RFID Viewer Identification for Personalized TV Content
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing set-top boxes and television receivers face challenges in identifying and providing personalized content to multiple users within a household, as manual user credentials are cumbersome and often not used, leading to underutilization of customizable features.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a wireless RFID reader that detects and associates a unique identifier with each viewer, allowing for the presentation of viewer-related programming and preferences, such as placeshifted content and viewing settings, across multiple devices and locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual userid/password credentials are required for viewer identification, then viewer identification accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to cumbersome manual input requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic viewer identification through wireless communication without requiring manual credential input. The viewer's device automatically transmits identification information to the television receiver, which then automatically associates the identifier with the viewer and provides personalized content, eliminating the need for manual userid/password entry while maintaining accurate identification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual input system (typing userid and password) with a wireless communication system. The viewer's mobile device or other wireless device automatically communicates identification data to the television receiver via wireless signals, substituting manual mechanical input with automated electronic communication to improve ease of operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If customized features are made available for multiple users, then adaptability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates because users must manually provide credentials to access customization
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-associating wireless identifiers with viewer profiles and preferences before the viewer actually uses the customized features. When a viewer approaches the television, the system has already retrieved and prepared the personalized content based on pre-stored identifier-to-viewer mappings, allowing immediate access to customization without manual credential entry
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automatic viewer identification through wireless communication without requiring manual credential input. The viewer's device automatically transmits identification information to the television receiver, which then automatically associates the identifier with the viewer and provides personalized content, eliminating the need for manual userid/password entry while maintaining accurate identification
3Ease of operation
If automatic viewer identification is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to addition of wireless communication components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by utilizing existing wireless communication standards and technologies (such as WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wireless protocols already present in modern televisions and viewer devices) for identification purposes. This approach avoids adding entirely new complex communication infrastructure by repurposing existing multi-functional wireless capabilities to serve the identification function
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs an intermediary approach by using wireless signals as a mediator between the viewer's device and the television receiver. Rather than requiring direct complex interaction or manual input, the wireless communication acts as a simple intermediary carrier that transfers identification data automatically, simplifying the overall interaction model while adding minimal complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables convenient and automatic identification of viewers, providing personalized content and features without the need for manual credentials, enhancing user experience and feature utilization by following the viewer across locations.
Implementation Method 1
an RFID reader configured to broadcast a wireless RFID query and to receive a wireless signal comprising an RFID code when an RFID tag in the possession of a particular viewer is in proximity to the system
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are described for presenting viewer-related programming to a particular viewer. In at least one embodiment, a wireless reader is configured to receive at least one identifier when the particular viewer is in proximity to the reader. A controller is configured to receive the identifier from the wireless reader and to associate the identifier with the particular viewer, and, upon successfully associating the wireless identifier with the particular viewer, to present the viewer-related programming associated with the particular viewer via the display or other presentation device located in proximity to the wireless reader. Viewer-related programming may including placeshifted content, viewing preferences, settings or other information as desired.