Multi-screen Virtual Billboard Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies lack a novel approach to enhance spectator participation and engagement at events by effectively utilizing the graphical capabilities of ubiquitous mobile devices for synchronized displays across diverse hardware and software platforms.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for creating a spectator-powered virtual billboard by determining the location of mobile devices and providing corresponding display data, allowing synchronization of graphical elements across multiple devices to form a cohesive display, using a client application and virtual billboard service that accounts for varying device capabilities and network conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mobile devices with diverse hardware and software platforms are used for display, then spectator participation and engagement are enhanced, but synchronization precision and display consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts display parameters such as refresh rates, resolution, and timing intervals based on each device's capabilities. The server sends customized display data with device-specific parameters to ensure synchronized presentation across heterogeneous devices, transforming the physical state of display output to match individual device characteristics while maintaining overall synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization mechanism employs dynamic timing adjustment where the server continuously monitors device responses and adapts transmission timing accordingly. Display data is sent with flexible timing windows that accommodate varying device processing speeds, allowing the system to maintain synchronization precision despite hardware diversity through real-time parameter adaptation.
2Illumination intensity
If high resolution color images and full motion video are displayed on mobile devices, then visual quality is improved, but energy consumption and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality adaptation by sending full-resolution display data only to devices capable of rendering it, while providing optimized lower-resolution data to devices with limited processing or display capabilities. This allows high visual quality where possible while conserving energy on devices where it would be wasteful, matching display quality to local device characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The server implements partial action by selectively transmitting full-motion video data only to devices with sufficient processing power and battery capacity, while sending static images or simplified animations to energy-constrained devices. This partial deployment of high-quality display content optimizes the overall energy efficiency of the spectator display system while maintaining high visual quality where appropriate.
3Ease of operation
If a centralized system controls display data distribution to multiple devices, then display coordination is improved, but system complexity and network load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized control system is segmented into modular components: a server for data generation, a communication layer for data transmission, and device clients for local rendering. Each component operates independently with well-defined interfaces, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining centralized coordination. The segmentation allows the system to manage multiple devices through standardized data packets rather than complex device-specific control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for the display of a multi-screen virtual billboard. The virtual billboard utilizes individual mobile devices as portions of a display screen (e.g., as individual pixels or groups of pixels). Each mobile device is configured to display a portion of the virtual billboard corresponding to a location of the mobile device. The mobile devices forming the virtual billboard are triggered in order to display a graphic or other visual information in synchronization with the other mobile devices.