Wireless Media Streaming via Proximity Discovery and Dynamic Handoff
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile devices with media capabilities are limited by the need for wired connections to transfer media to external playback systems, restricting their mobility and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A system enabling wireless media transfer over a communication network using multicasting and unicasting protocols, allowing media to be dynamically streamed from mobile source devices to spatially-separated destination devices based on proximity and priority, with asynchronous discovery and configuration processes to ensure efficient data transfer and seamless playback transitions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired connections are used to transfer media from mobile devices to external playback systems, then data transfer reliability is improved, but device mobility and user experience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless communication system using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth protocols. The mobile device establishes wireless connections with destination devices (smart TVs, tablets, speakers) to transfer media data, eliminating the need for physical cables while maintaining stable data transmission through protocol-level error correction and connection management mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If wireless media transfer is implemented without docking connections, then device mobility is improved, but connection stability and data transfer speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic connection management where the mobile device can switch between different wireless connection states (connected, disconnected, roaming) based on proximity and signal quality. The system dynamically selects destination devices from an available list, adjusts transmission parameters, and maintains seamless playback by pre-buffering content and switching connections without requiring physical docking.
3Adaptability or versatility
If media playback transitions between spatially-separated destination devices are enabled, then adaptability to user movement is improved, but system complexity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary discovery and configuration where the mobile device proactively scans for and builds a list of available destination devices before media playback begins. The system pre-establishes connection parameters, buffers media content, and prepares transition pathways in advance, enabling seamless switching between destination devices when the user moves without requiring complex real-time decision-making algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for transmission and rendering of media data over an Internet Protocol network from portable data storage source devices to spatially-separated destination devices located at lifestyle-determined locations. Destination devices are brought online by a discovery process as they come in the vicinity of a source device. In the interest of speed, discovery messages utilize low-overhead, asynchronous messaging. The discovery process begins with multicasting from a source device to local destination devices of discovery messages which include a unique session key and zone, priority and ID specifications, followed by unicasting of a discovery acknowledgement message from destination devices to the source device, and unicasting of a configuration message from the source device to destination devices. In one preferred embodiment, the latest source device to come into the vicinity of a destination device becomes the source of the media rendered by the destination device.