IPTV Preview Content Server Architecture for Program Guide Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
IPTV program guides lack preview information, making it difficult for viewers to determine the nature of broadcast content, leading to watching undesired programs.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving preview content, where a preview content server provides preview information to a receiving device via a program guide server, allowing viewers to access and display preview content with progress bars for playtime indication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If program guide service information is provided in text format only, then the system complexity is low, but the information completeness deteriorates because preview information is missing
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple functional modules: program guide server for providing guide information, preview content server for storing preview data, and receiving device for processing and displaying. This segmentation allows each module to specialize in specific functions, reducing individual module complexity while achieving complete information delivery through their coordinated interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving device acts as an intermediary that receives both program guide service information and preview content, processes them together, and presents integrated information to users. This intermediary role enables the system to combine multiple information sources without requiring complex changes to the existing program guide infrastructure.
2Loss of information
If preview content is added to program guide service, then the information completeness is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to additional access steps
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving device merges program guide service information and preview content into a single integrated display interface. Users interact with one unified system that automatically retrieves and combines both types of information based on program guide data, eliminating the need for separate access procedures and maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving device automatically determines preview content availability from program guide service information and retrieves preview content without requiring manual user configuration. The system self-manages the complexity of coordinating between multiple servers, presenting a simple user experience where preview information appears automatically alongside program guide data.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bidirectional transmission capability is implemented in IPTV system, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving device is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle both traditional unidirectional program guide reception and new bidirectional preview content retrieval. By integrating multiple functions into a single device architecture, the system achieves transmission flexibility without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method of transmitting preview content and a method and apparatus for receiving the preview content, wherein the method of transmitting preview content includes providing program guide service information by a content server to a program guide server; transmitting the program guide service information by the program guide server to a receiving apparatus when the program guide server is accessed by the receiving apparatus; and transmitting preview content corresponding to contents of the program guide service information by a preview content server to the receiving apparatus when the preview content server is accessed by the receiving apparatus.