Consumer Video Distribution via Dedicated Television Channel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for distributing purchased consumer video over television networks are inefficient, as they do not allow immediate viewing after purchase, often requiring lengthy download times and experiencing delays or poor streaming quality.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing an online video portal with a video receiver and server that connects to a television set via a dedicated television channel, enabling immediate distribution of purchased consumer video after storage, allowing for immediate or delayed viewing without relying on internet streaming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If video is downloaded over the Internet, then the consumer can access the video, but the download time is excessively long (almost 5 hours for a 142-minute movie)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo delivery speedVSAvoiddownload time

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The video is pre-downloaded and stored in the consumer's datastore before the consumer actually requests to watch it. When the consumer purchases the video, it is already available in their storage, eliminating the need for lengthy download waits at the moment of viewing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A local datastore acts as an intermediary between the Internet and the television set. Instead of streaming directly from the Internet to the TV, the video is first stored locally in the datastore, which then serves as a buffer and delivery point, enabling immediate playback without continuous Internet connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If video is streamed over the Internet, then the consumer can watch the video, but the streaming quality is poor with frequent delays, interruptions or choppiness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestreaming qualityVSAvoiddelays, interruptions, choppiness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The video is completely downloaded and stored in the datastore before playback begins. This preliminary action ensures that the entire video file is available locally, eliminating any potential for streaming interruptions, delays, or quality degradation during playback.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The video playback function is extracted from dependence on the Internet streaming infrastructure. By storing the video locally in the consumer's datastore, the system removes the harmful factors associated with Internet streaming (delays, interruptions, choppiness) while maintaining the ability to play back the video on the television set.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If video is transferred to a DVD disk or external device, then the consumer can play the video on their television set, but the process is tedious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo playback convenienceVSAvoidtransfer time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the purchasing, downloading, storing, and playback functions into a seamless integrated process. The video is automatically downloaded to the consumer's datastore and made available for immediate playback on their television set through the set-top box, eliminating the need for separate manual transfer steps to DVDs or external devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs the video delivery and setup automatically without requiring consumer intervention. After purchase, the video is automatically downloaded to the consumer's datastore and configured for playback, making the process as simple as making a purchase decision, with no manual transfer or setup required by the consumer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Speed

If the system uses a dedicated television channel for video distribution, then the video can be delivered immediately with high quality, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevideo delivery speedVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The set-top box serves multiple functions: it acts as a video receiver from the online video portal, a datastore for storing purchased videos, a video server for managing playback, and a interface to the television set. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining immediate high-quality delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10231028B1Method and system to distribute consumer video over television network

Publication Date: 2019.03.12 TP LAB INC

AI summary

A method and system for immediate distribution of a purchased consumer video includes an online video portal, which includes a video receiver and a video server. The video receiver connects to the online video merchant over a video distribution network and receives a consumer video from an online video merchant. The consumer video is purchased by a consumer from the online video merchant over a commerce network. The video receiver stores the consumer video in a consumer datastore. The video server connects to a television set of the consumer over a dedicated television channel of a television network. The video server retrieves the stored consumer video from the consumer datastore and sends the consumer video to a television set of the consumer over a dedicated television channel. The consumer video is distributed immediately after the consumer video is received from the online video merchant and stored in the consumer datastore.