Electronic Program Guide Thumbnail Display System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Electronic Program Guides (EPGs) in digital broadcasting provide only fixed text information, such as program titles and times, which is inconvenient for users, especially with the increasing number of channels and lack of visual representation.
Innovation Solution
A display apparatus and method that receive program information including thumbnail images, generate an enhanced EPG with designated time zones, and display this information based on user selection, allowing for mode changes and priority assignment to programs, thereby providing a more user-friendly interface with visual representations of available programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional text-only EPG is used, then device complexity is low, but user convenience and information recognition are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional text-only EPG (1D text information) to enhanced EPG that incorporates thumbnail images (2D visual representation). This dimensional change from pure text to text+image provides better visual recognition and user convenience while maintaining manageable system complexity through efficient image caching and selective loading mechanisms.
2Loss of information
If thumbnail images are added to EPG, then user recognition and convenience improve, but data transmission requirements and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-fetching and caching thumbnail images before they are actually needed for display. The controller stores thumbnail data in memory in advance, so when users navigate to specific programs or time zones, the images are already available for immediate display, reducing processing complexity during user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The enhanced EPG system implements self-service mechanisms where the controller automatically manages thumbnail image loading, caching, and display based on user navigation patterns. The system monitors user selections and autonomously loads relevant thumbnail images without requiring manual intervention, reducing the perceived complexity for users while maintaining information completeness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple time zones and program options are displayed, then adaptability and user customization improve, but interface complexity and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the EPG interface into distinct functional zones: program information display area, thumbnail image display area, time zone selection area, and program type filter area. This segmentation allows users to interact with specific segments independently (e.g., filtering by program type, selecting specific time zones) without overwhelming the entire interface, maintaining adaptability while managing interface complexity through modular design.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of controlling a display apparatus including receiving program information corresponding to contents to be displayed on the display apparatus, wherein the program information further comprises thumbnail image corresponding to each of contents; generating an electronic program guide including a designated time zone indicating when a program is to be transmitted and the corresponding matched thumbnail image; and displaying the electronic program guide based on a selection signal requesting the electronic program guide be displayed, wherein the electronic program guide further changes the designated time zone depending on multiple options.