Portable Media Player Token System for Set Top Box Content Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current DirecTV systems require physical movement of the set top box to play recorded content on another television, making it inconvenient and limiting the use of stored digital video recorder content on portable media players.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that allows portable media players to playback files from a set top box by coupling the device to a storage device, storing a token, and communicating it to a central location for targeted marketing based on user experiences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the set top box is physically moved to another television to play recorded content, then the content can be played on a different television, but the operation becomes inconvenient and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to play content on different televisionsVSAvoidconvenience of playing content

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the content storage function (set top box) from the playback function (portable media player). The recorded content is transferred to a portable device that can be moved between televisions, eliminating the need to physically move the set top box while maintaining the ability to play content on different televisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A portable media player serves as an intermediary device between the set top box and multiple televisions. It receives content from the set top box and can play it on any television, simplifying the operation while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If targeted advertising is implemented based on user experiences with different system features, then marketing relevance improves, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarketing relevance to user experiencesVSAvoidsystem complexity for tracking and marketing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The portable media player automatically tracks user experiences with different system features and generates tokens that encode this information. The device self-manages the data collection and transmission to the central location, reducing the complexity burden on the overall system while enabling targeted advertising.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of implementing complex tracking across the entire system, the patent uses token copying - creating simplified representations (tokens) of user experiences that can be easily transmitted and processed. These tokens capture essential information about features experienced without requiring complex data structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS7747703B2Method and system for targeted marketing to a portable media player device owner

Publication Date: 2010.06.29 DIRECTV LLC

AI summary

A method and system includes a central location and a first set top box 28A in communication with the central location having a first interface 32. A second set top box 28B in communication with the central location 100 has a second interface 32. A portable device 36 in communication with the second set top box 28B through the second interface and storing a token therein. Thereafter, the token is communicated through the interface to the first set top box. The first set top box 28A communicates the token to the central location 100 so that targeted marketing may be generated.