Set-Top Box Real-Time Highlight Alert System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Viewers miss highlights of other programs while watching selected channels, as recap shows are inconvenient and often stale due to delayed availability.
Innovation Solution
A system that provides alerts for highlights of other programs or earlier events in the same program being viewed, allowing users to access these highlights in real-time through a set-top box, using a combination of broadcast signals and internet streaming, with alerts and notifications based on predefined parameters set by content providers or user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If viewers access recap shows to catch up on missed programs, then they can view highlights of other programs, but they must change channels and the highlights become stale due to significant delay
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures highlights in real-time as they occur during broadcast programs and makes them immediately available through alerts and notifications, rather than waiting for recap shows to be produced and aired later. This preliminary capture and availability action eliminates the time delay between the highlight occurrence and viewer access.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism (alert/notification system) that bridges the gap between the broadcast program and the viewer. When a highlight occurs, the intermediary alert system immediately notifies viewers, allowing them to access the highlight without needing to switch channels or wait for recap shows, thus maintaining highlight freshness while improving viewing convenience.
2Loss of information
If viewers watch programs on selected channels, then they can enjoy the broadcast content, but they miss highlights from other programs
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the broadcast program information is monitored and fed back to viewers through alerts and notifications. When highlights occur in programs that viewers are not currently watching, the system sends feedback alerts to notify viewers of these highlights, allowing them to access the missed information without interrupting their current viewing or requiring them to actively monitor multiple channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service functionality by automatically monitoring program content, identifying highlights based on predefined criteria, and delivering notifications to viewers without requiring active intervention from the viewers themselves. Viewers simply need to receive the alert and access the highlight when convenient, eliminating the need for them to manually track multiple programs.
3Loss of time
If recap programs are provided significantly after the program portion has occurred, then they can summarize missed content, but the highlights become stale or spoiled
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary capture of highlight moments during the broadcast itself, rather than waiting for the program to conclude or for recap shows to be produced. By capturing and preparing highlights in advance during their occurrence, the system eliminates significant time delays and ensures highlights remain fresh and relevant when viewers access them through alerts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous availability of highlights through real-time capture, processing, and immediate notification delivery. Rather than producing recap programs intermittently after broadcasts, the system continuously monitors program content, identifies highlights as they occur, and makes them immediately available, ensuring no time gaps that would cause staleness or spoilage.
Data Source
AI summary
A set-top box can provide a program for display to a video device that can be provided to the set-top box using a first signal in a first format, which can be a satellite or cable feed. The set-top box can receive a highlight notification from a content server for a highlight available to be provided for viewing during the program and, in response, can provide an alert associated with the highlight to the video device for display. The set-top box can receive an indication that the alert has been selected and, in response, can access the highlight and provide the highlight to the video device for display. The highlight can be streamed to the set-top box using a second signal in a second format, which can be a video streamed as web content in an Internet video format, and can be removed from display upon completion of the highlight.