Television Volume-Based Automatic Program Recording and Playback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing television systems are inconvenient for users who need to temporarily reduce volume or switch to mute during phone calls or unexpected visits, as they require manual operations for recording and replaying programs, which can be error-prone and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A television apparatus with a volume setting unit, voice controller, image synthesizer, and recording controller that automatically records a program when the volume is lowered or switched to mute, and resumes playback when the volume is raised, allowing seamless continuation of watching without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the user manually operates the recording and reproduction functions to watch programs during stopped periods, then the program content can be recovered, but the operation becomes troublesome and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The television apparatus automatically detects when volume is lowered or muted and autonomously activates recording and reproduction functions without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by monitoring its own state and executing the appropriate recording/reproduction sequence automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary recording action when volume is lowered before the user needs to watch the program again. By recording in advance during the stopped period, the program is ready for automatic reproduction when volume returns to normal, eliminating the need for user operation at the moment of need.
2Ease of operation
If the user turns down volume or switches to mute during phone calls or unexpected visits, then conversation can proceed, but the user misses the main idea of the program
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuity of program viewing by automatically recording during the stopped period and reproducing the program content after the user returns from conversation. This ensures the useful action of watching television continues uninterrupted despite temporary volume reduction for conversations.
Solution Approach 2:
The recording function acts as an intermediary that captures and stores program content during the stopped period when volume is lowered. This intermediary recording allows the user to engage in conversations without losing program information, which is then made available through automatic reproduction.
3Loss of time
If the user quickly performs volume and recording operations during phone calls, then program watching can resume, but the complexity of operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The television apparatus performs the complex sequence of recording and reproduction operations autonomously without user intervention. The system monitors volume changes and automatically executes the complete recording-reproduction cycle, reducing the operational burden on the user despite the complexity of the underlying process.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a television apparatus that can reproduce and show a program when the program is stopped without a user performing troublesome operations even when the user is occupied with a sudden phone call or an unexpected visitor while he/she is watching television. A volume comparator starts recording of the program, which is currently being watched, by using a recording apparatus when a set volume value is lower than a threshold value or is set to a sound cancelling mode. Also, when a newly set volume value is higher than the threshold value or the sound cancelling is released, the volume comparator stops the display of the program that is currently being watched and starts reproducing display of the recorded program by returning to the recording start time point.