Interactive Television Set-Top Box Trigger Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interactive television systems face bandwidth limitations that cause delays in delivering interactive content, making them undesirable.
Innovation Solution
An interactive television system that includes a set-top box device with memory for executing instructions based on trigger signals to provide interactive features, and a method of sending television content with trigger signals to user devices to initiate interactive displays, allowing for simultaneous content delivery and interactive features without significant bandwidth increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If interactive content is delivered through traditional television systems, then interactivity is enabled, but bandwidth limitations cause delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-loads interactive instructions and content onto the set-top box before they are needed. When a trigger signal is received, the pre-loaded content is immediately executed or transmitted, eliminating the delay that would occur if content had to be downloaded in real-time. This preliminary preparation of interactive elements resolves the contradiction between enabling interactivity and avoiding delays.
2Adaptability or versatility
If interactive features are added to television content, then user engagement is improved, but bandwidth requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments interactive content into separate instructions and data components that are pre-loaded onto the set-top box. Only lightweight trigger signals need to be transmitted over the network to activate pre-loaded interactive elements. This segmentation allows rich interactive features to be provided while minimizing the actual bandwidth consumption during content delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates local copies of interactive instructions and content on the set-top box memory. Instead of transmitting full interactive content over the network during playback, the system uses locally stored copies that are activated by minimal trigger signals. This copying approach enables comprehensive interactive features without proportionally increasing bandwidth requirements.
3Reliability
If interactive content is transmitted in real-time, then synchronization is maintained, but bandwidth limitations prevent seamless delivery
Solution Approach 1:
Interactive content and instructions are pre-loaded onto the set-top box before content delivery. This preliminary action ensures that when trigger signals arrive, the interactive elements are already available locally and can be executed immediately, maintaining perfect synchronization with the television content while avoiding bandwidth bottlenecks.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for providing interactive television are provided. A method may include sending television content received from a content source to a user device. The method may also include sending at least one interactive program trigger. The interactive program trigger may be adapted to cause the user device to initiate execution of processor executable instructions stored at the user device to provide at least one interactive display related to the television content at a display device.