Image Display Device Thumbnail Overlay Progress Bar

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image display devices using PVR systems fail to effectively convey recording and playback information of broadcasting programs to users, lacking intuitive visual cues for progress and timing.

Innovation Solution

An image display device comprising a tuner, storage unit, and control unit that overlays a progress bar and thumbnail images on the video signal, with indicators showing playing time information, allowing users to easily recognize recording and playback states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a PVR system records and plays back video signals using a hard disk, then large-sized data can be stored and accessed, but the user cannot effectively recognize recording information or playing information of the broadcasting program

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage capacityVSAvoidrecording information recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates visual copies of video content through thumbnail images that represent different time points of the recorded program. These thumbnails are displayed along with a progress bar, providing users with visual representations of the recorded content without requiring them to watch the entire program, thus solving the information recognition problem while maintaining large storage capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The progress bar and thumbnail images act as intermediary visual elements between the stored video data and the user. These intermediaries provide intuitive visual feedback about recording status, playback position, and content overview, bridging the gap between the hard disk storage system and user comprehension

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If a progress bar and thumbnail are displayed separately, then information is provided, but the user experience is not optimized for intuitive recognition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation provisionVSAvoiduser recognition efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the progress bar and thumbnail images into a unified visual display where thumbnails are positioned along the progress bar. This combination allows users to simultaneously see the playback progress and corresponding visual content representations, significantly improving intuitive recognition and user experience compared to separate displays

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3101653B1Image display device and image display method
Publication Date: 2020.12.02 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3101653B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3101653B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3101653B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An image display device and an image display method are provided. The image display device includes: a tuner configured to receive a video signal; a storage unit configured to store the video signal; a display unit configured to output the video signal; and a control unit configured to control the image display device. The control unit is further configured to display, on the display unit, a video based on the video signal, a progress bar of the video , and a thumbnail image of the video, where the control unit is configured to display the thumbnail image at a fixed area of the display unit. An indicator is displayed on the progress bar to indicate playing time information of the video. The thumbnail image corresponds to a location of the indicator on the progress bar, and the thumbnail image is displayed at the fixed area regardless of a movement of the indicator.