Unified Discovery Interface for Broadcast and Virtual Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic programming guides fail to provide a unified interface for accessing broadcast and non-broadcast media content, isolating discovery data from different sources and overwhelming users with extensive content volumes, making it difficult for consumers to find interested content and for providers to maintain user attention.

Innovation Solution

A unified discovery interface is implemented, presenting broadcast and non-broadcast media content together through customizable virtual channels, allowing users to review and select content from various sources in a cohesive experience, with discovery data relating to non-broadcast content being collected and associated with broadcast content to tie together related content of common interest.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If discovery data from multiple content sources (broadcast and non-broadcast) is integrated into a single interface, then user experience and content discoverability are improved, but interface complexity and data organization difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent source integrationVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the unified discovery interface into separate virtual channels, each dedicated to a specific content source (broadcast, VOD, IP content). This allows multiple content sources to be integrated while maintaining organized, manageable sections within each channel, reducing the perceived complexity for users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces virtual channels as intermediary layers between the user and the underlying complex discovery data from multiple sources. These virtual channels act as mediators that organize, filter, and present content in a structured manner, hiding the complexity of data integration from the user while enabling comprehensive content access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If extensive volumes of media content from all sources are added to the electronic programming guide, then content availability is improved, but the guide becomes overwhelming and unusable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent volumeVSAvoiduser usability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Content from multiple sources is segmented into separate virtual channels, allowing users to access extensive content volumes without being overwhelmed by a single undifferentiated list. Each channel presents a manageable subset of content, making navigation and selection easier while maintaining access to the full content library.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each virtual channel is customized with specific qualities and characteristics appropriate to its content source (e.g., live broadcast timing for broadcast content, on-demand availability for VOD). This local customization allows the interface to present content in source-appropriate formats, improving usability while accommodating diverse content types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If separate interfaces are used for broadcast and non-broadcast content, then interface simplicity is maintained, but content relationships and user experience cohesion are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface simplicityVSAvoidcontent relationships

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges separate broadcast and non-broadcast content interfaces into a unified discovery interface that presents all content sources together. Virtual channels are combined in a single navigable interface, allowing users to see relationships between content from different sources (e.g., related episodes across broadcast and VOD) while maintaining organized presentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unified discovery interface serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an EPG for broadcast content, a VOD catalog, and an IP content directory, all within a single interface. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate interfaces while preserving content relationships through the virtual channel organization structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8015580B2Customizing virtual channels in a discovery interface

Publication Date: 2011.09.06 ADEIA TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A unified discovery interface presents broadcast discovery data relating to broadcast content available via a broadcast channel and non-broadcast discovery data relating to non-broadcasting content available via a virtual channel of the unified discovery interface. In one implementation, the virtual channel is customizable via a discovery interface relationship parameter that indicates a relationship of the virtual channel within the unified discovery interface. The unified discovery interface allows a user to select between broadcast media content available via a broadcast channel and non-broadcast media content available via the virtual channel.