Thumbnail-Based Channel Selection for Image Display Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of broadcast channels increases, users face difficulty in selecting channels due to the time-consuming process of navigating through analog and digital broadcasting signals, especially with the shift from analog to digital broadcasting which offers more channels but complicates channel selection.
Innovation Solution
An image display apparatus with a channel browsing processor that generates thumbnail images of broadcast programs from multiple channels, allowing users to intuitively select channels by displaying a list of thumbnail images on the screen, enabling easy identification and selection of desired programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of broadcast channels is increased to meet user demands, then the variety of programs is improved, but the time required to select a channel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-generating and storing thumbnail images for multiple channels before the user needs to select a channel. When channel selection is required, the system retrieves these pre-generated thumbnails instantly, eliminating the need to scan through channels in real-time. This resolves the contradiction by preparing channel information in advance, so that while many channels are available (improving versatility), the user can quickly access them without time-consuming scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates visual copies (thumbnails) of broadcast program content and stores them as selectable icons. Instead of requiring users to watch or scan through actual broadcast signals to identify programs, the system provides visual copies (thumbnails) that represent the program content. This allows users to quickly identify and select desired programs from a grid of channel thumbnails, resolving the time loss issue while maintaining access to numerous channels.
2Reliability
If digital broadcasting is adopted to provide high-definition images and interactive services, then the quality and interactivity are improved, but the complexity of channel selection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the complex digital broadcast signals and the user's selection process. Instead of presenting users with complex signal information or requiring technical knowledge to navigate digital channels, the system uses thumbnail images as an intermediary visual representation. These thumbnails simplify the selection interface, allowing users to choose channels based on visual content previews rather than understanding the underlying digital broadcasting complexity, thus maintaining high-quality digital broadcast while simplifying user interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes visual changes in thumbnail images to represent different channel states and selections. When a user selects a channel, the corresponding thumbnail image changes appearance (e.g., highlighting, color change) to indicate selection. This visual feedback mechanism simplifies the interaction with complex digital broadcasting by providing intuitive visual cues, making the channel selection process more manageable despite the underlying digital signal complexity.
3Speed
If thumbnail images are generated for all channels to enable quick selection, then the speed of channel selection is improved, but the processing time and resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs thumbnail generation as a preliminary action, creating and storing channel thumbnails during off-peak times or when channels are not actively being viewed. This pre-generation approach means that when a user needs to select a channel, the thumbnails are already ready for instant display and selection, achieving fast channel selection speed. The processing time is incurred during the preliminary generation phase rather than during user interaction, effectively decoupling the processing time from the user-experienced time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing channels to generate their own thumbnails autonomously without requiring manual user input or real-time processing during selection. Each channel's thumbnail is pre-computed and stored, so when selection is needed, the system simply retrieves the pre-generated thumbnail rather than generating it in real-time. This self-service approach shifts the processing workload to appropriate times when it does not impact user interaction speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus may provide thumbnail images for a display. A plurality of thumbnail images may be generated based on television channels that have been tuned during a first prescribed time period. A channel list including the plurality of thumbnail images may be provided for output to a display. At least one additional thumbnail image may be generated based on at least one additional television channel that has been tuned during a second time period, the second time period being a time period subsequent to the first time period. The channel list may be updated to further include the at least one additional thumbnail image with the plurality of thumbnail images. The updated channel list may be output to a display.