Dynamic Control Pane for Media Content Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Set-top boxes (STBs) often present users with a multitude of control options, making it inconvenient to access desired features while viewing media content, as users must typically leave the 'on-video' screen to navigate menus and find control options.
Innovation Solution
Implementing control panes that can be launched during media content presentation, allowing users to access a wide range of control tools without leaving the viewing screen, with options such as contextual controls based on user profiles and media content attributes, and utilizing input commands to select and display these panes adjacent to the media content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control options are made available in a traditional menu system, then users can access a wide range of control tools, but users must leave the media content presentation to access these controls
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is segmented into multiple control panes, each containing specific control tools. These panes can be selectively displayed adjacent to the media content, allowing users to access relevant controls without leaving the viewing experience. The segmentation enables organized presentation of control options while maintaining context.
Solution Approach 2:
The control interface transitions from a traditional full-screen menu that replaces media content to a multi-dimensional layout where control panes are positioned adjacent to the media content. This spatial reorganization allows simultaneous display of media content and control options, eliminating the need to switch between views.
2Ease of operation
If control panes are displayed adjacent to media content, then users can access controls without leaving the viewing screen, but the display space for media content is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control panes are designed to be dynamically adjustable in size and position. Users can resize, move, or hide control panes based on their viewing preferences and needs. This dynamic behavior allows the interface to adapt between maximizing media content display and providing comprehensive control access.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display are assigned different functions: the main area displays media content with high quality, while adjacent regions display control panes with smaller resolution. This local differentiation optimizes the viewing experience for media content while providing sufficient control functionality in secondary display areas.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If multiple control panes are provided with different control tools, then users can find specific features more easily, but the interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides contextual feedback by automatically displaying relevant control panes based on the current media content being viewed. This intelligent feedback mechanism reduces the number of panes users need to manually search through, as the most relevant controls are already visible or easily accessible.
Solution Approach 2:
Control panes are designed with multi-functionality, where a single pane can serve multiple purposes or contain controls for different media types. This universality reduces the total number of panes needed while maintaining comprehensive control capabilities across various media content types.
Data Source
AI summary
In one of many possible embodiments, a system includes a media content processing subsystem including an output driver configured to provide at least a component of a media content instance to a display for presentation to a user, and a receiver configured to receive an input command initiated by the user during the presentation of the component of the media content instance. The media content processing subsystem is further configured to select a control pane from a group of control panes based on the input command, each of the control panes including a different set of control tools, and provide, in response to the input command, the control pane to the display for concurrent presentation of both the component of the media content instance and the control pane to the user.