Network-Detected Guest Notifications for Host Television Settings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Guests visiting a user's home cannot control or set notifications on the host's television or display device, limiting their ability to view content of interest during their visit.

Innovation Solution

A media guidance application detects guest devices accessing a network, retrieves their user profiles, identifies their interests, and generates notifications on the display device when events of interest occur, allowing guests to request and control limited device functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the host's television or display device is used, then the host can control notifications and settings, but guests cannot access or control these functions during their visit

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveGuest access to notification controlsVSAvoidDevice accessibility to multiple users
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The notification control functionality is segmented into separate guest-specific settings that are distinct from host settings. Guests can access and configure their own notification preferences, interests, and content selections independently without modifying or interfering with the host's established settings. This segmentation allows both host and guest to have personalized control experiences on the same device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The display device is enhanced with multi-functionality to serve both host and guest needs simultaneously. The system provides universal access to notification controls while maintaining separate configuration spaces, allowing the device to adapt to different user roles (host vs. guest) and provide appropriate functionality to each without requiring separate physical devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If guests are given full control of the display device, then they can set notifications according to their interests, but the host's settings and preferences may be interfered with or overwritten

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveGuest customization capabilityVSAvoidHost settings stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The settings system is divided into separate namespaces: host settings and guest settings. Each user type has their own independent configuration space for notifications, interests, and content preferences. Guests can fully customize their experience within their designated space without any risk of modifying or overwriting the host's settings, ensuring both customization freedom and settings stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different control permissions and configuration capabilities are assigned to different user roles. Guests receive full customization rights within their own settings context, while host settings remain protected and immutable during guest usage. This localized quality approach ensures that each user experiences full adaptability in their own space without affecting others.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system monitors and detects guest devices on the network, then it can provide personalized notifications, but this increases system complexity and processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePersonalized guest notificationsVSAvoidNetwork monitoring and device identification system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Guest devices automatically perform self-identification by presenting their device identifiers to the system when connecting to the network. The system receives these identifiers and automatically matches them against stored guest profiles without requiring manual intervention, complex authentication protocols, or extensive processing. This self-service approach minimizes system complexity while enabling personalized notification delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Guest device identifiers and profile information are pre-configured and stored in the system before actual guest visits. When a guest device connects, the system performs a simple matching operation against these pre-prepared identifiers rather than creating profiles in real-time or conducting complex analysis during the interaction, reducing processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3628126B1Methods and systems for generating notifications based on the interests of guests
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 ADEIA GUIDES INC
  • EP3628126B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3628126B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3628126B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Methods and systems are provided herein for generating notifications based on the interests of guests. Guests may request notifications on their host's television, and the system will generate notifications based on the guest's interests and preferences as stored in the guest's user profile. In doing so, the guest will be notified of events of interest, such as when a favorite sports team scores a point or when an important scene in a favorite movie is playing. The system monitors the network of the apartment or house and detects when a guest device is accessing the network. The system then accesses the guest's interests and identifies a set of programs based on these interests. The system then monitors these programs and generates notifications on the display device when an event of interest has occurred in one of the identified programs.