Multichannel Broadcast Alerts and Auxiliary Datastreams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multichannel broadcast systems lack efficient methods for users to discover and access content of interest on other channels while listening to their primary channel, and there is a need for auxiliary data streams to be displayed concurrently with audio programming.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses unique identifiers within the broadcast signal to alert users to content of interest on other channels, allowing users to store criteria for desired content and automatically direct them to relevant channels or display auxiliary data streams, such as traffic information, sports scores, or stock prices, on a receiver display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users continuously scan through various channels to find content of interest, then they can discover available programming, but they lose time and interrupt their primary listening experience
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning and analysis of broadcast content across multiple channels in advance, storing program descriptive text and content metadata before the user needs it. This allows the alerting system to immediately notify users when content matching their interests is detected, eliminating the need for users to manually scan channels and preserving their listening time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary alerting system that acts as a mediator between the multichannel broadcast content and the user. Instead of requiring direct user interaction with multiple channels, the intermediary system monitors content across channels and delivers targeted notifications about relevant programming, simplifying the user's interaction to merely receiving and acting on alerts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users switch channels to access content of interest, then they can listen to desired programming, but they interrupt their primary audio experience and lose context
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the information delivery by separating primary audio content from auxiliary content information. Users receive alerts about content on other channels without needing to physically switch channels, allowing them to maintain their primary listening experience while still accessing information about alternative content through discrete alert notifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to content access by delivering content information through a different channel (visual alerts or secondary audio alerts) rather than requiring users to switch to the content's primary audio channel. This dimensional separation allows simultaneous access to multiple content sources without interrupting the primary listening experience.
3Quantity of substance
If multichannel broadcast systems transmit only audio content, then bandwidth is conserved, but users cannot access auxiliary information such as sports scores, traffic updates, or stock prices
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts auxiliary information (sports scores, traffic updates, stock prices) from dedicated information channels and delivers it separately from primary audio content. This extraction allows the system to provide comprehensive information to users while maintaining efficient bandwidth utilization by transmitting only essential data elements rather than full audio streams for all content types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal alerting system that can deliver multiple types of information (program alerts, sports scores, traffic updates, stock prices) through a single integrated platform. This multi-functional approach allows the broadcast system to provide diverse information services without requiring separate dedicated channels for each information type, optimizing bandwidth utilization while maximizing information availability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method (130, 135 and 140) for a user of a multichannel broadcasting service listening to a particular channel provides alerts about the content currently available on other channels which are of interest to the user. Auxiliary data streams of interest can be presented for display in conjunction with the audio transmission of a related or unrelated channel. The system and method include storing criteria associated with programming or auxiliary content of interest to a user and searching for unique identifiers within the broadcast signal signifying the availability of content which meets the criteria. Content of interest can be, for example, traffic information (105, 110, 120, 111 and 125), sports games available on other channels, sports scores, stock or other trading instruments prices, news headlines or travel information.