Channel Recall Stack and Review Buffer Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional set-top boxes and digital televisions have limited previous channel recall functions, allowing users to toggle between only two channels, which is inefficient for users who want to access and replay content from multiple previously tuned channels.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that enable users to cycle through a subset of channels, allowing addition or presentation of channels to a 'rote stack' for easy recall, with features like channel cycling and review buffer management to enhance user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional previous channel recall function is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the number of accessible channels is limited to two
Solution Approach 1:
The channel recall function is segmented into a stack data structure where multiple channels are organized in hierarchical levels. The remote control button operations are segmented into different modes (push for recall, long press for cycle) to access different segments of the channel stack, enabling access to multiple channels beyond the traditional two-channel limitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a temporal dimension to channel recall by implementing a stack-based system that preserves channel history over time. Instead of only accessing the immediate previous channel, users can navigate through multiple historical channels in the stack, effectively adding a time-based dimension to the channel access model.
2Productivity
If channel cycling through multiple channels is implemented, then user navigation efficiency is improved, but review buffer management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading and maintaining review buffers for multiple channels in the stack before they are needed. When a channel is added to the rote stack, its review buffer is preserved and made available for future recall, eliminating the need to rebuffer content when cycling through channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The review buffer acts as an intermediary between the channel content and the user. By maintaining separate review buffers for each channel in the stack, the system mediates the complexity of multi-channel management, allowing users to seamlessly switch between channels while their review buffers remain intact and accessible.
Data Source
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AI summary
A device for enabling a user to cause programming associated with a channel to be presented is configured to enable a user to add channels to a subset of channels. Channels included in the subset of channel may be recalled upon activation of a dedicated button. Each of the channels of the subset of channels may be assigned a review buffer for storing previously received channel contents. The device may be configured to resolve review buffer conflicts.