Virtual Screen Management for Multimedia Content on Mobile Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for displaying multimedia content on mobile devices are limited by small screen sizes, which restrict the ability to show content in a meaningful resolution, and existing solutions either restrict the user to a partial view or require the main terminal to handle all image data processing, lacking flexibility in content distribution and display.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that pre-edit multimedia content to include control and rendering information, allowing it to be split and displayed across multiple mobile devices, with one device designated as a master to control the content, enabling clear resolution and flexible rendering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If multimedia content is displayed on a single mobile device screen, then the device complexity is reduced, but the display resolution and quality deteriorate due to limited screen size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem complexityVSAvoiddisplay resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the multimedia content into multiple segments that are distributed across several mobile device screens. Each screen displays a portion of the content, and the segments are synchronized to create a cohesive whole. This segmentation allows high-resolution display across multiple small screens without requiring a single large screen or complex centralized system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple mobile device screens to function as a unified display system. Through synchronization and coordination of the segmented content across devices, the system creates a merged visual experience that achieves high resolution equivalent to or exceeding a single large screen, while maintaining the simplicity of using standard mobile devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Manufacturing precision

If multimedia content is split and displayed across multiple mobile devices, then the display resolution is improved, but the device complexity and coordination requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay resolutionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms where each mobile device autonomously receives and displays its assigned content segment without requiring complex centralized coordination. The system automatically distributes segments to appropriate devices based on availability and capability, reducing the complexity of manual configuration and system management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-segmenting the multimedia content and pre-establishing distribution rules before deployment. This allows the system to automatically assign and display content segments without requiring complex real-time coordination, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining high display resolution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If control functions are distributed to multiple mobile devices, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability and coordination between devices worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser control capabilityVSAvoidcoordination reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where each mobile device reports its status, content segment display state, and operational information back to the system. This feedback enables automatic coordination and conflict resolution, ensuring reliable operation even when multiple devices have control functions, while maintaining ease of user operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer that manages coordination between multiple mobile devices with control functions. This intermediary handles conflict resolution, synchronizes operations, and ensures reliable coordination without requiring complex peer-to-peer communication between devices, thereby maintaining both ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If one mobile device is designated as master for control functions, then the coordination reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to restricted control access

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination reliabilityVSAvoiduser control accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality where any mobile device in the system can serve as a control interface depending on which device the user is currently using. The master device designation is dynamic or flexible, allowing control functions to be accessed through any device in the group, thereby maintaining both coordination reliability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates copies of control functionality across multiple devices rather than restricting it to a single master device. Each device can replicate essential control operations, allowing users to control the multimedia content from any device in the system while the underlying system maintains coordination reliability through synchronized operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP1868078B1Method and system for virtual screen management of multimedia content
Publication Date: 2015.11.11 VODAFONE GMBH
  • EP1868078B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1868078B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for virtual screen management for multimedia content. The method is characterized in that one multimedia content element (7) is at least partially displayed on at least two mobile device screens (41, 51, 61). Furthermore, a system for virtual screen management for multimedia content, comprising at least one processing unit (2, 3) and at least one mobile device (4, 5, 6) is described. The system is characterized in that the processing unit (2, 3) is provided for embedding at least one function in at least one multimedia content element (7) and one mobile device (4) is provided for controlling the display of the multimedia content element (7) on at least two mobile device screens (41, 51, 61).