Television Receiver Barcode Condition Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Television receivers often malfunction or fail, leading to service interruptions and loss of user-configured settings, necessitating a mechanism to anticipate and mitigate these issues by communicating receiver conditions effectively.

Innovation Solution

A two-dimensional barcode is displayed on the television receiver to encode and communicate information about its condition, such as error codes or user-configured settings, which can be scanned by a mobile device to facilitate repairs, data transfer, or reconfiguration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional feedback methods (text instructions) are used to communicate receiver conditions, then the information can be understood by users, but the communication efficiency is low and repair time is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverepair efficiencyVSAvoidtime to communicate receiver condition
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a visual copy (barcode) of the receiver condition data that can be rapidly scanned and transmitted. Instead of manually reading or typing error codes, the system generates a barcode representation of the condition information that mobile devices can automatically scan, converting a time-consuming manual process into a rapid automated one.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual information entry and communication methods with automated optical scanning. The barcode scanning system substitutes the mechanical process of reading, writing, and transmitting text instructions with an optical system that captures and transmits data instantly, significantly reducing the time required to communicate receiver conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If detailed configuration information is stored locally in the receiver, then the information is readily available, but the device complexity and storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess to configuration dataVSAvoidstorage and processing requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the configuration and condition data from the receiver's internal storage and represents it in a compact barcode format for external transmission. This allows the receiver to maintain minimal local storage while still providing full access to configuration data through the barcode, which can be scanned and transmitted to mobile devices or service centers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms complex multidimensional configuration data into a two-dimensional barcode representation. This dimensional transformation allows large amounts of configuration information to be encoded in a compact visual format that can be easily transmitted and stored externally, reducing the burden on the receiver's internal storage and processing capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of repair

If the receiver communicates error information actively, then repairs can be expedited, but the device requires additional communication capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of diagnosisVSAvoidcommunication hardware and software
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a barcode as an intermediary between the receiver and the diagnostic system. Instead of requiring the receiver to have complex active communication capabilities, the barcode serves as a passive intermediary that encodes all necessary diagnostic information, which can then be scanned and transmitted by a mobile device or other scanning system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a static copy of the receiver's condition data in barcode format that can be scanned and transmitted without requiring the receiver to actively communicate. This copy contains all the diagnostic information needed for repair, allowing the receiver to remain simple while still enabling rapid diagnosis through the scannable barcode representation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2681919B1Method and system for communicating set-top box health and configuration information
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 ECHOSTAR TECH LLC
  • EP2681919B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2681919B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2681919B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Disclosure is directed to determining a condition of the television receiver and communicating information regarding that condition to end-points that are external to the television receiver. The television receiver may create a two-dimensional barcode with information regarding the receiver condition and output the two-dimensional barcode for display on a display device. Once displayed on the display device, the two-dimensional barcode may be scanned into a mobile device where the information regarding the receiver condition may be stored, processed and/or forwarded to another location or device.