Video EPG Widget Overlay for Simultaneous Program Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic programming guides (EPGs) for television viewers are cumbersome and time-consuming, often requiring users to navigate through extensive grids to find alternative programs, which can lead to missing primary program content, especially during commercial breaks.
Innovation Solution
A video EPG system that outputs widgets representing categories of broadcast programs as transparent overlays on the primary screen, allowing users to select and view multiple programs simultaneously while maintaining the primary program visible, with interactive features like scrolling and highlighting for easy navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a traditional EPG grid is displayed to show multiple programs, then the viewer can browse alternative programs, but the primary program content becomes obstructed or is lost during commercial breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional 2D grid EPG to a 3D virtual environment where programs are represented as interactive scenes. This dimensional change allows the primary program to remain visible in the background while alternative programs are accessible as separate virtual entities, eliminating the need to choose between viewing the primary program and browsing alternatives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where multiple program scenes are contained within a virtual EPG environment. The primary program scene is nested within the virtual environment, and alternative program scenes can be accessed and viewed without leaving the primary program context, allowing simultaneous access to multiple programs at different nesting levels.
2Loss of information
If the EPG takes up the entire television screen to display program information, then comprehensive program details are visible, but the original football game or primary program cannot be viewed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual 3D space where program information is displayed as interactive scenes rather than text grids. This allows the EPG interface to occupy a different spatial dimension, leaving the primary program display area intact and visible in the background or as a selectable scene.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses transparency and opacity variations to allow the primary program to remain visible behind semi-transparent EPG elements. By adjusting the visual properties of the EPG interface, both the program information and the primary program can be simultaneously perceived at different transparency levels.
3Loss of information
If the viewer scrolls through the EPG to locate other games, then alternative programs can be found, but time is lost and the viewer may miss events in the original program
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-loads and displays thumbnail previews and key information for multiple alternative programs within the virtual EPG environment. This preliminary presentation of program content allows viewers to quickly assess alternative programs without extensive scrolling, reducing the time needed to make viewing decisions while minimizing missed primary program content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements interactive feedback mechanisms where hovering over or selecting a program scene provides immediate detailed information about that program. This real-time feedback eliminates the need to scroll through entire program lists, as relevant information is provided on-demand, significantly reducing browsing time.
4Loss of information
If the EPG uses a large grid of text to display programs and times, then program scheduling information is comprehensive, but the interface becomes cumbersome and time-consuming to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the flat 2D text grid into a 3D virtual environment where programs are represented as navigable scenes with spatial relationships. This dimensional transformation organizes scheduling information in a more intuitive spatial layout, reducing the complexity of navigation while maintaining comprehensive program and time information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the EPG interface into distinct interactive program scenes, each representing a separate program with its own visual representation. This segmentation allows the complex scheduling information to be divided into manageable, independently navigable units, reducing the perceived complexity of the overall interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing a video electronic programming guide (“video EPG”) may include outputting a primary program for display on a display screen, receiving a command to activate the video EPG, and in response to receiving the command, outputting a plurality of widgets for display on a display screen. Each of the plurality of widgets may represent a category of broadcast programs. Systems and methods may include receiving a widget selection for one of the plurality of widgets and outputting a video menu corresponding to the selected widget for display on the display screen. The video menu includes a plurality of video scenes, whereby each of the plurality of video scenes represents a broadcast program categorized in the selected widget. Systems and methods may include receiving a program selection for one of the plurality of video scenes.