Storyline Selection Interface for Cross-Series Episode Ordering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern media entertainment systems lack the ability to present storylines that traverse across multiple interrelated series, failing to provide users with a seamless way to view connected story arcs without manual navigation.
Innovation Solution
A media guidance application identifies and graphically modifies episode identifiers based on their relevance to specific storylines, allowing users to select and view episodes in an order defined by those storylines, using colors, shapes, and arrows to indicate relevance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If episodes are presented in sequential order or manual selection order, then the system maintains simple presentation logic, but the user cannot easily follow storylines that traverse across multiple series
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the presentation by creating distinct visual identifiers for different storylines. Each storyline is represented by a unique visual marker (e.g., colored borders, icons) that segments and organizes episodes belonging to that storyline across multiple series, allowing users to easily distinguish and follow specific narrative arcs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a new dimensional organization to episode presentation by introducing storyline-based grouping as an additional dimension beyond sequential ordering. This creates a multi-dimensional navigation structure where episodes can be organized both chronologically and by storyline, enabling users to traverse content along different organizational axes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system provides interrelated series, then content variety increases, but the system lacks the ability to indicate and provide storyline-based presentation across series
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses color changes as a visual encoding mechanism to indicate storyline connections. Different storylines are represented by distinct colors applied to episode identifiers, series titles, or navigation elements, allowing users to visually track which episodes belong to which storyline across different series without losing the connection information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces visual identifiers (such as colored borders, icons, or graphical markers) as intermediary elements that mediate between the raw episode data and the user's understanding of storyline connections. These intermediaries carry and convey the storyline affiliation information, making implicit connections explicit and visible to users.
3Productivity
If manual navigation is required to follow storylines, then the system maintains simple episode delivery, but user time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary organization of episodes by storyline before presentation. Episode identifiers and navigation elements are pre-marked with storyline indicators, so that when users access the content, the storyline structure is already prepared and visible, eliminating the need for users to manually search or navigate through episodes to find storyline connections.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided herein for providing a storyline based media content. At least two storylines may be identified, each storyline specifying an order of providing a plurality of episodes from a plurality of interrelated series. Identifiers of the plurality of episodes are displayed. Then identifiers of a first set of the plurality of episodes that are relevant to the first storyline are graphically modified to indicate relevance to the first storyline. Identifiers of a second set of the plurality of episodes that are relevant to the second storyline are also graphically modified to indicate relevance to the second storyline. A first and second storyline identifier are generating for display to enable storyline selection. The interrelated series are then provided to a user device in the order specified by the selected storyline.