Smart Device App Channel Lineup Determination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart devices lack an efficient method to configure and display a program guide that accurately identifies the Multi-System Operator (MSO) provider based on geographical location and provides a dynamic channel lineup, often requiring manual input and lacking seamless integration with local appliances.
Innovation Solution
A smart device app utilizes GPS or geo-positioning techniques to determine the user's location, communicates with local appliances like set-top boxes to refine the channel lineup, and displays a graphical user interface for confirmation and selection, enabling direct control of connected entertainment devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual input methods are used to identify MSO provider, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring manual configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines the user's geographical location using GPS or geo-positioning techniques and queries the MSO map database without requiring manual input from the user. The smart device app self-configures by retrieving location data, identifying the MSO provider, and displaying the appropriate channel lineup automatically, making the system serve itself rather than requiring user configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The MSO map database is pre-populated with geographical location data and corresponding MSO provider information before use. When the app needs to identify the MSO, it queries this pre-prepared database using the current location, eliminating the need for real-time manual input or complex real-time processing during operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If GPS location determination is used to identify MSO, then adaptability improves by providing location-specific channel lineups, but device complexity increases due to integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an MSO map database as an intermediary layer between the GPS location determination and the channel lineup display. The database stores pre-organized geographical location data and MSO provider mappings, allowing the system to adapt to different locations by simply querying the database without requiring complex real-time processing or direct integration logic between GPS and channel data.
3Reliability
If communication with local appliances is implemented, then reliability improves by refining channel lineup accuracy, but device complexity increases due to additional integration components
Solution Approach 1:
The system communicates with local appliances such as set-top boxes to obtain additional information about the available channel lineup. This feedback from the appliance allows the system to refine and verify the MSO identification and channel lineup selection, ensuring reliability by cross-checking with the actual connected device's capabilities and current status.
Data Source
AI summary
A current geographical location of a portable device is used to facilitate selection of channel lineup that is appropriate for a Multi-System Operator (MSO) provider and the current geographical location of the portable device. A program guide GUI of the portable device is then configured using the selected channel lineup. The configured GUI is displayable to a user of the portable device whereupon the configured GUI is available for use in commanding tuning operations of a set-top box.