Internet TV Content Alert System for Program Discovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Internet-enabled TVs lack effective mechanisms to alert users of available Internet content, leading to uncontrolled access, inappropriate content exposure, lower quality screening, and difficulty in finding desired programs due to the absence of electronic program guides that keep pace with rapidly changing Internet content.
Innovation Solution
A consumer electronics device with a processor and network interface that receives user preferences and keywords, periodically communicates with content servers to retrieve metadata, and presents visual or audible alerts when matching content becomes available, allowing users to manage alerts and access new content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If uncontrolled Internet access is provided through TV, then users can access a wide variety of content, but users are exposed to inappropriate content and quality screening is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary alerting mechanism that sits between the uncontrolled Internet access and the user. Content servers send alerts through the network interface to the processor, which then presents filtered information to the user through the display or audio output. This intermediary layer maintains content accessibility while providing quality screening and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the content access system into separate functional components: content servers that provide raw content, a network interface that receives alerts, a processor that manages alerting logic, and output devices (display/speakers) that present information. This segmentation allows independent control of accessibility and quality screening functions.
2Ease of operation
If electronic program guides are implemented for Internet content, then users can better discover and locate desired programs, but the system complexity increases due to constant content changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having content servers proactively send alerts to users' devices before users need to search for content. The alerting system is pre-configured with user preferences and keywords, allowing automatic content discovery without requiring users to navigate complex guides or perform searches.
Solution Approach 2:
The alerting system performs self-service by automatically receiving, processing, and presenting content availability information without user intervention. The processor continuously monitors for alerts matching user preferences and automatically presents them through the display or audio output, eliminating the need for manual guide navigation.
3Loss of time
If content alerts are continuously monitored and presented, then users receive timely notifications of desired content, but energy consumption and processing load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by having the processor check for content alerts at scheduled intervals rather than continuously monitoring. The system periodically retrieves new alerts from content servers, processes them against stored user preferences, and presents matches. This periodic approach maintains notification timeliness while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The user of an Internet-enabled CE device (12) such as an Internet protocol TV (IPTV) can enter (44) search terms describing desired Internet-sourced programs, and Internet channels are monitored (46/48) to detect when the desired programs become available. When a desired program is detected (50) an alert appears (52) on screen (18), which can be selected to navigate to a current alert user interface (UI) from which detected desired programs can be selected for presentation.