TV Linking and Browsing System for Dynamic Content Augmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current television viewing experiences are linear and lack non-linearity, with limited ability to seamlessly integrate additional related content, restricting user interaction and information consumption.
Innovation Solution
A linking and browsing system that dynamically acquires and presents additional content related to a current TV program using a presenting service and an information augmentation service, which interacts with networks to retrieve metadata and provide context-sensitive links for related multimedia content, allowing users to access additional information simultaneously with the current program.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional linear TV viewing is used, then the viewing experience is simple and stable, but the user cannot access additional related content or interact non-linearly with the program
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising a presenting service and an information augmentation service that acts as a mediator between the traditional TV broadcast and the user. This intermediary layer processes metadata, generates context-sensitive links, and presents additional content without disrupting the existing linear TV signal, thereby enabling non-linear content access while maintaining system stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the TV viewing experience into two independent components: the primary linear broadcast content and the secondary augmented content delivered through metadata and context-sensitive links. This segmentation allows users to access additional related content through multiple pathways (electronic program guides, on-screen displays, web interfaces) without affecting the main program stream, thus improving versatility while keeping each component relatively simple
2Ease of operation
If multiple context-sensitive links are provided for additional content, then user interaction and information consumption options increase, but the processing and presentation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The information augmentation service automatically generates context-sensitive links by analyzing metadata associated with the current program and user viewing context. The system self-services by autonomously creating relevant content links, managing their presentation, and updating them in real-time based on program progression, thereby providing extensive user interaction options without requiring complex manual configuration or processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing metadata and pre-generating context-sensitive links before they are needed during program playback. This advance preparation allows the presenting service to quickly display relevant content links to users without real-time processing delays, enhancing ease of operation while distributing processing complexity over time
3Loss of information
If additional related content is integrated with the current program, then the viewing experience becomes more enriching, but the linearity and simplicity of traditional TV viewing is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds another dimension to traditional linear TV viewing by overlaying contextual information and related content in parallel dimensions. Instead of replacing the linear program flow, the system presents additional content through electronic program guides, on-screen displays, and web interfaces that exist alongside the primary broadcast, allowing users to access comprehensive information while maintaining the simplicity of linear viewing if desired
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for linking and browsing media on a television (TV) are provided. A selected program, which is associated with a channel of the TV, is detected and additional content, which is associated with that channel and/or the selected program, is dynamically acquired from one or more external sources. The additional content is formatted as links and simultaneously presented within a display of the TV along with the selected program that continues to play on the TV. Furthermore, activation of any link results in the additional content being dynamically acquired and presented within the display.