Video Unit External Device Internet Content Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video systems face challenges in efficiently displaying Internet contents concurrently with TV programs, requiring high processing capacity, affecting user experience due to motion issues and increased manufacturing costs from loading web browsers and mail clients on set-top-boxes, and are not optimized for different viewing distances.
Innovation Solution
A video system that connects to an external device to run applications for retrieving data from the Internet, delegating computational tasks and reducing the load on the video unit, allowing seamless display of Internet contents on an external screen without resizing issues, using a video unit with a tuner, decoder, control unit, and data transmission capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If web contents are displayed concurrently with TV programs on the set-top-box screen, then the user can access both Internet services and television programming, but the processing capacity requirement becomes huge and user experience deteriorates due to motion interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the web browsing function from the set-top-box and relocates it to an external device (smartphone, tablet, or computer). The set-top-box only displays a simplified menu interface for selecting web content, while the actual web browsing is performed on the external device. This separation reduces the processing capacity requirements of the set-top-box while maintaining the ability to access both Internet services and TV programming.
2Adaptability or versatility
If web browsers and mail clients are loaded on the set-top-box, then Internet services can be accessed directly, but manufacturing costs increase and reliability is affected by multiple independent software applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universality of external devices (smartphones, tablets, computers) that already possess web browsing and email capabilities. Instead of equipping the set-top-box with multiple specialized software applications, the system uses the existing multi-functional capabilities of external devices. This approach maintains Internet service access capability while significantly reducing manufacturing costs and improving reliability.
3Area of stationary object
If TV sets are used for displaying Internet contents, then a large screen can be utilized, but the display quality is not optimal because Internet contents are designed for close viewing distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability to the display system by allowing users to select between different display devices (TV set or external device screen). The system can dynamically adjust the display mode based on the chosen device, optimizing the viewing experience for each device's characteristics. This resolves the contradiction by making the display solution flexible rather than fixed, allowing large screens to be used when appropriate while also accommodating devices designed for closer viewing.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the set-top-box handles both video playback and web browsing, then all functions are integrated in one device, but the computational load reduces performance and increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into two distinct functional components: the set-top-box responsible for video playback and menu interface, and the external device responsible for web browsing and data processing. This segmentation maintains integrated functionality from the user's perspective while reducing the computational load and complexity within each individual device. The set-top-box no longer needs to handle both video playback and web browsing simultaneously, thereby improving performance and reducing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
It is disclosed a video system comprising a video unit (101) and an external device (106) operable by the same user of the video unit (101). The video unit (101) comprises a video receiver (114) for receiving video signals and a decoder (115) operatively connected to the video receiver (114) to decode the received video signals, a control unit (113) configured to generate an interactive interface to be displayed on a first screen and to display one of the received video signals on the first screen, a receiving unit (112) operatively connected to the control unit (113) to receive a selection of the user when the interactive interface is displayed, a data unit (114) operatively connected to said control unit (113) for transmitting data to the external device (106). The external device (106) comprises a connection unit for connecting to an external network (105) and a screen for displaying data retrieved from the external network. The control unit (113) triggers the external device (106) to run an application retrieving data from an external network (105), when said user selection is received. Data retrieved from the external network (105) are then displayed on a screen of the external device (106). A method for controlling the video system and a video unit for use in the video system is also disclosed.