Media Device Pre-Operation System for Response Time Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Media devices, such as set-top boxes, experience delays in becoming responsive when not in active use, leading to a need for quicker response times.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a pre-operation system that receives an in-use signal from remote electronic devices to anticipate user actions, allowing the media device to perform pre-operations like powering up or tuning channels in advance, based on user habits and patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If the media device is kept in standby mode to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but the response time when the user needs to use the device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting when a remote control is picked up and pre-loading content or pre-tuning channels before the user actually presses any buttons. This allows the media device to transition from standby to active state more quickly, reducing the perceived delay while still maintaining energy savings during true idle periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If the media device performs all operations immediately upon user interaction, then response time is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of performing all possible operations immediately, the system performs only the necessary preliminary actions based on detected user intent. For example, if the remote is picked up, the system might pre-load a single likely-to-be-watched channel rather than pre-loading all possible content, thus balancing response time improvement with energy conservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the media device monitors multiple electronic devices for in-use signals, then the ability to anticipate user actions is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanticipation capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The media device employs a universal signal reception mechanism that can detect in-use signals from multiple different types of electronic devices (remote controls, smartphones, tablets) using the same basic detection infrastructure. This allows the system to maintain high adaptability and anticipation capability without proportionally increasing complexity, as the core detection mechanism serves multiple functions across different device types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10079992B2Apparatus, systems and methods for a media device pre-operation

Publication Date: 2018.09.18 ECHOSTAR UKRAINE LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods are operable to perform pre-operations at a media device in anticipation of an occurrence of a user action. An exemplary embodiment receives an in-use signal from an electronic device that is remotely proximate to the media device, wherein the received in-use signal corresponds to a user interaction with the electronic device; and performs the pre-operation at the media device. The pre-operation is performed prior to receiving an initial user action configured to operate at least one of the media device and a media presentation device coupled to the media device.