Electronic Program Guide Channel Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face frustration when navigating large channel lineups in electronic program guides, as they need to scroll through hundreds of channels to access frequently watched channels, which is cumbersome and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced electronic program guide system that identifies and lists channels viewed by a user over a period, ordering them from most watched to least watched, allowing users to easily access their favorite channels without extensive scrolling, and includes options for user customization and maintenance of favorite channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the channel lineup includes hundreds of channels, then the channel selection variety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates as users must scroll through many channels to access frequently watched channels
Solution Approach 1:
The program guide is segmented into multiple sections: a favorites section containing user-selected favorite channels, a most-watched section with channels ordered by viewing frequency, and a standard channel lineup section. This segmentation allows users to quickly access frequently watched channels without scrolling through the entire channel lineup, resolving the contradiction between channel variety and navigation ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically monitoring and tracking user channel viewing habits over time, pre-organizing channels into favorites and most-watched categories based on accumulated data. This preliminary organization occurs before the user needs to access channels, enabling quick navigation to frequently watched channels without manual scrolling through hundreds of channels.
2Loss of information
If the electronic program guide displays all channels in standard order, then the completeness of information is improved, but the time required to locate specific channels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The program guide is divided into distinct sections: favorites section, most-watched section (ordered by viewing frequency), and standard channel lineup section. This segmentation presents information in multiple organizational formats simultaneously, allowing users to quickly locate frequently watched channels in the sorted sections while still providing access to the complete standard channel lineup for comprehensive channel information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically generates and updates the most-watched channel list based on real-time monitoring of user viewing habits. The channel ordering in the most-watched section automatically adjusts as viewing patterns change, ensuring that the time required to locate channels remains optimized while maintaining access to all channel information across different sections.
3Ease of operation
If the program guide is customized to show only favorite channels, then the ease of operation is improved, but the quantity of available channel information decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The program guide is structured with multiple sections that can be displayed together: a favorites section with user-selected channels, a most-watched section with channels ordered by viewing frequency, and a standard channel lineup section containing all available channels. This segmentation allows the guide to provide quick access to favorite channels while simultaneously maintaining access to the complete channel information set.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple channel organization approaches (favorites-based ordering, viewing-frequency-based ordering, and standard numerical ordering) into a single unified program guide interface. Users can access customized views for quick channel selection while the complete channel information remains available in the standard lineup section, combining the benefits of customization and completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for producing and displaying an enhanced program guide may include a method including identifying each channel viewed by a user over a period of time at an electronic device. The method may include storing data associated with each channel viewed, and may include producing a list of each channel viewed with the electronic device. The produced list may be ordered from most watched channel to least watched channel. The method may also include receiving a command at the electronic device to display an electronic program guide, and may still include incorporating at least a portion of the list into the electronic program guide at the electronic device for display.