Display Input Selection with Active Source Indicators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face confusion when selecting display input sources on digital televisions due to numerous options, often leading to incorrect selections and unnecessary technical support calls, as the current systems fail to distinguish between active and inactive inputs effectively.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that polls input sources to determine their active or inactive status, displaying active inputs with a clear indicator and hiding or graying out inactive ones, allowing users to select only active sources for visual information input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If all possible video interfaces are presented to users for selection, then the display supports maximum versatility and compatibility with various devices, but users experience confusion and difficulty in selecting the correct active input source

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with various devicesVSAvoiduser confusion in selecting input

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies visual indicators (such as highlighting or color changes) to distinguish active input sources from inactive ones in the user interface. This allows users to quickly identify which inputs are currently receiving signals without having to understand technical details about each interface, thereby maintaining versatility while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Device complexity

If multiple input options are displayed without distinction, then the system maintains simplicity in interface design, but users spend excessive time searching for the correct active input

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface design simplicityVSAvoidtime to locate active input

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of active input sources before presenting the user interface. By pre-identifying which inputs are active and applying visual indicators to them, the system prepares the interface in advance to guide users directly to the correct selection, reducing the time users spend searching while maintaining relatively simple interface design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If the system presents all input sources equally, then the interface remains consistent and simple to implement, but users may incorrectly select inactive inputs leading to technical support calls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface implementation simplicityVSAvoidcorrect input selection rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by detecting the active status of each input source and providing visual feedback through indicators in the user interface. This feedback mechanism guides users to select only active inputs, significantly reducing incorrect selections and technical support calls while adding minimal complexity to the implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8832596B2System and method for display input selection

Publication Date: 2014.09.09 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Input sources to a display, such as a television, are depicted with a first indicator if active, such as active with a signal having visual information, and are depicted with a second indicator if inactive, such as lacking an active signal. A selection module allows a user of the display to select an active source but precludes selection of an inactive source. For instance, a user is allowed to select highlighted input sources that are active but not allowed to select grayed out input sources that are inactive. An override allows the user to present all input sources with the first indicator, whether or not the input sources are active.