Set Top Box Emergency Alert Bypass for DVR Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
The Emergency Alert System often interrupts the recording of regularly scheduled programs with emergency alerts, which can be irrelevant to viewers who record programs to watch later, leading to incomplete recordings.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for a set top box to detect emergency alert break-ins and bypass their recording, allowing the set top box to record programs without interruptions by identifying non-emergency alert channels or retrieving the program from an Internet source after the alert has ended.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the Emergency Alert System interrupts broadcast programming to deliver emergency warnings, then public safety communication is improved, but program recording completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful interruption component (emergency alert break-in) from the recording stream by detecting alert signals and pausing recording during these interruptions, thereby preserving the完整性 of the recorded program content while maintaining emergency alert functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of emergency alert signals before they disrupt the recording, allowing the set-top box to pause recording in advance and resume after the alert, preventing contamination of the recording with alert content
2Reliability
If the set top box records all incoming media content including emergency alerts, then recording reliability is improved, but program continuity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the incoming media content for emergency alert signals and adjusting recording operations accordingly, pausing when alerts are detected and resuming when they end, thus maintaining program continuity while ensuring reliable recording of actual program content
3Reliability
If the set top box interrupts recording to display emergency alerts, then public warning effectiveness is improved, but recording productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the emergency alert display function from the recording function by pausing recording during alerts rather than interrupting it, allowing alerts to be displayed to users while the recording process continues uninterrupted in the background, thus maintaining both warning effectiveness and recording productivity
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the disclosed invention include a system and a method for bypassing an emergency alert break-in for a recorded event. For example, in one embodiment, a set top box is disclosed that includes a memory component for storing computer executable instructions; a communication interface for receiving media content data from a cable service provider; a decoder module for decoding the received media content data; an emergency alert break-in monitoring module for identifying an emergency alert break-in from the received data; a digital video recorder controller module for determining whether the identified emergency alert break-in affects a recording of a program on a recorded channel; and an emergency alert break-in bypass module for bypassing the identified emergency alert break-in for enabling the digital video recorder controller module to record the program without the identified emergency alert break-in.