Grid-Based Multimedia Event Scheduling With Highlighted Search
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current web-based multimedia event scheduling systems lack efficient search functionality, often requiring manual scrolling through grids to find specific shows, and when search engines are provided, results are presented as lists rather than visually highlighted in the grid, making it difficult for users to navigate and find desired content.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that presents a subset of multimedia event data on a grid with time and channel axes, accompanied by a user-movable window on a secondary grid, allowing users to dynamically select and view a larger portion of the data, with search results highlighted within the grid for easy identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a search engine is provided on web pages displaying television show schedules, then users can search for specific shows, but the search results appear as a list rather than being visually highlighted in the grid, making it difficult for users to navigate and find desired content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the search results presentation with the existing grid display by superimposing highlighted cells over the grid background. This combines the search functionality with the visual grid structure, allowing users to see both the search results and the overall schedule context simultaneously, eliminating the need to switch between list views and grid views.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes by rendering search result cells with a distinct highlight color (e.g., yellow background) compared to the normal grid cell color. This visual differentiation makes search results immediately recognizable within the grid, improving ease of operation without adding complex interface elements.
2Device complexity
If users manually scroll through the program grid to find a television show, then no search engine is needed, but the process is time-consuming and frustrating when the desired show is not easily visible
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service search functionality where users can quickly locate specific shows by activating the search feature and viewing highlighted results in the grid. This eliminates the need for manual scrolling through the entire grid, significantly reducing search time while maintaining interface simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary search mechanism that acts as a mediator between the user's search query and the grid data. This intermediary component processes search requests and visually marks relevant items in the grid, providing a bridge that reduces the time and effort required to find desired content.
3Quantity of substance
If the grid displays a large portion of the collection of data, then users have more information available, but the grid becomes difficult to navigate and select specific portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the grid navigation into two modes: a detailed view mode for navigating and selecting specific portions using the movable window, and an overview mode for viewing the complete grid. This segmentation allows users to switch between detailed navigation and comprehensive data viewing as needed, maintaining both ease of operation and data quantity availability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for displaying information may include memory, one or more processors, and one or more modules stored in memory. The one or more modules are configured for execution by the one or more processors and may include instructions for: presenting a subset of a collection of data on a first grid having a first axis corresponding to units of time and a second axis, the collection of data comprising data representing time-bounded events; presenting a second grid having, first and second axes corresponding to the first and second axes of the first grid, the second grid corresponding to a larger portion of the collection of data than the subset presented on the first grid; and presenting a user moveable window for selecting a portion of the second grid, and selecting the subset presented on the first grid in accordance with a current position of the window.