Network Communication Manager for Streaming Media Call Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cable networks disrupt television viewing experiences by providing unwanted notifications of incoming phone calls, requiring users to manually disable and re-enable call alert features, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A network communication manager that allows users to activate a 'do not disturb' function during playback of streaming content, preventing visual and audible notifications of phone calls, and automatically managing call handling options, such as forwarding to voicemail, while logging blocked calls for later review.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If call alert notifications are displayed on the television screen during programming, then the subscriber is notified of incoming calls, but the viewing experience is disrupted and the subscriber must manually disable and re-enable notifications
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically manages call notifications without requiring user intervention. The STB monitors programming status and autonomously displays or suppresses call alerts based on whether the television is in standby or programming mode, eliminating the need for users to manually disable/re-enable notifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification display dynamically adapts to the television's operational state. The system transitions between suppressing notifications during programming and displaying notifications during standby, creating a flexible, context-aware behavior that automatically responds to changing conditions.
2Ease of operation
If call notifications are suppressed during programming, then uninterrupted viewing is achieved, but the subscriber cannot be notified of important calls
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts notification behavior based on the television's operational state. During programming mode, notifications are suppressed to maintain viewing continuity. During standby mode, notifications are restored to ensure call alert delivery, creating a context-responsive system that adapts to user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically monitors the television's operational state and switches between suppression and display modes accordingly. This periodic evaluation ensures that notifications are suppressed during programming but restored when the television returns to standby, maintaining both viewing continuity and call notification delivery.
3Ease of operation
If the system automatically manages call notifications based on programming status, then user convenience is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The STB's existing programming status detection capability is leveraged to control notification behavior. The same hardware and software components that monitor programming for display purposes are also used to determine when to suppress or display call notifications, avoiding the need for separate dedicated complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The call notification management function is merged with the existing programming status monitoring function within the STB. By combining these functions, the system achieves automatic notification management without adding significant complexity, as both functions share common detection and control resources.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with one configuration, a network communication manager identifies an expected duration of time to complete playback of the streaming content. Subsequent to receiving a do not disturb command, the network communication manager prevents visual notifications of future phone calls during the estimated duration of time to provide undisturbed playback of the streaming content on the display screen. Accordingly, embodiments herein support a do not disturb function in which a subscriber can prevent display of visual notifications such as phone call alerts (e.g., pop-up text messages) on the display screen during playback of the streaming content. The do not disturb functionality can be disabled in response to any suitable trigger such as that the subscriber has terminated playback of the streaming content, playback of the streaming content completed, etc.