A model for user interface adaptation of multi-device media services

In the current audiovisual arena the user has the chance to consume different contents at once across multiple Internet-connected devices, such as smart TV, smartphone, tablet or laptop. However, few existing solutions are able to dynamically adapt a multitude of contents as a single experience across multi-device contexts and the existing ones are very scenario specific. To address this gap, we propose a general multi-device adaptation model, that provides a framework for building adaptive User Interfaces (UIs) for multi-screen applications under the Create Once and Publish Everywhere (COPE) concept. Hybrid broadcast-broadband TV is a reference application field for the adaptation model. However, our model is universal in the sense that it can be applied to any kind of content, device or user; in different multi-device scenarios; and in other fields such as industry or crisis management. The proposed model is an outcome of an extensive research that arose from a previous multi-device media service deployment with broadcasters, which helped to identify a set of guidelines and improvements. In order to meet this goal, the UI is formalised as a set of elements including components, devices and layouts and the adaptation process is modelled as a function of these components. Additionally, an evaluation model is provided which allows the validation of the approach in terms of quality, efficiency and universality. The tests carried out show that the model provides efficient solutions which, although they are suboptimal, have enough quality to meet the expectations of broadcasters and researchers in different scenarios.