Priority Channel Selection for Automatic Stream Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face challenges in accessing desired content across fragmented content rights and availability, requiring manual switching between multiple devices and channels, especially in public venues, leading to missed content due to lack of real-time monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A priority-based channel selection system that automatically switches between content sources and channels based on predefined or learned user preferences, using a streaming service to manage content priorities and send control signals to streaming devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual switching between multiple devices and channels is required, then content access flexibility is improved, but user convenience and time efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by implementing an automated channel selector that independently monitors content across multiple devices and channels, automatically switches to prioritized content without requiring manual user intervention, thereby maintaining content access flexibility while dramatically improving user convenience
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring priority lists for different content types and proactively monitoring available content across connected devices before users need to access it, allowing the automated selector to immediately switch to high-priority content when detected, eliminating the need for manual searching and switching
2Ease of operation
If automated channel selection is implemented, then user convenience is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary component - the automated channel selector service - that acts as a mediator between the user and the complex multi-device content ecosystem. This intermediary handles all the complexity of monitoring, comparing, and switching between content sources, presenting a simple automated solution to users while managing the underlying system complexity centrally
3Reliability
If real-time content monitoring across multiple devices is performed, then content availability detection is improved, but processing requirements and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by having each connected device independently query and report only its own content availability status to the central selector service, rather than requiring continuous real-time streaming of all content data. This localized approach maintains reliable content detection while significantly reducing processing requirements and energy consumption compared to centralized real-time monitoring of all devices
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for implementing a channel selector to automatically control the output of a streaming device based on a prioritized list of content. In certain embodiments, a method may comprise implementing a priority-based channel selector for a streaming device, including determining a priority list for prioritized content to play at the streaming device, determining a content source device connected to the streaming device, determining content available to the streaming device based on the content source device, and automatically controlling the streaming device to play the prioritized content based on the priority list and the content available, including directing the streaming device to send a control signal to the content source device.