EPG Visual Cue for Program Duration via Background Color
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Electronic Program Guides (EPGs) fail to provide information on the length of programs that span beyond the currently displayed portion, making it difficult for viewers to determine the starting point and duration of ongoing or future programs.
Innovation Solution
The EPG uses a varying background for each program element, employing color gradients, shapes, or contrasting designs to indicate the program's start and end times, allowing viewers to gauge the remaining duration by observing the change in size or shape as time elapses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the EPG updates itself to delete the row or column associated with the just-elapsed time interval, then the EPG remains current and up-to-date, but the subscriber loses the ability to determine the length of programs that began in the past
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes to the background of EPG elements to indicate program duration. Elements displaying programs that span beyond the current time interval use distinct background colors or color gradients to visually differentiate them from programs contained entirely within the displayed time range. This allows subscribers to identify programs of interest without needing to manually track time intervals or perform calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a visual dimension (color/background appearance) to encode program duration information that goes beyond the basic time interval grid. By adding this visual attribute dimension, the EPG conveys additional information (program length) without requiring changes to the fundamental time-based grid structure, thus preserving current accuracy while preventing information loss.
2Ease of operation
If the EPG displays only the currently visible time interval, then the interface remains simple and easy to read, but the user cannot easily determine how much of a program remains or has elapsed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color changes or background variations in EPG elements to indicate program progress and remaining duration. Elements may display different background shades, gradients, or patterns based on whether a program has just started, is in progress, or is nearing completion. This provides program progress information at a glance without complicating the interface or requiring additional displays.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2~5
AI summary
An electronic program guide (10, 100 and 1000) includes a plurality of elements (121-12n) arrayed in a grid of rows and columns, with the rows corresponding to program sources and the columns corresponding to time intervals. Each element corresponds to a program played out from a particular program source during a corresponding time interval. The background of each element changes, such as by way of a color gradient or changing shape, to indicate one of a program beginning or ending. In this way, a viewer can ascertain the length of the program even if the element gets clipped upon updating the electronic program guide.