Electronic Program Guide Timeline for Selected Program Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic program guides (EPGs) lack the ability to visually represent the distribution of selected programs across a time scale, making it difficult for users to understand the scheduling of multiple programs over a duration.
Innovation Solution
An EPG system that displays selected programs along a graphical time axis, allowing users to view scheduled audiovisual content chronologically and enabling recording of overlapping programs without gaps, with a result section showing selected content as graphical elements ordered by start time and duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If programs are displayed one after the other in a table format, then chronological order is maintained, but the distribution of programs on a time scale becomes invisible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional one-dimensional table display into a two-dimensional timeline visualization. Programs are positioned along a horizontal time axis, with graphical elements showing both chronological order and time distribution simultaneously. This dimensional change allows users to see both the sequence of programs and their temporal spacing in a single view.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a selection criterion is applied to filter programs, then specific content can be found, but the time scale distribution of selected programs is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the EPG into multiple sections: a selection section for applying criteria, a result section displaying selected programs, and a timeline showing temporal distribution. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously provide filtering functionality and time-scale visualization without information loss.
3Reliability
If overlapping programs are recorded, then no content is missed, but recording complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system automatically detects overlapping programs through timeline analysis and notifies the user. The user can then choose to record overlapping programs, and the system manages the recording process automatically, providing status feedback and ensuring no content is missed while simplifying user interaction.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic program guide, EPG, comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion comprises a list of channels and, for each channel in the list, a list of scheduled audiovisual content. The second portion comprises a selection area or section and a first graphical element representing a time line. The selection section may be used to select scheduled audiovisual content according to a selection criterion. Second graphical elements that represent scheduled audio visual content resulting from the selection are then placed on the first graphical element. The relative position of the second graphical elements on the first graphical element is determined by chronological order.