Digital Decoder Channel Change Latency via Activity Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current digital television decoders experience long channel change times due to the need to resubscribe to adjacent channels after user inactivity, leading to increased network resource consumption and waiting times when the user wants to switch channels again.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where the decoder automatically triggers the reception of secondary channels based on detected user activity, such as remote control movements or button presses, to anticipate potential channel changes and reduce unnecessary content reception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the decoder subscribes to adjacent channels continuously, then channel change speed is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel change speedVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the reception state of secondary channels based on detected user activities. When user activity is detected, the system transitions from a low-power state (not receiving secondary channels) to a high-performance state (receiving secondary channels), and vice versa when no activity is detected. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making channel readiness conditional on actual user intent rather than continuous.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary reception of secondary channels when user activity is detected, preparing the channels for potential immediate playback. This preliminary action occurs only when needed (upon detecting user interaction), rather than continuously, thus maintaining fast channel change capability while reducing overall network bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If the decoder receives secondary channels continuously, then waiting time for channel changes is reduced, but network resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaiting time for channel changesVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous reception, the system employs periodic reception triggered by user activity detection. The decoder periodically checks for user activities (remote control movements, button presses) and only activates secondary channel reception when such activities are detected. This periodic approach reduces network resource consumption while maintaining readiness when users actually want to change channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Loss of energy

If the decoder unsubscribes from adjacent channels after user inactivity, then network bandwidth consumption is reduced, but channel change speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork bandwidth consumptionVSAvoidchannel change speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from user activity detection to control the reception state of secondary channels. When user activities are detected (such as remote control movements or button presses), the system activates reception of secondary channels. This feedback mechanism ensures that fast channel change capability is maintained precisely when users show intent to interact, resolving the contradiction between bandwidth savings and channel change speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If the decoder requests access to secondary channels on each main content request, then channel availability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel availabilityVSAvoidcontrol logic complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs self-service mechanisms where the decoder autonomously manages secondary channel reception based on detected user activities. Rather than requiring complex external control logic to manage channel subscriptions, the system automatically detects user intent and adjusts its own reception behavior, simplifying the overall control architecture while maintaining channel availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3548997B1Method for managing the reception of digital contents by a management device
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 ORANGE SA
  • EP3548997B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3548997B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention pertains to a method for managing the reception of digital contents (CH1-CH3) by a management device (DISP) suitable for receiving a command for selecting a content (CH2), termed the main content, arising from a control device (TCD). The management device is suitable for requesting the reception of the main content (CH2) and of other digital contents (CH1; CH3), termed secondary contents. It is also suitable for receiving the data streams representative of the requested contents (CH1-CH3), and for requesting the retrieval of the main content (CH2). The method is characterized in that in the course of the retrieval of the main content, a detection of an activity related to the control device (TCD) triggers a request suitable for requesting the reception of the secondary contents (CH1; CH3).