Electronic Program Guide Source Indicator and Load Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of multimedia devices face confusion and increased selection steps when trying to play programs, as they are not efficiently informed about the source of content, leading to decreased consumption and potential bandwidth overload due to the need to navigate separate applications.

Innovation Solution

The system displays a source indicator for programs within an electronic programming guide (EPG), using metadata to identify the source, and implements load-balancing to select the most efficient source for playback, minimizing user selections and interruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the system displays source indicator information in the EPG, then user confusion about content source is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to additional metadata processing and display components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesource information clarityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The source indicator is segmented into discrete visual elements (logos, icons, or text labels) that are independently rendered and overlaid on the EPG interface. This allows the source information to be presented in a modular fashion, reducing the cognitive load on users while managing the complexity through component-based design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A source indicator component acts as an intermediary between the content metadata and the user interface. This mediator translates raw source data into visually intuitive indicators, bridging the gap between complex backend data structures and simple user comprehension without requiring the entire system to become more complex

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the system requires multiple user selections to identify and play content from the correct source, then source selection accuracy improves, but the ease of operation decreases due to increased navigation steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesource selection accuracyVSAvoiduser navigation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically identifying and selecting the most appropriate content source based on user preferences, device capabilities, and content availability before the user initiates playback. This pre-selection process occurs in the background, eliminating the need for users to manually navigate through multiple source options while maintaining high selection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by autonomously resolving source selection based on predefined criteria and user profiles. The automatic source selection mechanism serves itself by evaluating available sources and making intelligent decisions without requiring user intervention, thereby maintaining reliability while dramatically improving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system opens separate source applications to play content, then source compatibility is ensured, but productivity decreases due to interruptive user experience and additional application switching

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesource compatibilityVSAvoidcontent consumption efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the source selection and content playback functions into a unified process. By integrating source indication directly in the EPG and enabling direct playback from the selected source, the system combines what were previously separate operations (opening source app, then playing content) into a single seamless action, thereby improving productivity while maintaining compatibility through the integrated source management layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of energy

If the system implements load-balancing to select the most efficient playback source, then bandwidth usage is optimized, but device complexity increases due to additional source evaluation and selection logic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth efficiencyVSAvoidsource management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes parameters by dynamically evaluating multiple sources based on varying conditions such as bandwidth availability, device capabilities, and user preferences. By adjusting selection criteria based on real-time parameters rather than using fixed complex logic, the system achieves bandwidth optimization through adaptive parameter tuning rather than through increased structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20230046176A1Systems and methods for program source display

Publication Date: 2023.02.16 DISH NETWORK LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for displaying a program source indicator. A program may be selected within an electronic program guide. Metadata associated with the program may be received, wherein the metadata comprises a source identifier. A source identifier may be an Internet-streaming service, a broadband TV service, a satellite TV service, and/or a digital video recorder database. Based on the source identifier, a source indicator may be retrieved. A program source indicator may be a superimposed image, icon, or other visual indicator. The source indicator may then be temporarily overlaid on the program content within the electronic programming guide.