Majority Rule Media Selection via Mobile Voting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In social or public environments, such as airports or sports bars, viewers often find themselves unable to control the television programming being displayed, leading to a mismatch between individual preferences and the programming shown.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that allows mobile devices to participate in selecting television programming for display devices, where the programming with the highest collective selection tally is output, enabling a democratic choice based on user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single television is tuned to particular programming in a public environment, then the programming can be displayed continuously, but individual viewers cannot control the programming to match their preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a intermediary system consisting of a server and mobile device applications that mediate between multiple viewers and the television. Viewers cast votes through their mobile devices, the server aggregates these votes, and automatically adjusts the television programming based on the majority preference, thereby enabling viewer control without direct manual intervention on the television itself
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical remote control system with an electronic voting system. Instead of requiring physical interaction with the television or remote controls, viewers use mobile devices to electronically cast votes, and the system automatically processes these votes to determine programming selection, eliminating the need for manual mechanical control
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple televisions are provided in a public environment, then more programming options are available, but the cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single television serve multiple functions by enabling it to display different programming based on aggregated viewer preferences. The television becomes a universal display device that can adapt to show various content (news, sports, entertainment) depending on the majority vote of viewers, replacing the need for multiple dedicated televisions for different programming types
3Reliability
If a mobile device system is implemented for programming selection, then viewer preference matching improves, but the system complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables viewers to serve themselves by casting votes through their existing mobile devices. The mobile application provides an interface for viewers to select their preferred programming, and the system automatically processes these selections without requiring manual intervention from staff or complex configuration, allowing the system to configure and adjust programming autonomously based on aggregated viewer input
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device may be registered to participate in selection of television programming for presentation by a display device external the mobile device. An indication of selection of particular television programming for presentation by a display device may be received from the mobile device. A determination may be made, based on the indication of selection, whether a collective indication of selection tally of the particular television programming is greater than a collective indication of selection tally of other television programming. The particular television programming may be output for presentation by the display device when the particular television programming has a collective indication of selection tally greater than a collective indication of selection tally of other television programming.