Bimodal DVR Unifying OTA and Streaming Content Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Over-the-top (OTT) television services lack access to locally broadcast over-the-air (OTA) television channels, which are not readily available for recording or streaming, and users may need to pay extra for streaming versions of these channels.
Innovation Solution
A bimodal digital video recorder (DVR) system that records OTA television programs locally via an antenna input port and remotely records scheduled streaming programs through a cloud-based television programming service provider, presenting a unified interface for both types of content, allowing users to manage and view OTA and streaming programs interchangeably.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users rely solely on OTT services for television programming, then they can access streaming content via the Internet, but they cannot access locally broadcast over-the-air television channels
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges OTT streaming service functionality with traditional OTA broadcasting reception into a single integrated platform. The set-top box simultaneously receives streaming content via Internet connection and OTA content via antenna input, combining both content sources into one unified system that manages and delivers both types of programming through the same user interface and playback mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The set-top box is designed with multi-functionality to serve dual purposes: it acts as both an OTT streaming device and an OTA broadcasting receiver. The system incorporates multiple input interfaces (Internet network interface and antenna input port) and can record, store, and playback both streaming and broadcast content, making a single device universal for different content delivery methods.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users record OTA television programs locally, then they can access these programs without additional subscriptions, but they require separate local storage infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines local storage infrastructure with cloud-based storage services into an integrated storage architecture. Recorded OTA content is stored locally on the set-top box or connected storage devices, while the system also utilizes cloud storage capacity for additional recording space. This merged storage approach allows users to record more content without proportionally increasing local hardware requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a hybrid storage management intermediary that coordinates between local storage resources and cloud storage resources. This intermediary layer manages data placement, retrieval, and synchronization between local and remote storage, abstracting the complexity from the user while optimizing the use of both storage types based on content access patterns and available capacity.
3Reliability
If the system presents separate interfaces for OTA and streaming programs, then recording and storage locations are clearly distinguished, but user management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the presentation of OTA and streaming content into a single unified user interface. Both types of programs are displayed together in the same program guides and content listings, allowing users to browse and select content from both sources without switching between separate interfaces. The underlying distinction in storage locations is maintained in the system architecture but is transparent to the user experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by providing context-specific information about content source and storage location within the unified interface. While the overall interface is unified, subtle indicators or metadata are provided to inform users about whether a particular program is from OTA or streaming sources, and where it is stored, allowing informed selection without creating separate interface modes.
Data Source
AI summary
Various arrangements for providing bimodal digital video recording are presented. A plurality of over-the-air (OTA) television programs received via an antenna input port may be recorded to a local processor-readable storage medium. Record instructions may be transmitted to a cloud-based television programming service provider server system to remotely record and store scheduled streaming television programs to storage of the cloud-based television programming service provider server system. OTA television programs received via the antenna input port and recorded to the local processor-readable storage medium may be determined. Indications of television programs stored by the cloud-based television programming service provider server system may be received. Data may be output to a display device to present the bimodal DVR interface having a unified interface that simultaneously comprises indications of the recorded OTA television programs and indications of the scheduled streaming television programming.