Program Recommendation System with Background Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in discovering alternative, potentially more interesting programs due to the overwhelming number of channels in media services, leading to missed opportunities and loss of interest as they are unaware of programs on unfamiliar channels.
Innovation Solution
A scheduled programming recommendation system that narrows down available programs to a manageable list of about a dozen recommendations, prioritizing user interests based on viewing history, allowing users to switch to recommended programs without missing the beginning, and automatically recording these recommendations for later access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If users access all available channels and programs through traditional EPG, then complete program information is provided, but user experience deteriorates due to overwhelming choices and time-consuming navigation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and presents only the most relevant programs from the complete channel lineup, displaying a limited set of recommended programs (e.g., 3-5 programs) rather than all available options. This extraction principle reduces navigation complexity while maintaining program discovery effectiveness by showing only curated recommendations based on user profile and viewing history.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of program selection from user-initiated browsing to system-initiated recommendation. By automatically generating personalized program recommendations based on user profiles, viewing history, and program attributes, the system transforms the overwhelming static EPG into dynamic, customized program suggestions that adapt to user preferences.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users switch channels to find interesting programs, then program variety increases, but user experience deteriorates due to missing program content when switching
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically recording recommended programs before the user watches them. When a program is recommended, the system pre-records it in the background, ensuring that when the user selects to watch the recommended program, the complete content is already available without requiring the user to catch the live broadcast or risk missing content due to switching delays.
3Quantity of substance
If system provides comprehensive program listings, then program availability is maximized, but device complexity increases due to managing and presenting numerous channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies extraction by presenting a simplified view of program options - showing only a small number of highly relevant recommended programs (e.g., 3-5 programs) rather than all available programs across hundreds of channels. This extraction reduces the effective complexity presented to the user while the system maintains comprehensive program availability in the background for recommendation generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating and updating program recommendations based on user profiles and viewing history without requiring user intervention to navigate or search. The system autonomously manages the complexity of program selection by continuously analyzing user behavior and automatically curating personalized program lists, reducing the operational burden on users.
4Adaptability or versatility
If users watch programs on unfamiliar channels, then program diversity increases, but user experience deteriorates due to inability to locate and track programs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary - the program recommendation system with persistent identification - that mediates between the user and programs on unfamiliar channels. The system assigns stable identifiers and maintains continuous tracking of recommended programs across different channels, allowing users to access and track programs without needing to understand channel structures or locate programs manually in the EPG.
Data Source
AI summary
A scheduled programming recommendation system narrows down a user's electronic program guide to a short list of about a dozen recommended programs. The list is customized to the user's own interests according to a point scoring algorithm that compares program data with data from the user's viewing history. The content receiver is programmed to offer alternatives to users while engaged in a program, or within a short time interval near the end of a program. If the user switches to another ongoing program, there is an option to start the new program at the beginning. This option is made possible by a feature of the scheduled programming recommendation system that automatically records recommended programs in a background memory location, separate from the user's recorder memory space. Only recommended programs are automatically recorded. Access to recorded content is provided exclusively via the recommended list.