Channel Tuning Banner for Partial Identifier Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in locating channels on multimedia devices due to the large number of available channels, especially when channel numbers are not remembered, and channel surfing becomes a tedious process.
Innovation Solution
A multimedia device allows users to filter and tune channels using partial channel identifiers such as names or call signs, displaying a channel tuning banner with likely desired channels and enabling users to select channels based on these identifiers, reducing the need for manual scrolling through extensive electronic program guides (EPGs).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually scroll through extensive electronic program guides to locate channels, then complete channel coverage is available, but time consumption and operational difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically processes user input (partial channel identifiers) and generates a filtered channel list without requiring manual scrolling. The electronic program guide data is automatically searched and matched against user input, allowing the system to serve itself in finding relevant channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-processes and indexes electronic program guide data by channel identifiers (names, call signs) before user interaction. When users provide partial input, the pre-organized data structure enables rapid retrieval and filtering, eliminating the need for real-time manual searching through all channels.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of available channels increases to provide more content options, then content variety improves, but channel locating difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary filtering mechanism that processes user input (partial channel identifiers) and matches it against the electronic program guide data. This intermediary layer translates user-friendly partial identifiers into precise channel identification, bridging the gap between user input and the large channel database.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical scrolling through channel lists with an automated electronic search and filtering system. The system uses computational algorithms to search, filter, and rank channels based on user input, substituting manual navigation with automated information retrieval.
3Ease of operation
If users rely on channel numbers for tuning, then direct channel access is possible, but usability decreases when channel numbers are not remembered
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments channel identification into multiple components (channel names, call signs, numbers) stored in the electronic program guide. Instead of requiring users to recall the complete channel identifier, the system allows matching against any segment, dividing the identification task into smaller, more memorable parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the identification parameter from requiring exact channel number matching to allowing partial string matching across multiple parameters (channel name, call sign, number). This parameter transformation enables users to input partial information while the system adjusts the matching criteria to find relevant channels.
Data Source
AI summary
A multimedia device determines that the user is attempting to tune to a channel. In response to the determination, the multimedia device identifies a list of channels likely to be the channel to which the user is attempting to tune. The multimedia device displays a channel tuning banner that allows the user to select a channel from the list, thereby causing the multimedia device to tune to the selected channel. In another context, users want to locate scheduling information for a particular channel within an electronic program guide (EPG). Thus, a multimedia device receives search criteria from a user and uses the search criteria to dynamically filter the EPG while the user is interacting with the EPG. As a result, the user is presented with a reduced number of EPG entries to look through in order to find relevant information.