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A Web-based distributed architecture for multi-device adaptation in media applications

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Abstract

HTML5 is driving a strong trend towards interoperable Web-based applications, enabling a wider range of devices to run this kind of applications. The key challenge of next-generation media applications is to federate cooperative devices to provide multi-device experiences overcoming current second screen solutions within the connected TV industry. There is a gap on the experience of users, since they perceive devices as isolated pieces of applications when they would prefer to have a single experience through multiple devices at the same time. This paper proposes a unified methodology and a common specification over Web Components for the adaptation of a single application, seamlessly running different instances on one or more devices simultaneously, according to the multi-device context of the user and the specific features of the devices. The solution presented in this paper extends current Web standards towards an interoperable architecture and offers broadcasters and media application developers the possibility to easily design applications that will automatically provide a unique consistent experience across the connected devices. The architectural design is targeted to be included in the roadmap of the standards.

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Notes

  1. http://mediascapeproject.eu.

  2. DIAL Discovery And Launch protocol specification. Version 1.7.2 (2015) http://www.dial-multiscreen.org/dial-protocol-specification.

  3. SMIL 3.0. December 2008. http://www.w3.org/TR/SMIL/.

  4. Gridster.js website. http://gridster.net/.

  5. CSS Regions library, April 2014. http://github.com/FremyCompany/css-regions-polyfill.

  6. Mozilla XUL. http://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Tech/XUL.

  7. Kontx. http://developer.yahoo.com/connectedtv/kontxapiref/.

  8. EnyoJS. http://enyojs.com/.

  9. Bootstrap. http://getbootstrap.com/.

  10. Polymer library’s website: http://www.polymer-project.org/.

  11. A polyfill is a downloadable code which provides facilities that are not built natively in a Web browser.

  12. Lazy loading is a design pattern to defer initialisation of an object until the point at which it is needed, contributing to the efficiency of the application.

  13. Video of one of the performed experiments http://vimeo.com/113514286.

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Acknowledgments

The MediaScape project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement 610404. The contribution from the UPV/EHU has been supported by the Basque Council under Grant Agreement IT395-10. The first author would like to thank Iñigo Tamayo, Angel Martin, Ana Dominguez and Igor G. Olaizola, researchers in Vicomtech-IK4, for supporting the architectural design and implementation presented in the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vicomtech-IK4, Mikeletegi pasealekua 57, San Sebastian-Donostia, Spain

    Mikel Zorrilla & Julián Flórez

  2. Norut, Tromsø Science Park, P.O. Box 6434, Tromsø, Norway

    Njål Borch

  3. W3C/ERCIM, 2004, route des Lucioles, Sophia-Antipolis, 06410, BIOT, France

    François Daoust

  4. Institut für Rundfunktechnik, Floriansmuehlstrasse 60, Munich, Germany

    Alexander Erk

  5. UPV/EHU, Lardizabal Pasealekua 1, San Sebastian-Donostia, Spain

    Alberto Lafuente

Authors
  1. Mikel Zorrilla
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  2. Njål Borch
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  3. François Daoust
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  4. Alexander Erk
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  5. Julián Flórez
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  6. Alberto Lafuente
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Correspondence to Mikel Zorrilla.

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Zorrilla, M., Borch, N., Daoust, F. et al. A Web-based distributed architecture for multi-device adaptation in media applications. Pers Ubiquit Comput 19, 803–820 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-015-0864-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-015-0864-x

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