Multi-Region Channel Display for Digital TV Navigation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing number of channels in digital television systems due to advancements in broadcasting technologies poses a challenge in effectively providing users with information about available channels and facilitating easy channel navigation.

Innovation Solution

A channel information display method and apparatus that allows users to visually or auditorily recognize information about multiple channels, enabling simultaneous display of moving images from multiple channels and allowing for easy channel selection through a user-friendly interface, including two or three-dimensional screen arrangements and cursor-based channel activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If multiple channels are displayed simultaneously on the screen, then the user can recognize information about various channels more easily, but the screen space for each individual channel is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel information visibilityVSAvoiddisplay area per channel
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The screen is divided into multiple regions, with each region displaying a different channel. The display apparatus segments the visual space to simultaneously present multiple channels, allowing users to view channel information from different sources without switching between them.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs three-dimensional display techniques to arrange channel regions in depth, allowing more channels to be displayed than would fit in a traditional two-dimensional layout. This dimensional transition increases the effective display capacity while maintaining adequate space for each channel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of channels is increased to provide more content options, then the user has more content to choose from, but the complexity of channel navigation and selection increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel content varietyVSAvoidchannel selection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Channels are grouped into different categories or regions on the screen, segmenting the large number of channels into manageable groups. This organizational structure helps users navigate through numerous channels by first selecting a category of interest, then choosing a specific channel within that category.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The display apparatus pre-organizes channels into logical groups and arranges them in a structured layout before the user interacts with the system. This preliminary organization reduces the cognitive load on users when navigating through multiple channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If more screen regions are used to display multiple channels, then more channels can be viewed simultaneously, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of displayable channelsVSAvoidscreen management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display apparatus uses a unified control mechanism that manages multiple screen regions through a single interface system. The same cursor control and selection logic applies across all regions, reducing the operational complexity despite the increased number of displayable channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The screen regions and channel arrangements are dynamically adjustable, allowing the system to adapt the display layout based on user preferences and the number of active channels. This dynamic flexibility enables efficient use of screen space without requiring complex fixed configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2327208B1Image display apparatus and channel information display method thereof
Publication Date: 2017.09.06 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2327208B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2327208B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2327208B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An image display apparatus and a channel information display method thereof are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes displaying an image (910) from a selected channel on at least one region of a screen; sequentially receiving, by a tuner, images (920) from a plurality of channels; storing the received images in a storage unit; and displaying the stored image (940) from the plurality of channels simultaneously on at least multiple regions of the screen in response to a channel information function.