Virtual Desktop Services for Interactive Television
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional interactive television services in hotel rooms lack access to a wide range of applications like Internet browsing, business applications, and games due to limited computing resources and operating system constraints, resulting in a poor user experience with slow speeds and limited access to popular web sites.
Innovation Solution
A system that provides virtual computing services by allocating virtual desktops running on servers, accessible through interactive television, using a set-top box or similar device, where user input is captured and forwarded to the server for rendering and encoding into synchronized audio and video streams, enabling high-definition rendering and low latency interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional interactive television services are used in hotel rooms, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the computing resources are limited and operating system constraints prevent access to a wide range of applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual desktop infrastructure as an intermediary layer between the simple set-top box and the user. The set-top box acts as a thin client that connects to remote virtual desktops hosted on servers, allowing access to full-featured applications without requiring the in-room device to have substantial computing resources. This mediator architecture enables application versatility while keeping the local device simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the computing resources from the spatial dimension (local set-top box hardware) to the network dimension (remote servers). By transitioning from local processing to remote processing over a network, the system gains access to unlimited computing resources and application types without increasing the complexity or resource requirements of the in-room device.
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtual desktop services are provided through remote servers, then access to wide range of applications is enabled, but network dependency and latency may affect user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements session pre-establishment and resource pre-allocation. Virtual desktops are pre-configured and ready for immediate assignment to set-top boxes. Network pathways are established in advance, and computing resources are pre-provisioned on remote servers, minimizing the time required to provide service when a user requests access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains persistent virtual desktop sessions that remain active and ready for user interaction. Once a virtual desktop is assigned to a set-top box, the connection remains continuous with minimal interruption, allowing users to seamlessly access their applications without repeated authentication or session re-establishment delays.
3Ease of manufacture
If audio and video streams are encoded separately, then processing is simpler, but synchronization problems occur between audio and video content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements synchronization feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors the relationship between audio and video stream timestamps and adjusts encoding parameters accordingly. The encoder receives feedback about timing deviations and modifies its operation to maintain proper synchronization, ensuring that audio and video remain aligned throughout playback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a common timing reference or clock source for both audio and video encoding processes. By establishing a shared temporal baseline, the system ensures that both streams are synchronized at their source, eliminating the need for complex post-encoding synchronization adjustments and maintaining reliable audio-video alignment.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus are described for providing access to arbitrary applications via an interactive television service using a pool of remote virtual desktops.