Unified Content Menu for TV Receiver External Device Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users find it difficult to access and select remote content on television receivers due to complex and unintuitive menus, which are separate from those used for accessing broadcast television programs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a unified content selection menu on television receivers that uses similar channel identifiers for both local and remote content, allowing users to access external devices like cameras, personal computers, and web servers through an integrated electronic programming guide, with automatic authentication and device selection menus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate menus are used for accessing external devices and broadcast television programs, then device functionality is maintained, but user operation becomes complex and unintuitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the menu for accessing external devices with the electronic programming guide for broadcast television programs into a single integrated interface. External devices are assigned channel identifiers that allow them to be accessed through the same navigation mechanism used for television channels, eliminating the need for separate menus and simplifying user operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic programming guide is designed to serve multiple functions: it displays broadcast television programs, lists locally stored content, and provides access to external devices. This universal interface allows users to access different types of content sources through a single unified system rather than requiring separate specialized menus for each function.
2Ease of operation
If integrated content selection menus are implemented, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated menu is segmented into distinct sections or categories (broadcast television programs, locally stored content, external devices) that can be independently managed. Each section maintains its own organizational structure while being accessible through the unified interface, allowing the system to handle complexity internally while presenting a simplified view to the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer that translates between the unified user interface and the underlying complex system of multiple content sources. The electronic programming guide acts as a mediator that presents a consistent channel identifier-based interface to users while managing the complexity of connecting to different external devices and content sources behind the scenes.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are systems, methods and apparatus which allow users to remotely access content from other devices. One embodiment provides a method for presenting available content to a user via a television receiver. A first content selection menu is output for display that includes at least a first content selection item associated with locally accessible content and a second content selection item associated with an external device. Responsive to a request associated with the second content selection item, the method includes outputting for display a second content selection menu. The second content selection menu specifies at least one content item remotely available through the external device. A user provides a selection of the at least one content item and the television receiver receives the selected content item from the external device and outputs the selected content item for presentation by a presentation device.