Visual Recording Timer Menu for DVR Conflict Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in resolving recording conflicts in digital video recorders (DVRs) due to the complexity of list-based conflict information, especially with multiple tuner DVRs, where conflicts are hard to identify and resolve effectively.
Innovation Solution
A visual recording information menu is provided, displaying recording timers along a time axis, with overlapping conflicts indicated by overlaying timers and using a resource axis to manage multiple tuners, allowing users to scroll, swap, and modify timer parameters to resolve conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If list format is used to display recording conflict information, then all conflict details can be provided to users, but users find it difficult to review and determine the best resolution option
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the one-dimensional list format into a two-dimensional graphical timeline display. Recording timers are represented as visual blocks positioned along a time axis, allowing users to see conflicts spatially when time blocks overlap. This dimensional change preserves all conflict information while making it visually intuitive and easier to analyze at a glance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the recording timer data in graphical form. Instead of displaying raw text lists, the system generates visual blocks that represent recording timers, their time periods, and conflict relationships. This visual copying makes the information more accessible while maintaining the complete data set.
2Productivity
If multiple tuner DVRs are implemented to allow recording timers on multiple tuners, then recording capacity increases, but identifying and resolving conflicts becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display by organizing recording timers according to their assigned tuners. Each tuner's recording timers are grouped or color-coded, allowing users to see which tuner is involved in each conflict. This segmentation reduces complexity by breaking down the multi-tuner conflict management into manageable, tuner-specific views while maintaining the ability to see overall system capacity.
3Ease of operation
If visual display with time axis is used to simplify conflict identification, then users can easily see overlapping conflicts, but the display complexity increases compared to simple lists
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color coding to represent different tuners or recording timer types in the visual display. Each tuner or timer category is assigned a distinct color, allowing users to quickly identify which tuner is involved in a conflict and distinguish between different types of recordings. This use of color simplifies the visual complexity by providing intuitive visual cues rather than requiring detailed textual analysis.
Data Source
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AI summary
The various embodiments described herein generally provide apparatus, systems and methods which facilitate the display of television recording information to. More particularly, television recording information is presented visually to a user in a recording information menu. The visual recording information menu includes a time axis, and recording timers associated with particular television programs are presented as visual representations along the time axis. In the case that multiple television receiving resources are available, a resource axis may separately present recording timers associated with each of the disparate television receiving resources.