Location-Based Media Listing System for Travelers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Travelers face difficulties in navigating and accessing media content services while away from home, as familiar services may not be available, and the proliferation of content sources complicates finding suitable media options in new locations.
Innovation Solution
A location-based program listing system that determines the user's current location and provides a tailored list of available media content services, filtering out unavailable services and prioritizing user preferences, with the option to find alternative providers for subscribed content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a user travels to a new location, then the user is exposed to more media content sources and services, but the user finds it difficult to navigate and rationalize all the new sources
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the overwhelming number of media sources by organizing them according to user-defined criteria such as content type, provider preference, and location relevance. This segmentation transforms the undifferentiated mass of available services into manageable, categorized groups that are easier to navigate and select from.
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary between the user and the proliferation of media sources. It automatically retrieves information from multiple content providers, processes and filters the data based on user preferences and current location, then presents a simplified, unified view to the user, eliminating the need for the user to directly navigate complex source structures.
2Loss of information
If the user tries to keep track of all content providers and their diverse services, then the user has complete information, but the process becomes burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically gathering, processing, and organizing information from all content providers in advance of the user's information need. It proactively monitors available services, retrieves program listings, and pre-filters content based on user preferences, so that when the user needs information, it is already prepared and readily accessible without requiring the user to invest time in tracking sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically managing the complex task of tracking multiple content providers without requiring active user involvement. It autonomously retrieves data from various sources, updates service availability based on location, and maintains current information about all providers, freeing the user from the burden of manual tracking while ensuring complete information is available.
3Reliability
If familiar media services are not available in a new location, then the user loses access to preferred content, but the user has limited time to learn new sources
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges information from multiple alternative content providers into a unified program listing that presents all available options in one place. When the user's subscribed services are unavailable in the new location, the system combines listings from various alternative providers, allowing the user to access preferred content types through different sources without needing to learn separate navigation systems for each provider.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides universal access to content by supporting multiple content providers and service types through a single interface. It is designed to work with diverse media sources simultaneously, providing a consistent user experience regardless of which specific providers are available in the user's current location, thus maintaining reliability of content access without requiring the user to adapt to different service interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods that aid users, especially users temporarily staying in locations remote from home, in finding and accessing media content. A program listing tailored for the user's current location, and showing only services actually available at that location, is created and presented to the user. In some embodiments, the user interacts with the listing to access available media content items. If the user has expressed specific location-based preferences, then those preferences can be taken into account when creating the listing. If a service subscribed to by the user is not available at this remote location, then an alternate provider will be searched for, and, if found, the user's favorite shows can be added to the created program listing.