Non-grid Electronic Program Guide Hierarchical Window Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic program guides (EPGs) are grid-based, limiting user experience by requiring users to scroll through channels and times to find desired programming, making it difficult to select content without focusing on airing times.
Innovation Solution
A non-grid EPG with four separate windows: one for channels, one for series, one for episodes, and one for episode details, allowing users to filter and select content based on channels and series without time constraints, enabling easy selection of desired programming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a grid-based EPG is used to display programming information, then time-based scheduling information is clearly organized, but users must scroll through channels and times to find desired content, reducing ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The EPG interface is segmented into four distinct display windows: channels window, series window, episodes window, and episode details window. This segmentation allows users to navigate through content hierarchically (channel → series → episode) without being constrained by the time-based grid structure, significantly improving ease of operation and reducing time to find desired programming.
2Loss of information
If a grid-based EPG displays multiple channels and time slots, then comprehensive programming information is provided, but the interface complexity increases and limits user view to few channels at a time
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the information display into four separate windows, the system presents comprehensive programming information in an organized manner that reduces perceived interface complexity. Each window focuses on a specific aspect (channels, series, episodes, details), making the overall system more manageable and less overwhelming for users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional grid layout (channels × time) to a multi-dimensional hierarchical navigation system. Users can explore programming information through multiple dimensions (channel selection, series selection, episode selection) rather than being constrained to a fixed time-based grid, thereby reducing interface complexity while maintaining information completeness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a grid-based EPG organizes programming by time slots, then scheduling information is accurate, but content-based navigation is difficult and time becomes the primary organizing factor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional time-based organization paradigm by implementing content-based navigation. Instead of organizing programming by time slots and having users search through temporal sequences, the system organizes by content hierarchy (channels → series → episodes), allowing users to navigate based on content interest rather than time constraints. This inversion significantly enhances adaptability for content-based navigation.
Data Source
AI summary
The technology is a system and method for displaying a non-grid electronic program guide. Available television channels and episodes are identified in a program guide database. The available television channels are displayed in a first window of the guide. The television series associated with the available episodes are displayed in a second window of the guide. In response to selecting one of the available television channels, the available television episodes are narrowed to the television series that air on the selected television channel. In response to the selection of one of the television series, episodes of the selected television series are displayed in a third window of the guide. Selecting an episode displays the episode information in a fourth window of the guide.