Program Reproducing Device Summary Title Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional program reproducing devices inefficiently manage the viewing state of recorded programs, leading to ineffective memory utilization and complex user handling, as they lack user-centric management and fail to accurately indicate complete viewing status.

Innovation Solution

A program reproducing device with a reproduction completion judging unit that determines if a program has been reproduced at a specified rate, setting reproduction information accordingly, and a title information output unit that manages summary titles based on the reproduction status of multiple programs, providing user-friendly visual feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional program reproducing devices manage viewing state with simple binary indicators (reproduced/not reproduced), then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of reproduction status is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereproduction status management precisionVSAvoidmanagement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of reproduction status from simple binary (reproduced/not reproduced) to a continuous parameter representing reproduction completion rate (0-100%). This allows precise measurement of how much of a program has been viewed, enabling the system to distinguish between partially reproduced and fully reproduced programs based on threshold values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary management unit that acts as a mediator between the reproduction function and the display function. This unit calculates reproduction completion rates, compares them against thresholds, and generates appropriate display indicators, thereby decoupling the complexity from the core reproduction functionality while achieving precise status management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If program reproducing devices display detailed reproduction status for each program, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex user handling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereproduction status indication accuracyVSAvoiduser handling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of reproduction status information in different contexts. In the program list, only simplified indicators (reproduced/not reproduced) are shown for ease of overview. When users select specific programs, detailed reproduction completion rates are displayed. This localized differentiation of information quality optimizes both ease of operation and measurement precision where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the reproduction status information into two layers: a simplified indicator layer for list display and a detailed status layer for individual program views. This segmentation allows the system to maintain ease of operation in the overview while providing measurement precision when users need detailed information about specific programs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If program reproducing devices store detailed reproduction information for all programs, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of substance (memory usage) increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereproduction status tracking accuracyVSAvoidmemory capacity consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by storing detailed reproduction completion rate data only for programs that have been partially reproduced or are currently being reproduced. For programs that are fully reproduced or never started, the system stores only binary status indicators. This selective data storage approach maintains measurement precision for relevant programs while minimizing memory consumption for the overall library.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Measurement precision

If program reproducing devices use high performance display devices for detailed reproduction status display, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereproduction status display accuracyVSAvoiddisplay system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the display content adaptive rather than static. The display system dynamically adjusts the level of reproduction status information shown based on the user's current context (program list view vs. individual program view) and the reproduction completion rates themselves. This dynamic approach allows standard display devices to convey precise information by showing different levels of detail at different times, avoiding the need for high-performance display hardware.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2503554B1Program reproducing device and program and computer program
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2503554B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2503554B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2503554B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A program reproducing device has: a program storage unit (11) for storing program data having an attribute value including program title and reproduction information showing whether the program has been already reproduced or not, a receiving unit (12) for receiving a title output instruction for issuing the program title, a title retrieving unit (81) for judging whether plural titles satisfy a specified condition or not when the receiving unit receives the title output instruction, composing a summary title as one title relating to the plural titles satisfying the specified condition, and acquiring a title not satisfying the specified condition, and a title information output unit (17) for issuing title information including the title acquired by the title retrieving unit and the reproduction information of the program corresponding to the acquired title, acquiring reproduction information of plural programs corresponding to the summary title, determining the reproduction information corresponding to the summary title by using the reproduction information of plural programs, and issuing the title information including the summary title and the determined reproduction information. Thus the device can manage already-reproduced state or not-reproduced state of program group corresponding to the summary title.