Unified Search Control Device for Multi-Platform Content Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current content searching on devices is limited and fragmented, as each over-the-top (OTT) video streaming device and game console has its own search methods and databases, making unified searching across multiple platforms difficult and inefficient for users.
Innovation Solution
A unified search system that allows users to input search queries through a control device, which emulates multiple interfaces to send formatted queries to various content-providing devices, such as Apple TV, Roku, and PlayStation, and displays search results in a unified manner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users search for content on each content-providing device individually, then each device can provide its own content search functionality, but users must switch between multiple devices and search methods, increasing operation time and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The control device serves as an intermediary between the user and multiple content-providing devices. It receives search queries from the user, formats them according to each device's requirements, and sends them to the appropriate devices. This mediator approach consolidates multiple search operations into a single user action, eliminating the need for users to manually switch between devices and their different search interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device is designed with universal functionality to interface with multiple types of content-providing devices simultaneously. It can emulate different input device types (keyboard, remote control, voice assistant) and format search queries appropriately for each target device, allowing a single control device to perform what previously required multiple device-specific operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If each content-providing device maintains its own search interface and database, then each device can optimize its search functionality, but the system becomes fragmented with multiple search methods and protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The control device dynamically changes parameters such as search query format, input method, and communication protocol based on the target content-providing device. It can transform a single user search intent into multiple formatted queries tailored to each device's specific requirements, maintaining adaptability while simplifying the user-facing interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The search system is segmented into distinct functional layers: the user interface layer (control device), the adaptation layer (formatting and protocol conversion), and the execution layer (individual content-providing devices). This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in its function while working together as a unified system, reducing overall complexity.
3Productivity
If users manually input search queries on each device, then each device can process the search independently, but users repeat the same search action multiple times across different platforms
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary actions by pre-formatting search queries for multiple target devices before execution. It prepares and queues formatted search requests for different content-providing devices in advance, so when a user initiates a search, the formatted queries are already ready to be sent to all relevant devices simultaneously, eliminating repeated manual input.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple search operations that were previously separate and sequential are merged into a single unified search action. The control device combines the user's search intent with multiple device-specific query formats and sends them concurrently, transforming what was five separate search actions into one consolidated operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A unified search system is described herein. The unified search system is configured to enable, in a control device (e.g., a remote control), a user to input a search query. The unified search system includes a plurality of content providing device interfaces configured to interface the control device with a plurality of content providing devices. Each content providing device interface is configured to receive the search query from the user input interface, format the search query according to a corresponding input device type, and provide the formatted search query to one or more corresponding content providing devices. Search results received from the content providing devices are displayed at a display of the control device and/or at another display (e.g., a television).