Scan Transport Bar for Interactive Media Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users find navigating through channel scans in interactive media guidance applications cumbersome due to the large number of channels, lacking an efficient mechanism for easy navigation within the scan.
Innovation Solution
An onscreen scan transport bar is introduced, allowing users to easily navigate through a scan by selecting programs from a series of cells, which can include titles, channel numbers, text descriptors, or graphics, with the ability to adjust scan speed and direction, and providing information about programs beyond the currently tuned one.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users navigate through channel scans by sequentially tuning through each channel, then all channels can be accessed, but the navigation process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming due to the large number of channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large set of channels into smaller groups or categories (e.g., by genre, popularity, or user-defined groups). The transport bar displays a limited number of representative channels from each group, allowing users to quickly navigate to relevant categories rather than sequentially tuning through all channels. This segmentation reduces the effective search space and improves navigation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension for channel navigation by displaying multiple channels simultaneously in the transport bar rather than one at a time. Users can see thumbnails and information for several channels at once, enabling parallel scanning and selection from multiple options without sequential tuning, thus reducing navigation time significantly.
2Loss of information
If the transport bar displays many channels simultaneously, then users can see more program options, but the interface becomes cluttered and harder to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The transport bar is divided into discrete cell units, each representing a channel or program. Each cell contains segmented information elements (thumbnail, title, channel number, description) arranged in a consistent layout. This modular segmentation allows multiple channels to be displayed clearly without clutter, as each cell maintains uniform spacing and information hierarchy.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the transport bar cells have different information densities and visual qualities. For example, thumbnails occupy a larger visual weight for quick visual scanning, while text descriptions provide detailed information on demand. The highlight indicator uses distinct visual properties to draw attention to the currently selected channel, enabling efficient information processing without overwhelming the user.
Data Source
AI summary
A scan transport bar is disclosed. The scan transport bar includes a number of cells indicating programs within the scan. The scan transport bar is displayed with the currently-tuned program. The scan transport bar includes tuning sequence numbers for allowing users to easily tune to programs within the scan. A countdown timer is also provided that indicates the amount of time until the next tune in the scan.