Unified Program Table for Multi-Broadcasting Type Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic program tables primarily display outline information and fail to adequately accommodate the complexities of multi-channeling across different broadcasting types, lacking a suitable method to present program information in a unified and user-friendly manner.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus and method that acquire and display program information from multiple channels with varying broadcasting types, juxtaposing this information in a classified state within a single program table, allowing for seamless integration and user-friendly navigation across terrestrial digital, BS, and CS broadcasting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If program information from multiple broadcasting types is displayed in separate tables, then the information is organized by broadcasting type, but the user cannot easily compare programs across different broadcasting types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges program information from multiple broadcasting types (terrestrial digital, BS, CS) into a single unified program table. The table displays programs from all broadcasting types in chronological order along the time axis, allowing users to easily compare programs across different broadcasting types without switching between multiple separate tables.
Solution Approach 2:
The program table is designed to universally display program information from various broadcasting types using a common structure. The table can accommodate programs from terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS broadcasting, and CS broadcasting simultaneously, providing a multi-functional display solution that works for all broadcasting types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If program information is displayed in a simple outline format, then the display is straightforward, but it cannot adequately present the complexities of multi-channeling across different broadcasting types
Solution Approach 1:
The program table is segmented into distinct rows for each channel and columns for time periods, creating a grid structure that can accommodate multiple channels from different broadcasting types. Each cell in the grid displays program information for a specific channel at a specific time, allowing detailed organization of multi-channel data while maintaining an overall simple table structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a channel dimension to the traditional time-based program display. While the time axis remains the horizontal dimension, the vertical dimension now represents different channels from various broadcasting types. This two-dimensional organization allows the table to handle complex multi-channel information while maintaining visual simplicity.
3Ease of operation
If separate program tables are used for different broadcasting types, then the information is well-organized by type, but user convenience and usability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines program information from all broadcasting types into a single unified table, preventing the loss of overall program overview that would occur with separate tables. Users can view all available programs from terrestrial digital, BS, and CS broadcasting in one table, ensuring complete information availability while improving program selection efficiency through easy cross-type comparison.
Data Source
AI summary
A program information acquisition unit 60 acquires program information of each of a plurality of channels over a plurality of broadcasting types, among which a transmitting form of a broadcasting signal is different. A program table displaying unit 88 causes a program table, in which program information of the plurality of channels is juxtaposed in a classified state for each channel, to be displayed. The program table displaying unit 88 causes both of program information of channels belonging to a first broadcasting type and program information of channels belonging to a second broadcasting type to be displayed in a juxtaposed relationship in the same program table.