Unified TV Channel and Application Management via Mixed Data Table
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart TVs are unable to integrate TV program channels with applications, making it difficult for users to seamlessly switch between channels and applications using conventional control methods.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that normalize and integrate TV program channel and application data structures to create a mixed table, allowing for the display and execution of corresponding content based on control commands, using a data structure with variables such as channel identification, application name, and mixing index numbers to facilitate user-friendly channel and application switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If TV program channels and applications are kept as separate systems, then each system can be managed independently with clear data structures, but users cannot seamlessly switch between channels and applications using conventional control methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges TV program channels and applications into a unified channel management system. Both channels and applications are assigned channel numbers and managed through the same channel selection interface, allowing users to switch between them using conventional remote control methods without needing to understand the underlying system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The channel management system is designed to be universal, handling both traditional TV channels and applications through a single interface. The system can identify and manage different types of content (broadcast channels, IP channels, applications) using the same channel number assignment mechanism, making the system multi-functional while maintaining ease of operation
2Ease of operation
If a unified channel management system is created to integrate channels and applications, then user operation becomes simpler, but the data structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The unified channel management system is segmented into distinct data structure components: channel information (for TV channels), application information (for software applications), and a mixed table (for integrated management). Each component has its own normalized data structure, but they are organized hierarchically to manage complexity while providing unified access through channel numbers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mixed table as an intermediary data structure that bridges channel information and application information. This mixed table uses channel numbers as keys to uniformly access both channels and applications, acting as a mediator that simplifies the interface while managing the underlying data structure complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If channel numbers are assigned to applications, then applications can be accessed through conventional TV remote controls, but it becomes difficult to distinguish between channels and applications in the unified system
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses visual differentiation (analogous to color changes) in the channel list display to indicate whether a channel number corresponds to a TV channel or an application. Different visual markers or icons are used to distinguish channels from applications, allowing users to easily identify the type of content they are selecting while maintaining unified channel number access
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Disclosed are a method and system for integrating television program channels and applications for an intelligent television. The method comprises the steps of: performing normalization processing on data of television program channel information, and maintaining a data structure for each television program channel, so as to obtain a program table with multiple pieces of television program channel information as table entries; performing normalization processing on data of application information, and maintaining a data structure for each application, so as to obtain an application table with multiple pieces of application information as table entries; mixing and arranging the table entries of the program table and the table entries of the application table under local control or remote control, so as to obtain a mixed arrangement table; and when a control instruction is received, searching for table entries corresponding to the control instruction in the mixed arrangement table, and displaying the corresponding content. By means of the present invention, when a user uses an intelligent television, quick switching is performed between applications and television program channels by using a conventional approach of sending a channel selection instruction, thereby facilitating operations and use of the user; in addition, the intelligent television better accords with use habits of the user, and more users can conveniently use the intelligent television.