Media Guidance Application Event Delay Playback Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional systems fail to automatically continue media playback when an event is delayed, leading to inefficient use of available time for media consumption, as they do not account for changes in event start times and user travel schedules.

Innovation Solution

A media guidance application that detects calendar events and their delays, allowing playback to continue if the event start time is postponed, by correlating user actions with calendar entries and travel information to determine if additional time is available for media consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system suspends playback when a calendar reminder displays, then the user is prepared for the upcoming event, but media consumption time is lost when the event is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevent preparation reliabilityVSAvoidmedia consumption time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors calendar event status and provides feedback by detecting delays. When an event is delayed, the system automatically adjusts playback suspension timing, allowing media to continue playing during the delay period. This feedback mechanism ensures the user doesn't lose media consumption time while still being prepared for the actual event start time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of event delays before the user would normally suspend playback. By identifying the delay in advance and automatically adjusting the suspension timing, the system preserves media consumption time while ensuring playback is suspended at the appropriate moment for the delayed event.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the system automatically suspends playback near event start time, then the user is ready for the event, but the system cannot adapt when event start time changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic playback managementVSAvoidevent delay adaptation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring calendar event status changes. When an event start time is delayed, the system receives this information and automatically adjusts the playback suspension timing accordingly. This maintains ease of operation while adding adaptability to event schedule changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts playback control based on real-time event status. Instead of using a fixed suspension time, the system modifies the suspension timing dynamically when event delays are detected, allowing automatic playback management to adapt to changing event schedules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the user manually monitors event status to adjust playback, then playback can be optimized, but user effort and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemedia consumption efficiencyVSAvoiduser interaction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically detecting event delays and adjusting playback suspension timing without user intervention. The media guidance application monitors calendar events and autonomously decides when to suspend or continue playback, maximizing media consumption efficiency while minimizing user effort and interaction complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3625949B1Method, computer program and system for controlling playback of a media asset based on delay of a scheduled event
Publication Date: 2021.11.03 ADEIA GUIDES INC
  • EP3625949B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3625949B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3625949B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for controlling playback of a media asset based on whether events are delayed. This may be accomplished by a media guidance application responding to a suspend playback command by determining whether a user is imminently scheduled to attend an event. If the user is imminently scheduled to attend an event, the media guidance application may query an event database to determine a most current start time of the event and compare the most current start time to a start time from the user's profile associated with the event to determine if the event has been delayed. In response to determining the event is delayed, the media guidance application may continue playback of the media asset notwithstanding the suspend command.