Playback Menu Highlighting for Resuming Media from Middle Position
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic equipment for reproducing content, such as portable HDD devices, require users to manually select whether to resume playback from the beginning or middle of a content after power off, leading to user confusion and increased button manipulations, especially in outdoor use where simplicity is crucial.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a display unit with a playback selection menu that highlights the 'middle playback' option upon power restoration, along with a control unit that preserves the playback position and displays this menu, allowing users to easily resume from the suspended point without manual selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the device displays a title menu screen image requiring manual selection of content and playback position, then the device provides full control over content selection, but the number of button manipulations increases and user confusion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically preserving the playback position information when power is turned off, and pre-highlighting the appropriate playback option (head playback or middle playback) when power is turned on. This eliminates the need for users to manually navigate through menus and make selections, directly reducing the number of manipulations required.
Solution Approach 2:
The device serves itself by automatically detecting whether content was previously reproduced and whether reproduction was suspended at the head or middle position. The system then autonomously configures the playback selection menu to highlight the appropriate option, eliminating the need for user intervention in the selection process.
2Ease of operation
If the device requires manual selection through title menu and submenu screens, then the device provides precise control over playback position, but user confusion occurs when users forget previously enjoyed content positions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by preserving playback position information in storage and using this information to automatically configure the playback selection menu. The feedback loop ensures that the device remembers whether content was being reproduced from the head or middle position, and presents the appropriate option highlighted to the user upon power restoration, preventing user confusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the playback selection menu based on preserved playback position information before the user needs to make a selection. This includes pre-highlighting the appropriate option (head playback or middle playback), so users don't need to recall or decide whether to resume from the beginning or middle of content.
3Volume of moving object
If the device is designed compactly for outdoor use, then the device portability is improved, but the number of button manipulations becomes more problematic due to reduced user patience
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the essential function of playback position selection from the manual menu navigation process. By automatically preserving playback position information and pre-highlighting the appropriate playback option, the system removes the need for users to perform multiple button manipulations, making the compact device even easier to operate in outdoor settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The device serves itself by automatically managing playback position selection without requiring user input. The system preserves playback position information, determines whether head or middle playback is appropriate, and highlights the corresponding option in the playback selection menu, eliminating the need for users to perform manipulations on the compact device.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is electronic equipment enjoying improved ease of use, and a highlighting method and a program to be implemented or installed in the electronic equipment. For example, a user performs manipulations so as to reproduce a content up to the middle of the content, and then turns off a power supply. When the user turns on the power supply next, a playback selection menu screen image is displayed and “Playback from the middle thereof” is highlighted. Consequently, when the user wants to reproduce the content from the middle of the content, the user need not worry about whether to reproduce the content from the beginning or the middle thereof. The user should merely finalize the highlighted item. This would prove user-friendly and helpful. When the electronic equipment is used outdoors or the like, the number of manipulations to be performed on the equipment is smaller than the number of manipulations conventionally performed.