Multi-Tuner Device Scheduling Conflict Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital video recorder (DVR) systems face conflicts when scheduling multiple recordings due to overlapping time slots, requiring users to manually cancel programs, and newer video gateways with shared tuners may experience tuner access conflicts, lacking efficient conflict resolution mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-tuner device with a scheduling processor and graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to interactively manage conflicts by dragging and dropping program objects on a display, enabling remote conflict resolution through a web-based application, and utilizing a tuner management system to track and allocate tuner resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If current DVR scheduling logic is used to resolve conflicts, then the system can record programs, but the user experience deteriorates due to sequential conflict resolution requiring multiple manual cancellations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary conflict detection and analysis before the user commits to a recording decision. The GUI displays all conflicting programs upfront, allowing the user to see the complete impact of their recording choice before making a decision, rather than discovering conflicts sequentially during the resolution process.
Solution Approach 2:
The conflict resolution interface dynamically updates as the user makes selections. The system recalculates and reDisplays available options in real-time, allowing the user to see how different choices affect tuner availability and conflict resolution without committing to a path that may require multiple back-and-forth cancellations.
2Productivity
If multiple tuners are shared among tunerless VTDs and DVR, then tuner utilization improves, but conflicts arise when demand exceeds available tuner capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The video gateway acts as an intermediary between tunerless VTDs and the DVR, managing tuner allocation centrally. The gateway receives tuner requests from multiple sources, resolves conflicts based on priority and availability, and allocates tuners appropriately, simplifying the complexity for individual devices while maximizing overall utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The tuner management system provides universal access to tuner resources for multiple different device types (tunerless VTDs and DVRs). A single pool of physical tuners serves multiple functions and multiple devices, with the gateway intelligently routing requests to available tuners based on current demand and priorities.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for resolving scheduling conflicts in multi-tuner devices. A multi-tuner device generates an interactive graphical display representing a current schedule for tuner usage. A user may identify a program for viewing or recording and conditionally reserve a tuner to provide the requested service. The multi-tuner device identifies any scheduling conflicts arising from the requested service and provides an updated graphical display showing a new schedule for tuner usage, which schedule is subject to selection by the requesting user. Upon selection of the new schedule, the new schedule becomes the current schedule.