Television Network Selection Using Time Slot Frequency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in quickly selecting preferred television networks due to the large number of available channels, especially in multi-user households where individual preferences differ, and existing solutions do not efficiently provide an automatic and timely list of preferred channels.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize a processor to store and display preferred television networks based on viewing frequency across predetermined time slots, allowing automatic selection and display of the most watched channels during current time slots, using a tuner, video decoder, switching circuit, and memory to manage television signals and user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a user manually browses through the menu to select preferred television networks, then the user can access any available channel, but the selection process takes too much time due to the large number of channels
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically monitoring and recording user viewing habits in advance. The processor continuously tracks which channels users watch and stores this information in memory, so that when channel selection is needed, the preferred channels are already prepared and can be displayed immediately without manual browsing.
Solution Approach 2:
The television system serves itself by automatically generating the list of preferred channels based on its own monitoring of user behavior. The processor analyzes viewing data and autonomously compiles the preferred channel list, eliminating the need for manual user input or configuration, thereby reducing both selection time and operational complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system stores all preferred television networks from multiple users, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but the number of channels to navigate through increases to almost a hundred
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by creating customized channel lists for different users or viewing contexts. Instead of presenting a single comprehensive list of all possible preferred channels from all users, the processor identifies and displays only the relevant preferred channels based on the current user's viewing habits or the active time slot, making the interface simple while maintaining multi-user adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel selection is segmented into different time slots with different preferred channel lists. The processor divides the day into time periods and maintains separate preferred channel lists for each slot, allowing multiple users' preferences to be accommodated across different times without overwhelming the user with all channels simultaneously. Only the relevant segment is displayed at any given time.
3Productivity
If preferred television networks are stored without time slot differentiation, then storage is simple, but the system cannot provide context-appropriate channel recommendations
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamics by making the preferred channel list time-dependent. The processor dynamically selects which preferred channels to display based on the current time slot, transforming a static storage structure into a dynamic presentation system. This allows the same physical storage to serve multiple contextual purposes without requiring complex real-time computation during channel selection.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus, a system and a method adapted to receive television signals and to select preferred television networks, comprising a processor (4) for controlling the functions of said apparatus (1), a tuner (9) for at least tuning the television signal, a television signal video decoder (6) for at least producing a video signal, at least a memory (5) for storing information about preferred television networks, a clock (10) for counting time and synchronizing machine instructions, said apparatus comprising or being adapted to be connected to a display (2) for reproducing television signals, characterized in that the processor (4) stores into the memory (5) information about the preferred television networks, comprising a frequency of vision (34) and subdivided according to predetermined time slots (36), the same processor (4) allowing to select or display preferred television networks on the display (2) depending on the frequency of vision (34) and on the time slot (36) within which said apparatus (1) is being used.