Virtual Channel Zone Management for Personalized Multimedia Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Internet TV systems are complex and inconvenient for users to navigate, requiring direct screen attention and multiple button operations, which complicates content selection and fails to meet diverse user needs, especially in household settings.

Innovation Solution

A network-based multimedia reproduction system with virtual channels that allows users to switch between personalized channel zones using simplified command inputs, where each zone contains user-preferred content, and requires log-in information for access to restricted channels, enabling easy selection and management of digital content.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users navigate content using traditional remote control buttons and direct screen attention, then content selection capability is maintained, but operation complexity and user burden increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent selection easeVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic channel zone switching based on user identity recognition without requiring manual intervention. The control unit automatically determines the appropriate channel zone based on the logged-in user's preferences and permissions, eliminating the need for users to manually navigate through complex menus or remember channel numbers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual channel system provides a unified interface that works across different user profiles and content types. A single remote control operation can switch between multiple personalized channel zones, each containing different content categories, making the system adaptable to diverse user needs without requiring different operation methods for different users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system provides diversified content types and Internet functionality, then content variety increases, but the viewing atmosphere becomes grave and complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent varietyVSAvoidviewing atmosphere
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides content into separate virtual channel zones based on user preferences and content categories. Each channel zone contains specific types of content (e.g., news, entertainment, sports) organized separately, allowing users to quickly switch between content types without being overwhelmed by the full range of available content. This segmentation maintains content diversity while simplifying user interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the system implements user mode privileges for content access control, then content security is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent access controlVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

User permissions and content restrictions are pre-configured in the virtual channel zone settings before users attempt to access content. The control unit stores permission information associated with each channel zone, automatically verifying user access rights during channel switching without requiring real-time complex authentication processes. This preliminary setup simplifies the user experience while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2672724B1Method for personalized virtual channel management and network-based multimedia reproduction system with virtual channels
Publication Date: 2017.06.07 WISTRON CORP
  • EP2672724B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2672724B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2672724B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method for personalized virtual channel management includes: determining whether a received command is associated with virtual channel switching, wherein a network-based multimedia reproduction system is in mode of a first channel zone of a personalized channel zone; if yes, checking whether a channel value corresponding to the command exists in the first channel zone; if yes, executing an application corresponding to the channel value in the first channel zone to retrieve digital contents and display the digital contents on a screen of the network-based multimedia reproduction system; determining a desired channel zone if the command is associated with switching of the personalized channel zone; checking whether at least one log-in command matches log-in information of the desired channel zone; if yes, switching the network-based multimedia reproduction system to a mode of the desired channel zone in the personalized channel zone.