UPnP Transcoding Server Mediator for Format Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UPnP network architectures lack an efficient method for on-the-fly transcoding of digital multimedia content to enable playback on selected UPnP devices, requiring modifications to multiple devices and transcoding capabilities within content servers and rendering devices.
Innovation Solution
Modifying the UPnP control device to obtain identifiers from a transcoding server capable of transcoding multimedia content, allowing centralized updates and avoiding modifications to rendering devices, with the transcoding server generating identifiers for controlling multimedia content reproduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If transcoding functions are integrated into content servers and control points are modified to modify URLs, then on-the-fly transcoding is enabled, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated transcoding server as an intermediary component between the content server and rendering devices. This mediator handles all transcoding operations centrally, eliminating the need to modify content servers or rendering devices. The control point simply requests transcoded content from the transcoding server using standard UPnP commands, thus enabling on-the-fly transcoding without increasing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rendering devices are modified to interrogate transcoders, then transcoding is enabled, but ease of operation decreases due to multiple device modifications required
Solution Approach 1:
The transcoding server acts as an intermediary that rendering devices do not need to modify. Instead of changing rendering devices to query transcoders, the system uses a centralized transcoding server that receives content requests from rendering devices and provides transcoded content automatically. This maintains ease of operation while enabling transcoding functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The transcoding server provides universal transcoding capability for all rendering devices in the network without requiring device-specific modifications. Any rendering device can request transcoded content from the server, making the transcoding function universally available across the UPnP network without affecting individual device operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If content servers are modified to include transcoding functions, then format conversion is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the transcoding function from the content server by introducing a dedicated transcoding server as an intermediary. The content server remains simple and unchanged, while the transcoding server handles all format conversion operations. This division of labor enables format conversion capability without increasing content server complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a transcoding method which aims to define a transcoding server (TCS) suitable for providing a UPnP control device (ADMC) with an identifier (URI2) generated for transcoded multimedia content, to be generated from multimedia content to be reproduced, said identifier (URI2) to be used instead of an identifier provided by a content server to control the reproduction of the content (C1) by a reproduction device.