners and content servers, eliminating the need for separate interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the interface for communication sessions and multimedia content access into a single unified interface. The connection establishment process, previously separate for communications and content retrieval, is combined into one standardized flow that handles both types of interactions through the same user interaction paradigm.
2Measurement precision
If the application searches both user contact directories and keyword directory servers, then connection accuracy improves, but system response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary searches in the user's contact directory first, which is a local and faster operation. Based on the results of this preliminary search, the system then determines whether to perform an additional search in the remote keyword directory server. This staged approach ensures accurate connection identification while minimizing unnecessary network operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The application uses an intermediary decision-making process that evaluates search results from the contact directory before initiating a search in the keyword directory server. This intermediary step acts as a filter, determining whether further remote searching is necessary based on local search outcomes, thus balancing accuracy with response time.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods are described herein that comprise a multi-screen application which allows users to establish communication sessions with other users of the multi-screen application as well as allowing the user to request multimedia content using the same multi-screen application interface. The user makes a connection request to establish a multimedia session by entering a name or phone number. The multi-screen application uses a request string from the connection request to search a user's contact directory in order to determine possible user connection identifiers associated with the request string. The multi-screen application may additionally or alternatively transmit the request string to a directory server maintained by a service provider. The directory server may provide an endpoint for retrieving multimedia content associated with the string. The multi-media application may be used to allow a user to ‘call’ multimedia content using the same user interface used for calling another user.