Reception Apparatus On-Demand Access to Scheduled Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for digital television and set-top boxes do not effectively provide on-demand access to scheduled content, limiting user flexibility in viewing past, current, and future content according to predetermined schedules.
Innovation Solution
A reception apparatus and method that utilize a content source to broadcast digital television signals, allowing on-demand access to scheduled content through a user interface, with features such as electronic programming guides (EPGs) and triggered declarative objects (TDOs) to manage and provide access to stored or streamed content, including past, current, and future content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If content is distributed according to a predetermined schedule only, then content distribution reliability is maintained, but user access flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts content distribution based on user requests. The reception apparatus can request content at any time (past, present, or future), and the system responds by providing the content through appropriate delivery mechanisms, transforming a static scheduled distribution into a dynamic on-demand service.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing content in advance according to the scheduled distribution timeline. This allows the content to be readily available when users make on-demand requests, whether for past content (already stored), current content (being received), or future content (pre-stored but not yet broadcast).
2Adaptability or versatility
If on-demand access to past content is enabled, then user viewing flexibility is improved, but content distribution complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reception apparatus performs multiple functions: it receives scheduled content, stores it locally, and provides on-demand access to it. The content source also serves dual purposes by both broadcasting scheduled content and responding to on-demand requests. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The reception apparatus acts as an intermediary between the content source and the user. It receives content from the content source, manages local storage, and handles user requests by providing content from its buffer or requesting it from the content source, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Reliability
If multiple communication mediums are used for content delivery, then service reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reception apparatus is designed to handle multiple communication mediums (terrestrial broadcast and Internet) through a unified architecture. The same device can receive content via broadcast, access content via Internet, and switch between them seamlessly, reducing the need for separate dedicated receivers for each medium.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is provided for a reception apparatus to access content. The method includes outputting a distribution schedule for a plurality of content and receiving a selection of one of the plurality of content for which distribution started before or starts after a current time. At least one processor of the reception apparatus determines whether on-demand access is requested for the selected content. When on-demand access is determined to be requested for the selected content, a request for the selected content is sent over a first communication medium and the selected content is received via a second communication medium.