Wireless Remote Control for Interactive Media Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Interactive media guidance applications typically run on stationary platforms, limiting user access to features when away from the platform and excluding other users from viewing media content.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communications device with a display, such as a touch-screen remote or mobile phone, provides remote access to interactive media guidance applications, allowing users to access features like program guides, home shopping, and e-commerce while viewing media content, and can interface with multiple devices using infrared, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi, determining the appropriate device for commands based on proximity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If interactive media guidance applications run on stationary platforms, then the applications can provide comprehensive media guidance features, but users cannot access features when away from the platform

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUser accessibility to media guidance featuresVSAvoidPlatform mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the media guidance application into two parts: a server-based component that provides comprehensive guidance features and a mobile client component that provides remote access. The server runs the full interactive media guidance application with all features, while the mobile device runs a client application that communicates with the server to access guidance information remotely, enabling users to access features both at home and away.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the stationary platform and mobile devices. The server hosts the comprehensive media guidance application and communicates with mobile client applications, allowing mobile devices to access guidance features without running the full application locally. This intermediary enables remote access while maintaining the comprehensive functionality on the server.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If interactive media guidance applications run on user equipment, then comprehensive features are available, but other users are excluded from watching media content

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveApplication functionalityVSAvoidUser exclusion from media content

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the application functionality between a server-based media guidance application and user equipment. The server runs the comprehensive application that manages media content and user permissions, while user equipment receives and displays content controlled by the server. This segmentation allows multiple users to access media content simultaneously through the server's permission management system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary that manages media content distribution and user permissions. It controls which users can access which content, preventing exclusion by managing simultaneous access for multiple users. The user equipment merely displays content authorized by the server, allowing comprehensive features on user equipment without causing user exclusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a wireless communications device runs an independent interactive application, then remote access is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRemote access capabilityVSAvoidApplication architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex application logic from the mobile device and places it on the server. The mobile device only needs to run a lightweight client application that communicates with the server, obtaining guidance information and commands remotely. This extraction reduces the complexity on the mobile device while maintaining remote access functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The server-based application serves multiple functions: it provides media guidance information, manages user permissions, controls media playback, and communicates with multiple user devices simultaneously. By consolidating these functions on the server rather than duplicating them on each device, the overall system complexity is reduced while maintaining comprehensive functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8769578B2Systems and methods for providing interactive media guidance on a wireless communications device

Publication Date: 2014.07.01 ADEIA GUIDES INC

AI summary

A wireless communications device provides users with opportunities to access interactive media guidance or other applications and to control interactive media guidance applications running on user equipment. The wireless communications device may have a touch-sensitive screen with controls that are coordinated with the features of the interactive media guidance or other applications. The wireless communications device may function as a remote controller for user equipment.