Systems, methods and computer program products for detecting and displaying selectable networked devices based on proximity or signal strength
An architecture is provided for displaying a list of connected devices by generating a first list of devices connected to the same local network and scanning for devices within a defined physical range of a media playback device. A second list of devices within the defined physical range is generated and compared to the first list to create a third list of devices with overlapping identifiers. The media playback device then displays the third list of devices on its interface according to proximity for the user to select an appropriate device for media playback.
1 . A method for displaying a listing of connected devices, comprising:
obtaining a first list of device metadata including first device identifiers corresponding to devices that are connected to a local network and enabled to stream media content items;
scanning, by a wireless signal strength detector associated with a media playback device, for one or more devices estimated to be within a predefined physical distance of the media playback device;
generating a second list of device metadata including second device identifiers corresponding to the one or more devices within the predefined physical distance;
generating a third list of device metadata corresponding to an overlap of the first list of device metadata and the second list of device metadata, wherein the overlap is determined by one or more device identifiers that are included in the first device identifiers and the second device identifiers; and
displaying, via a display interface of the media playback device, at least a portion of the third list of device metadata.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
communicating the first list of device metadata and the second list of device metadata to a device aggregator that is remote from the media playback device, wherein the device aggregator is implemented in one of (i) an edge device, (ii) a remote server, or (iii) a middleware component; and
receiving, by the media playback device from the device aggregator, the third list of device metadata.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the third list of device metadata is ordered based on one or more received signal strength detectors corresponding to the one or more devices within the predefined physical distance in the second list of device metadata.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more devices estimated to be within the predefined physical distance is any one of (i) a Bluetooth (BT) enabled device, (ii) an ultra-wideband (UWB) enabled device, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), and wherein the third list of device metadata is ordered based on one or more received signal strength detectors corresponding to the one or more BT enabled devices and the one or more UWB enabled devices in the second list of device metadata.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predefined physical distance is adjustable via a user interface of the media playback device.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first device identifiers and the second device identifiers is (i) a device name, (ii) an Internet Protocol (IP) address, (iii) a location identifier, or (iv) a unique identifier other than (i), (ii) or (iii).
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the third list of device metadata includes a device characteristic.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a selection of a device identified from the third list of device metadata displayed on the display interface of the media playback device, thereby receiving a selected device; and
establishing a connection between the media playback device and the selected device for media playback.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a selection of a device identified from the third list of device metadata displayed on the display interface of the media playback device, thereby receiving a selected device;
communicating the selection to a media delivery system; and
establishing a connection between the selected device and the media delivery system for media playback.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: the first list of device metadata is in a first sequence; the second list of device metadata is in a second sequence, the second sequence being at least in part different from the first sequence; and the third list of device metadata ordered based on the second sequence.
11 . A system for displaying a listing of connected devices, comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing one or more programs including instructions configured to be executed by the one or more processors and causing the one or more processors to:
obtain a first list of device metadata including first device identifiers corresponding to devices that are connected to a local network and enabled to stream media content items;
scan, by a wireless signal strength detector associated with a media playback device, for one or more devices estimated to be within a predefined physical distance of the media playback device;
generate a second list of device metadata including second device identifiers corresponding to the one or more devices within the predefined physical distance;
generate a third list of device metadata corresponding to an overlap of the first list of device metadata and the second list of device metadata, wherein the overlap is determined by one or more device identifiers that are included in the first device identifiers and the second device identifiers; and
display, via a display interface of the media playback device, at least a portion of the third list of device metadata.
12 . The system according to claim 11 , the one or more programs further including instructions for causing the one or more processors to:
communicate the first list of device metadata and the second list of device metadata to a device aggregator that is remote from the media playback device, wherein the device aggregator is implemented in one of (i) an edge device, (ii) a remote server, or (iii) a middleware component; and
receive, by the media playback device from the device aggregator, the third list of device metadata.
13 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the third list of device metadata is ordered based on one or more received signal strength detectors corresponding to the one or more devices within the predefined physical distance in the second list of device metadata.
14 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein each of the one or more devices estimated to be within the predefined physical distance is any one of (i) a Bluetooth (BT) enabled device, (ii) an ultra-wideband (UWB) enabled device, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), and wherein the third list of device metadata is ordered based on one or more received signal strength detectors corresponding to the one or more BT enabled devices and the one or more UWB enabled devices in the second list of device metadata.
15 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the predefined physical distance is adjustable via a user interface of the media playback device.
16 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein each of the first device identifiers and the second device identifiers is (i) a device name, (ii) an Internet Protocol (IP) address, (iii) a location identifier, or (iv) a unique identifier other than (i), (ii) or (iii).
17 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the third list of device metadata includes a device characteristic.
18 . The system according to claim 11 , the one or more programs further including instructions for causing the one or more processors to:
receive a selection of a device identified from the third list of device metadata displayed on the display interface of the media playback device, thereby receiving a selected device; and
establish a connection between the media playback device and the selected device for media playback.
19 . The system according to claim 11 , the one or more programs further including instructions for causing the one or more processors to:
receive a selection of a device identified from the third list of device metadata displayed on the display interface of the media playback device, thereby receiving a selected device;
communicate the selection to a media delivery system; and
establish a connection between the selected device and the media delivery system for media playback.
20 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein: the first list of device metadata is in a first sequence; the second list of device metadata is in a second sequence, the second sequence being at least in part different from the first sequence; and the third list of device metadata ordered based on the second sequence.