Channel Assignment for Data Streams in Satellite Broadcasting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Satellite television systems face inefficiencies in broadcasting less popular content, as using satellite resources at peak times can be costly, and users may miss key events due to inconvenient channel switching or lack of information when away from their TV.

Innovation Solution

A system that assigns broadcast channels to data streams by comparing program guide data and event data to identify relevant channels, allowing for remote recording and user interface displays, enabling efficient content delivery and user access to sporting events and other programming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If satellite resources are used to broadcast less popular content at peak viewing times, then content availability is improved, but resource cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent availabilityVSAvoidresource cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by downloading less popular content to local storage devices before peak viewing times. The content is pre-fetched and stored locally, so it can be accessed without using satellite resources during peak times, thus reducing resource costs while maintaining content availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A local storage device acts as an intermediary between the satellite broadcast system and the user. It stores content locally and provides it to users without requiring continuous satellite resource usage, thereby reducing the load on satellite resources while ensuring content is available when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users switch channels to follow multiple sporting events, then access to different content is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to different contentVSAvoidconvenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple sporting events into a single unified display interface. Instead of requiring users to switch between different channels to watch multiple games, all events are combined and displayed simultaneously on one screen, making it convenient to follow multiple events without manual channel changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a traditional single-channel display to a multi-dimensional display format showing multiple events simultaneously. By organizing events in a grid or list layout on a single screen, users can access multiple pieces of content without leaving their current viewing position, effectively adding a spatial dimension to content access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If users stay at home to watch sporting events on TV, then access to live content is improved, but loss of time increases for users who need to be elsewhere

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to live contentVSAvoidtime away from activities

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts the ability to access live content from the physical TV and makes it available through mobile devices. Users can take their viewing experience with them to any location, allowing them to follow sporting events while engaged in other activities without needing to be physically present at home.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of the live broadcast content and delivers it to mobile devices. This allows users to access the same live sporting events on their phones or tablets while doing other things, eliminating the need to be tied to a single location or activity to follow the events.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Adaptability or versatility

If satellite systems broadcast many channels simultaneously, then content variety is improved, but resource efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent varietyVSAvoidresource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary downloads of content that is likely to be requested but not currently being broadcast. By proactively fetching and storing content in advance, the system reduces the need to maintain constant satellite broadcasts for all possible content, improving resource efficiency while maintaining variety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Local storage devices serve as intermediaries that cache content locally, reducing the need for continuous satellite resource allocation. This allows the system to provide diverse content variety through local storage while using satellite resources only when necessary for updates or new content, thereby improving overall resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10095373B2Method and system for assigning a channel to data in a data stream

Publication Date: 2018.10.09 DIRECTV LLC

AI summary

A system and method for assigning channels includes a program guide module having program guide data associated with program channels and a content processing system receiving program feeds for the program channels and receiving data feeds. The content processing system compares event data from the data feed and identifies a first program channel by comparing the program guide data and the event data and associating the program channel with event data.