Content Grouping and Presentation in Digital Video Recorders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital video recorders (DVRs) do not provide a way to link or present recorded broadcast content in an order other than its original recording sequence, making it difficult for users to view content grouped by broadcast time, date, channel, or episode number.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a content provider transmits instructions to a content receiver to record multiple instances of content using a common encryption, allowing the receiver to decode and store these instances, and then present them in a predetermined order based on episode identifiers or other grouping criteria, enabling users to view content chronologically or episodically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a digital video recorder records broadcast content using conventional methods, then the content is stored in the order it was recorded, but the recorder cannot present content grouped by broadcast time, date, channel, or episode number
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments content into multiple instances with unique identifiers (episode identifiers, broadcast time stamps, channel information). Each content instance is separately tagged with metadata that describes its attributes, enabling the system to distinguish and organize content based on multiple criteria simultaneously. This segmentation allows the recorder to maintain simple recording operations while enabling complex presentation options through the organized metadata structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically tagging and organizing content metadata during the recording process. Instead of requiring users to manually organize content after recording, the system pre-organizes content instances with their respective identifiers and attributes in a database structure that enables flexible querying and presentation. This preliminary organization eliminates the need for complex user-side sorting operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple content instances are recorded simultaneously from different content providers, then content diversity is improved, but the requirement for separate tuners increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple content streams into a unified recording system that handles different content providers through a single tuner. The system combines content from multiple sources by identifying and organizing them as separate content instances with unique identifiers. This merging approach allows one tuner to record multiple content streams simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate tuners for each content provider while maintaining the ability to access diverse content sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The recording system is designed with universality to handle multiple content providers and broadcast formats through a single multi-functional tuner. The system can identify, decode, and organize content from different sources using common processing mechanisms, making the recorder adaptable to various content sources without requiring dedicated hardware for each provider. This universal design simplifies the device while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A provider transmits instructions to a receiver to record multiple instances of content. The instances of content are included in the same frequency band of a broadcast signal transmitted via a first communication link and encoded utilizing a common encryption. The provider determines to supplement and transmits an instruction to record a supplemental instance of content from a second content provider via a second communication link. The receiver receives the instructions and accordingly receives, decodes, and stores the multiple instances of content and the supplemental content. A recorder in communication with the receiver determines whether a content selection is a member of a content group. The group determination is based on a tag of the content selection. If the content selection is a member of the content group, the recorder presents to a display device the content selection and at least one other member of the content group.