Unified Channel Entry Field for ATSC Subchannel Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for entering and navigating two-part channel numbers in ATSC digital television and satellite television require users to manually switch between major and minor channel fields, which is cumbersome and time-consuming, especially when multiple subchannels are available.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a SUBCHANNEL button on the remote control that allows users to directly access and enter subchannels by moving the highlight from the major channel field to the subchannel field, eliminating the need to press the OK or ENTER button and reducing key navigation, thereby streamlining the channel selection process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually switch between major and minor channel fields using number keys and delimiter keys, then channel entry functionality is achieved, but the number of keys pressed and time required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the major channel field and minor channel field into a single unified channel entry field. When a user enters a channel number, the system automatically determines whether it is a major or minor channel based on the input, eliminating the need to manually switch between fields and press delimiter keys. This merging of fields directly reduces the number of keystrokes and time required for channel entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic channel type identification and field population without requiring user intervention to switch between major and minor channels. The television automatically populates the appropriate field based on the input received, and the system self-determines whether additional input is needed for subchannel designation, reducing manual操作步骤.
2Reliability
If users press delimiter keys (dash or dot) to indicate subchannel entry, then channel number parsing is achieved, but the complexity of the entry process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the delimiter key requirement from the channel entry process. Instead of requiring users to press dash or dot keys to indicate subchannel entry, the system uses the channel number format itself (two-digit vs. three-digit input) to automatically determine whether the user is entering a major or minor channel, removing the complexity of delimiter key presses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter for channel identification from requiring delimiter keys to using the length and format of the input number itself. By monitoring whether the input is a two-digit or three-digit number, the system automatically determines channel type without requiring additional delimiter keys, simplifying the entry process while maintaining reliable parsing.
3Ease of operation
If the highlight moves manually from major channel field to minor channel field, then channel field navigation is achieved, but the number of navigation steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the major and minor channel fields into a single unified entry field, the patent eliminates the need for highlight navigation between separate fields. Users simply enter the channel number in one field, and the system automatically processes both major and minor channel information, removing all highlight movement steps and significantly improving navigation speed.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary channel entry device comprises a SUBCHANNEL button. The exemplary channel entry device further comprises an OK button, and wherein the channel entry device is adapted to receive a subchannel selection after the SUBCHANNEL button is pressed and to thereafter transmit the subchannel selection to an associated electronic device when either the OK button or the SUBCHANNEL button is pressed.