Motion-Based Remote Control for Intuitive Content Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current navigation techniques for electronic programming guides (EPGs) and recorded video are cumbersome, requiring multiple button pushes and being non-intuitive, especially for fast-forwarding, rewinding, and jumping to specific times, which can be time-consuming and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

Implementing user input devices that detect movement-based instructions, such as touch screens and motion-sensing technologies, to translate user gestures into commands for scrolling and zooming within EPGs and video streams, allowing for more intuitive and efficient navigation by correlating finger swipes or device movements with scroll and zoom functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional remote control buttons are used for navigation, then device complexity is reduced, but navigation efficiency and ease of operation deteriorate due to multiple button pushes and non-intuitive controls

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation intuitivenessVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical button presses with motion-based control mechanisms. The remote control device uses motion sensors to detect user gestures (such as pointing and scrolling motions) and translates these into navigation commands, eliminating the need for physical button presses and providing more intuitive control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cursor as an intermediary element between the user and the content. The cursor visually represents the current selection position and responds to user gestures, providing continuous feedback and making the navigation process more transparent and controllable compared to direct button-to-action mapping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple button pushes are required for scrolling operations, then device complexity is minimized, but time consumption and productivity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation speedVSAvoidtime for scrolling operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously tracking cursor position and predicting user intent based on motion patterns. This allows the system to prepare navigation commands in advance, reducing the time required for scrolling operations as users don't need to wait for each button press to be processed sequentially.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous scrolling action where the cursor moves continuously in response to user gestures rather than requiring discrete button presses for each position change. This continuous action mode significantly reduces the time needed to navigate through content while maintaining precision through gesture recognition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of operation

If linear scrolling methods are used, then device complexity remains low, but ease of operation and time efficiency worsen due to non-intuitive navigation and trial-and-error time jumping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility to content portionsVSAvoidtime for accessing specific content
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides continuous visual feedback through the cursor position and highlighted content areas, allowing users to see their navigation progress in real-time. This feedback mechanism eliminates the trial-and-error nature of traditional time jumping by showing users exactly where they are navigating to, enabling more intuitive and efficient content access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2739038B1System, method and computer program for remote navigation of content
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 DISH TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • EP2739038B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2739038B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2739038B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system, a method and a computer program for remote navigation of content on a display are disclosed. The system (100) includes a user input device (175,275,375,475,575) which may be configured to detect a user movement, including a direction and a speed. The user input device may be configured to communicate information based at least in part on the direction and the speed. The system (100) may include a media device (170) configured to receive communications from the user input device. The media device (170) may be configured to process the information from the user input device and to output content to a display (180) in accordance with a navigation operation. The navigation operation may include moving displayed content based at least in part on the direction and the speed.