Set-Top Box Interactive Content Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current set-top box technologies are limited in providing intuitive and integrated services that match user expectations for media consumption, as they often lack advanced features and interactive functionalities across multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for a set-top box that registers multiple wireless devices for a communication session, communicates media content to displays, and retrieves interactive content in response to user requests, distributing it to each device, enabling customized and enhanced user experiences through interactive content management and user-generated content sharing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional set-top box functionality is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but service versatility and user experience are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The set-top box is designed to perform multiple functions including media content distribution, interactive content delivery, device registration management, and communication session coordination. The system can serve multiple wireless devices simultaneously with different service types, making a single device perform the work of multiple specialized devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments service functionality from hardware complexity by using standardized communication protocols and modular service architectures. Different service components (media content, interactive content, device registration) are separated into distinct functional modules that can be independently managed and delivered through the same set-top box infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If interactive content is distributed to multiple wireless devices, then user experience is enhanced, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates and distributes copies of interactive content to multiple wireless devices based on service requests. Each registered device receives appropriate content copies tailored to its specific service needs and user preferences, enabling personalized experiences while efficiently managing network resources through selective distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by customizing interactive content delivery to each wireless device based on individual device characteristics, user preferences, and service type. Each device receives content with properties optimized for its specific context rather than uniform content distribution, improving user experience while reducing unnecessary bandwidth consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wireless devices are registered for communication sessions, then service coverage is expanded, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The set-top box acts as an intermediary that manages communication sessions between the network and multiple wireless devices. It handles device registration, authentication, and session coordination, simplifying the system architecture by centralizing management functions rather than requiring direct peer-to-peer complexity between multiple devices and the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by registering wireless devices and establishing communication sessions before actual content delivery. Device registration and session setup are completed in advance, creating a structured framework that simplifies subsequent content distribution and reduces real-time system complexity during active service delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for distributing content through a set-top box. A number of wireless devices are registered for a communications session with the set-top box. Media content is communicated to one or more displays. Interactive content associated with the media content is retrieved for each of the number of wireless devices in response to receiving requests from each of the number of wireless devices. The interactive content is distributed to each of the number of wireless devices in response to retrieving the interactive content for each of the number of wireless devices.