Search-Based Media Program Guide for Set-Top Boxes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional program guides for set-top boxes become inefficient as media content choices expand, requiring repetitive user input and presenting information in unintuitive ways, making it difficult for users to find desired media content.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a search-based media program guide system that allows users to search for media content using keyword searches or content types, providing customizable search views and filtering out non-matching content, thereby simplifying the navigation through a graphical user interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional program guide tools are used to navigate media content choices, then users can access media content, but the system becomes inefficient and requires repetitive user input as media content choices expand

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia content choicesVSAvoiduser input efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automated search operations without requiring repetitive manual user input. The search module automatically queries program guide data, filters content based on user preferences, and presents results, enabling the system to serve itself rather than requiring continuous manual navigation through expanding media content options

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical navigation through program guides is replaced with automated electronic search mechanisms. The search module uses computer-based filtering and sorting algorithms to navigate through expanding media content choices, substituting the mechanical process of manual scrolling and selection with automated digital processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Quantity of substance

If conventional program guide tools present all media content options, then users have access to comprehensive content, but the information becomes unintuitive and overwhelming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedia content choicesVSAvoidinformation intuitiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and separates relevant media content from the entire program guide data set based on user-defined criteria. By filtering and extracting only the content that matches user preferences, the system presents a reduced, more intuitive set of options rather than overwhelming users with all available content

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The program guide data is segmented into multiple categories and filtered views based on user preferences. The search module divides the comprehensive content list into manageable segments that are easier to navigate and understand, presenting information in organized portions rather than as a single overwhelming list

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If conventional program guide tools process large amounts of program guide data, then comprehensive content is available, but the processing speed becomes slow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprogram guide dataVSAvoiddata processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of processing the entire program guide data set, the system performs partial searches based on user-specific criteria. The search module processes only the portion of data relevant to user preferences, reducing the processing load while maintaining comprehensive coverage of relevant content

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary filtering and sorting of program guide data based on user preferences before presenting results. By pre-processing and organizing data according to user criteria, the system reduces the complexity of subsequent processing operations and improves overall processing speed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8990858B2Search-based media program guide systems and methods

Publication Date: 2015.03.24 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

An exemplary method includes receiving a program guide data search request, associating a time block with the program guide data search request, identifying a set of program guide data associated with the time block, searching the set of program guide data associated with the time block to identify at least one matching media content instance based on the program guide data search request, and generating data representative of a search-based program guide view for display in a graphical user interface, the search-based program guide view exhibiting graphical data representative of the at least one matching media content instance. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises generating a virtual search channel associated with the program guide data search request and providing graphical data representative of the virtual search channel for display in the search-based program guide view. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.