Movie App Context-Based Showtime Condensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current movie applications are limited in providing context-based information, requiring users to browse through multiple theaters and showtimes to find suitable viewing times, and lack features to integrate with user calendars and traffic conditions.
Innovation Solution
A movie application on electronic devices that condenses showtimes into time slots, generates slot labels based on temporal and spatial proximity, and integrates with user calendars to highlight available showtimes, allowing users to easily view available times and purchase tickets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the movie application displays all show times from multiple theaters, then the user has complete information to choose from, but the interface becomes cluttered and difficult to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments show times into discrete time slots (e.g., morning, afternoon, evening) and groups them accordingly. Each time slot contains only the relevant show times, preventing information overload while maintaining completeness. Users navigate by selecting time slots rather than browsing all show times sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension by organizing show times into time slots based on when they occur. This transforms a flat list of show times into a hierarchical structure where the first dimension is time of day and the second dimension is individual show times within each slot, making navigation more intuitive.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the movie application provides detailed information about multiple theaters and show times, then users have comprehensive options, but users must browse through excessive information to find suitable times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary organization of show times into time slots before presenting them to users. By pre-grouping show times based on temporal proximity and assigning meaningful labels (e.g., 'morning shows', 'evening shows'), the system eliminates the need for users to browse through unorganized lists, significantly reducing the time required to find suitable viewing options.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different organizational qualities to different portions of the information. Each time slot is customized with labels and groupings that are relevant to that specific time period, rather than applying a uniform presentation style. This allows users to quickly identify show times that match their temporal preferences without examining all details of every show time.
3Ease of operation
If the movie application groups show times into time slots, then the interface becomes more manageable, but the number of time slots may increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for organizing show times from individual show time details to temporal characteristics (time of day, duration, sequence). By transforming the organizational parameter from granular show time data to broader temporal categories, the system reduces interface complexity while maintaining ease of operation. Time slots are defined by temporal parameters rather than by individual show time attributes.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for generating context-based movie information. For example, a movie application on an electronic device can obtain show times of a movie from multiple movie theaters. In some embodiments, the movie application can combine one or more show times into a single time slot in order to condense the number of show times that are displayed. Furthermore, the movie application can provide slot labels corresponding to each time slot based on one or more context-sensitive factors (e.g., current time of day, current location, one or more upcoming calendar events, and the like). As a result, the movie application can provide a user with a condensed view of the most accessible show times based on current context.