Analog Clock Interface for Multimedia Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multimedia devices face challenges in efficiently administering and utilizing stored audio and video data, particularly in providing an intuitive and interactive way for users to manage recorded content, including navigation, playback, and storage management.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus featuring an interactive user interface with an analog clock representation, including a disc-like shape with sectors indicating recording and playback progress, a pointer for navigation, and additional features like trick play modes, age ratings, and storage space visualization, allows users to efficiently manage and navigate stored audio and video data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a digital or linear interface is used for time navigation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of intuitive user interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a clock face representation with circular geometry instead of linear digital displays. The clock face includes hour and minute hands that rotate around a circular dial, providing intuitive visual feedback for time-based navigation of recorded content. This curved interface allows users to grasp temporal relationships immediately, resolving the contradiction between intuitive operation and interface complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color-coded sectors on the clock face to indicate different states and information categories. Different colors represent various time periods, recording statuses, and content types, enabling users to quickly comprehend complex information without increasing interface complexity. This visual encoding enhances ease of operation while maintaining a relatively simple display structure.
2Loss of information
If detailed information about recorded content is displayed, then the loss of information is reduced, but the area required for display increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the clock face into multiple sectors, each representing different time periods or content categories. Additional information such as program titles, timestamps, and content descriptors are segmented and placed in peripheral areas or pop-up windows rather than cluttering the main clock display. This segmentation allows comprehensive information presentation while maintaining a compact central interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes multiple display dimensions by incorporating pop-up windows, tooltips, and layered information displays. When users interact with specific clock sectors, additional detailed information appears in overlay windows or adjacent areas, effectively using the third dimension (depth) to present comprehensive data without expanding the primary two-dimensional clock face area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple navigation options and features are provided, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal clock face interface that serves multiple functions: time display, content navigation, playback control, and program selection. The same circular dial and hand mechanisms handle various navigation tasks, eliminating the need for separate controls for each function. This multi-functionality increases adaptability while avoiding the complexity of multiple specialized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple navigation features and controls into the unified clock face structure. Program guides, time-shift controls, and content browsing capabilities are merged into the circular interface rather than being separated into distinct panels or menus. This consolidation provides versatile navigation options while reducing overall system complexity through integration.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus is provided for processing audio and/or video data comprising a module for displaying an element that has a shape of at least a portion of an analogue clock, wherein a sector associated with the element indicates a duration or a length of the audio and/or video data.