Real-Time Media Popularity Ranking via Set-Top Box Feedback

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cable television systems lack real-time feedback on media consumption patterns, making it difficult for users to quickly identify and select popular media content currently being viewed.

Innovation Solution

A system that collects and publishes real-time or near-real-time media usage data to display the most popular channels and programs, allowing users to select and tune into them through a graphical user interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If conventional cable television systems provide media popularity information, then users can plan future media consumption, but the information is provided on a retrospective basis (day, week, or month earlier) and does not reflect current real-time media consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime delay in media popularity informationVSAvoidreal-time media consumption data

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements real-time feedback by continuously collecting media consumption data from set-top boxes and immediately publishing updated popularity rankings to users through the graphical user interface, eliminating the retrospective delay and ensuring users see current viewing trends

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary data collection and aggregation by continuously monitoring set-top box usage data before users need to make viewing decisions, maintaining an up-to-date repository of popular channels and programs ready for immediate display

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the system collects real-time usage data from all set-top boxes, then accurate real-time popularity information is obtained, but system complexity and data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of media popularity dataVSAvoiddata collection and processing system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses set-top boxes that already exist in the cable television infrastructure, making them serve the dual function of both delivering television content and collecting viewing data, thereby avoiding the need for separate dedicated measurement devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Set-top boxes automatically collect and transmit their own usage data to the server without requiring separate measurement equipment or manual input from users, enabling the system to gather accurate real-time data through self-service mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10638200B1Systems and methods for real time media consumption feedback

Publication Date: 2020.04.28 CSC HLDG LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods for providing users with a real time or near-real time indications of media channels or programs that are currently receiving the most usage or consumption within a defined population of users are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method receives media usage data for currently airing media while the media is being aired and creates an ordered list of media channels or programs for presentation, based at least in part on the media usage data. The method then presents the ordered list of media channels or programs while the media is being aired. In an embodiment, a system further provides the ability to easily select and tune one of the indicated channels or programs in an interactive interface. In an embodiment, the selected media channels or programs are sold on demand or as part of a service upgrade if they are not included in a user's current subscription.