Television program record scheduling and satellite receiver control using compressed codes

• US 20010024566A1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Published: 09/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1988
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Mankovitz, Roy J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,549,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/83
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7755 the recorder being connected to, or coupled with, the antenna of the television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Encoded video recorder/player timer programming information listed in a television calendar allows a timer programming feature on a video cassette recorder VCR to be programmed using a compressed code of as few as 1 to 8 digits, which are decoded by a decoder built into an instant programmer to convert the compressed code into channel, date, time and length information. The compressed code indications associated with each television program can be printed in a television program calendar in advance. The user uses controls on the instant programmer to enter the code that signifies the program to be recorded. When the codes are entered they are decoded to channel, day, time-of-day, and length (CDTL) in the instant programmer. Then at the appropriate time the instant programmer transmits the proper commands to a VCR to command the recording of the selected program. This control function can be carried out by using an infrared link. To allow the instant programmer to command a satellite receiver to tune to the proper channel for recording the selected program, a code converter in a satellite remote controller converts commands from the instant programmer into commands recognizable by a satellite receiver. Then the commands are sent to a satellite receiver to command the satellite receiver on and off and to select the proper channel in the satellite receiver. Communication between the satellite remote controller and the satellite receiver can be either via infrared or radio frequency (RF) signals.

Claims

1. A remote controller comprising:

wireless means for receiving commands from a first apparatus;

means for converting the received commands to commands recognizable by a second apparatus; and

wireless means for transmitting the converted commands to a second apparatus.

2. The remote controller of

claim 1

wherein said first apparatus comprises a means for decoding compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, and length commands for a program into channel, time-of-day and length commands.

3. The remote controller of

claim 2

wherein said first apparatus further comprises a television.

4. The remote controller of

claim 2

wherein said first apparatus further comprises a video cassette recorder.

5. The remote controller of

claim 2

wherein said first apparatus further comprises a cable box.

6. The remote controller of

claim 2

wherein said first apparatus further comprises a satellite receiver.

7. The remote controller of

claim 2

wherein said first apparatus further comprises a second remote controller.

8. The remote controller of

claim 1

wherein said first apparatus further comprises a television.

9. The remote controller of

claim 1

wherein said first apparatus further comprises a video cassette recorder.

10. The remote controller of

claim 1

wherein said first apparatus further comprises a cable box.

11. The remote controller of

claim 1

wherein said first apparatus further comprises a satellite receiver.

12. The remote controller of

claim 1

wherein said first apparatus comprises a second remote controller.

13. The remote controller of

claim 2

wherein said second apparatus comprises a television.

14. The remote controller of

claim 2

wherein said second apparatus comprises a video cassette recorder.

15. The remote controller of

claim 2

wherein said second apparatus comprises a cable box.

16. The remote controller of

claim 2

wherein said second apparatus comprises a satellite receiver.

17. The remote controller of

claim 1

wherein said wireless means for receiving commands from a first apparatus comprises an infrared receiver and wherein said wireless means for transmitting the converted commands to a second apparatus comprises an infrared transmitter.

18. The remote controller of

claim 1

wherein said wireless means for receiving commands from a first apparatus comprises an infrared receiver and wherein said wireless means for transmitting the converted commands to a second apparatus comprises a radio transmitter.

19. The remote controller of

claim 1

wherein said wireless means for receiving commands from a first apparatus comprises a radio transmitter and wherein said wireless means for transmitting the converted commands to a second apparatus comprises a infrared transmitter.

20. A system for using compressed codes for satellite receiver control that comprises:

means for entering compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;

means for decoding each compressed code into channel, date, time and length commands coupled to said means for entering;

means for storing said channel, date, time-of-day and length commands coupled to said means for decoding;

a clock with an output as a function of time coupled to said means for decoding;

means for reordering said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said means for storing into temporal order;

means for comparing said date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time program entry in said means for storing to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

means for receiving satellite television signals;

means for remote control of said means for receiving satellite television signals;

means for channel selection coupled to the means for receiving satellite television signals;

first means for transmitting said channel commands to said means for remote control after the predetermined relationship is found to exist wherein said first means for transmitting is coupled to said means for comparing;

means for converting said channel commands to satellite receiver channel commands coupled to said means for remote control; and

second means coupled to said means for remote control for transmitting said satellite receiver channel commands to said means for channel selection in the means for receiving satellite television signals.

21. The system of

claim 20

wherein said means for entering comprises key buttons.

22. The system of

claim 20

wherein said means for channel selection comprises a tuner.

23. The system of

claim 20

wherein said first means for transmitting comprises an infrared transmitter.

24. The system of

claim 20

wherein said second means for transmitting comprises an infrared transmitter.

25. The system of

claim 20

wherein said second means for transmitting comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

26. The system of

claim 20

which further comprises a first means for receiving said channel commands coupled to said means for remote control.

27. The system of

claim 26

wherein said first means for receiving comprises an infrared receiver.

28. The system of

claim 20

which further comprises a second means for receiving said satellite receiver channel commands coupled to said means for receiving satellite television signals.

29. The system of

claim 28

wherein said second means for receiving comprises an infrared receiver.

30. The system of

claim 28

wherein said second means for receiving comprises a radio frequency receiver.

31. The system of

claim 20

which further comprises a means for substituting a local channel number for a channel number in said channel command.

32. The system of

claim 20

wherein said first means for transmitting further comprises a plurality of infrared transmitters positioned to transmit simultaneously in a plurality of directions.

33. The system of

claim 20

that further comprises:

means for advancing time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by three hours; and

means for retarding time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by three hours.

34. The system of

claim 20

that further comprises:

means for storing a plurality of protocol sets of transmit signals coupled to said means for remote control; and

means for selecting a protocol set of transmit signals for a particular means for channel selection.

35. A method for using compressed codes for satellite receiver control comprising the steps of:

entering compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;

decoding each compressed code into channel, date, time-of-day and length commands;

storing said channel, date, time-of-day and length commands;

providing a clock with an output as a function of time;

reordering said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands into temporal order;

comparing said date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time program entry to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

providing a means for remote control of a means for receiving satellite television signals;

transmitting said channel commands to said means for remote control after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;

converting said channel commands to satellite receiver channel commands; and

transmitting said satellite receiver channel commands to said means for receiving satellite television signals.

36. The method of

claim 35

further comprising the step of:

transmitting a record on command to a means for recording after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;

measuring length of time from transmitting a record on command; and

transmitting a record off command to said means for recording when the measured length of time of recording compares with said length command.