Wireless SD Card Interface for Media Player Network Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many media players, especially those without network connectivity, are limited to playing content from physical media and lack the ability to access and render content from networked sources, restricting their functionality.
Innovation Solution
A wireless-equipped SD card with a processor, storage, and network interface, including software for connecting to networked content sources, such as DLNA servers and the internet, is used to provide an interface between the media player and various content sources, allowing users to select and render local or remote content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a media player is equipped with only physical media interfaces, then the device structure remains simple, but the content source accessibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (such as a wireless router or network interface device) that mediates between the media player and networked content sources. This intermediary provides network connectivity and content delivery capabilities without requiring direct network integration into the media player itself, thus expanding content accessibility while keeping the media player's structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the media player to access multiple content sources through a unified interface approach. By integrating or connecting to a multi-functional content delivery system that supports both physical media and networked content, the media player achieves universal access to diverse content sources without requiring separate dedicated interfaces for each source type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a media player lacks network connectivity, then the device remains simple, but the ability to access remote content is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an intermediary network interface device that provides network connectivity and content delivery functions. This intermediary acts as a bridge between the media player and remote content sources, enabling network content access without requiring the media player itself to have complex network integration capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network connectivity and content delivery functions from the media player by introducing a separate intermediary device. This segmentation allows the media player to maintain simplicity while still accessing network content through the intermediary's network interface and processing capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If content is delivered directly to the media player, then the playback is straightforward, but transcoding and decryption capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device that serves as a content processing gateway. This intermediary handles complex tasks such as transcoding content formats and decrypting protected content before delivering the processed content to the media player. This approach enables format compatibility and content protection while keeping the media player's processing requirements manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts complex content processing functions (transcoding and decryption) from the media player and places them in a separate intermediary device. This extraction allows the media player to focus on simple playback functionality while the intermediary handles the complex format conversion and security processing, thereby achieving versatility without overcomplicating the player itself.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods in which a media player is connected via an interface device over a network to a source of content. Some conventional media players such as DVD players and televisions are equipped with hardware to render content disposed on and playable from a removable memory device, in particular a SD card. A memory card may be equipped with networking functionality, in particular, WI-FI networking, to enable connectivity over a local area wireless network. The memory card further may be provided with a processor. By providing an interface device that includes a processor, networking functionality, and storage, with suitable software on the storage, the media player may be connected over a network to locally networked or remote content sources. In some embodiments, the interface device also includes its own locally stored content.