Electronic Program Guide Integrating QAM and IP Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Generating electronic program guides for users with limited access due to resource or subscription constraints, such as analog or basic cable tiers without set-top boxes, is cost-prohibitive and limits content accessibility, hindering service providers' ability to maintain quality and offer advanced video services.

Innovation Solution

An electronic program guide (EPG) interface that integrates unencrypted QAM in the clear signals with IP-based signals, allowing users to access and navigate content using QAM tuners, enabling efficient navigation and reducing bandwidth constraints by using RF delivery for HD channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If expensive consumer premise equipment (CPE) solutions are deployed to enable advanced video services for analog subscribers, then service quality and content accessibility are improved, but deployment costs and device complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice qualityVSAvoidCPE deployment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the set-top box functionality through software running on existing analog television sets. The EPG system and conditional access module replicate the functions traditionally provided by expensive CPE hardware, allowing analog subscribers to access digital services without physical set-top boxes. This copying approach maintains service quality while eliminating the need for costly hardware deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical hardware-based CPE system with a software-based implementation. Instead of using physical set-top boxes with conditional access modules, the system uses software components that run on existing television sets, communicating through the teletext buffer. This substitution dramatically reduces device complexity and deployment costs while maintaining service quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional set-top box infrastructure is used to provide EPG services to analog subscribers, then content accessibility is improved, but cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent accessibilityVSAvoidset-top box requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes existing analog television sets universal by enabling them to perform multiple functions: traditional analog reception, digital EPG access, and conditional access to premium channels. The television set becomes a multi-functional device that can handle both analog and digital protocols through the EPG interface and teletext buffer, eliminating the need for separate set-top box infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system copies the set-top box functionality into software components that run on existing television sets. The EPG generation component and conditional access module create virtual equivalents of traditional CPE functions, allowing analog subscribers to access digital content without physical set-top boxes, thereby improving content accessibility while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If EPG services are provided to subscribers with limited access (analog, basic cable tiers), then content accessibility and user experience are improved, but service costs and bandwidth consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent accessibilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the teletext buffer to pre-load and store EPG data before it is needed for display. By anticipating information requirements and preparing data in advance using available bandwidth during low-utilization periods, the system reduces peak bandwidth demands. This preliminary action allows EPG services to be provided to analog subscribers without significantly increasing overall bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Loss of information

If program guides are generated for all subscribers including those with limited access, then content information availability is improved, but generation costs and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel information availabilityVSAvoidEPG generation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by tailoring EPG information display to each subscriber's specific service tier and access capabilities. The system generates customized EPG views that show only relevant channel information appropriate to each subscriber's package (basic, premium, etc.), rather than providing identical comprehensive guides to all users. This approach improves information relevance while reducing the complexity of generating and maintaining universal program guides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9800933B1Electronic program guide features including IP video with available HD in the clear channels

Publication Date: 2017.10.24 COX COMMUNICATIONS INC

AI summary

Data associated with content available for viewing is populated into a program guide display interface. The program guide display interface can display one or more QAM in the clear channels as well as IP-based channels. Mined data can be processed to create program guide information for populating a program guide view for display and use by an end-user.