Preferred Channel Surfing Mode for Television Receivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Viewers find it inconvenient to navigate through numerous television channels to find their preferred channels, as their viewing habits change over time, such as during different sports seasons, and existing channel surfing methods do not efficiently adapt to these preferences.
Innovation Solution
A television receiver monitors viewing habits to create a preferred channel list, allowing users to switch between channels using a preferred channel surfing mode, where channel up and down buttons navigate within the ranked list of preferred channels, and provides reminders and record timers for popular programs based on user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional channel surfing is used to navigate through all available television channels, then viewers can access any channel, but it becomes inconvenient and time-consuming to find preferred channels among the large number of available channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the large set of all television channels into a smaller, curated subset of preferred channels based on user viewing habits. The system divides channels into different categories (preferred, non-preferred, frequently watched) and enables navigation specifically within the preferred segment, thereby reducing the search space and making channel navigation more convenient and faster.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically monitoring user viewing habits and pre-generating a personalized preferred channel list before the user needs to navigate channels. This pre-processing of channel data based on historical viewing patterns eliminates the need for users to manually search through all channels, saving time and effort in future channel selection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the television system provides all available channels, then users have access to complete channel selection, but the system cannot adapt to changing user preferences over time such as different sports seasons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the television system continuously monitors user channel viewing habits and automatically updates the preferred channel list based on this feedback. The system tracks which channels are watched most frequently and adjusts the preferred channel ordering and composition accordingly, enabling automatic adaptation to changing user preferences without requiring manual reconfiguration or increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by autonomously monitoring viewing patterns, analyzing preferences, and updating the preferred channel list without user intervention. The television automatically adapts to changing habits (such as seasonal sports preferences) by processing its own operational data, eliminating the need for complex manual channel management while maintaining high adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If users manually configure their favorite channels, then the channel list reflects user preferences, but it requires user effort and time to update when preferences change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the television system to automatically monitor viewing habits and update the preferred channel list without requiring user effort. The system self-manages the channel configuration by analyzing operational data and automatically adjusting the preferred channel ordering based on changing preferences, thereby eliminating manual maintenance while maintaining high adaptability to user needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from continuous monitoring of user channel selection and viewing behavior to automatically update the preferred channel list. This feedback loop ensures the channel configuration remains responsive to preference changes without requiring user intervention, making the system both easy to maintain and highly adaptable to changing viewing habits.
Data Source
AI summary
Various arrangements for modified channel surfing are presented. Viewing habits of users of a television receiver may be monitored. A preferred television channel list indicating a plurality of preferred television channels based on the monitored viewing habits of users of the television receiver may be determined. User input requesting a channel surfing mode change to a preferred television channel mode may be received via a remote control. The channel surfing mode may be set to the preferred television channel mode. A channel up command or channel down command may be received by the television receiver from the remote control. A first television channel may be selected from the preferred television channel list in response to: the channel up command or channel down command; and the television receiver being set to the preferred television channel mode.