Method and apparatus for selecting broadcast programs

• US 20060288364A1
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Mingot, Jacques, Sahasrabudhe, Rajeev Madhukar, Dartigues, Herve
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/38
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0075 where the receiving frequencies of the stations are stored in a permanent memory, e.g. ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42215 by measuring the time interval during which a key is pressed, e.g. for inputting sequences of digits when selecting a television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

A method for selecting a broadcast program is conducive for worldwide or global use. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes steps of receiving a first user input representing a first digit associated with the broadcast program, storing first data representing the first digit within one of a first predetermined time interval for a first region and a second predetermined time interval for a second region, and processing the first data for selecting the broadcast program.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a broadcast program, comprising:

receiving a first user input representing a first digit associated with said broadcast program;

storing first data representing said first digit within one of a first predetermined time interval for a first region and a second predetermined time interval for a second region; and

processing said first data for selecting said broadcast program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first predetermined time interval is shorter than said second predetermined time interval; and

said first data is processed after one of said first and second predetermined time intervals expires.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprised of:

receiving a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program within one of said first and second predetermined time intervals; and

processing said second data for selecting said broadcast program.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprised of:

receiving a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program within a third predetermined time interval after one of said first and second predetermined time intervals expires; and

processing said second data for selecting said broadcast program.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first region includes Europe and Asia.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said second region includes North America and South America.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first region receives first broadcast programs from a first service provider; and

said second region receives second broadcast programs from a second service provider.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprised of:

enabling user selection of one of said first region and said second region; and

storing data corresponding to one of said first region and said second region responsive to said user selection.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

tuning means for tuning a frequency providing a broadcast program;

memory means for storing first data representing a first digit associated with said broadcast program responsive to a first user input, said memory means storing said first data within one of a first predetermined time interval for a first region and a second predetermined time interval for a second region; and

processing means for processing said first data and controlling said tuning means to select said broadcast program.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

said first predetermined time interval is shorter than said second predetermined time interval; and

said processing means processes said first data after one of said first and second predetermined time intervals expires.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said processing means:

detects a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program within one of said first and second predetermined time intervals; and

processes said second data for selecting said broadcast program.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said processing means:

detects a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program within a third predetermined time interval after one of said first and second predetermined time intervals expires; and

processes said second data for selecting said broadcast program.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first region includes Europe and Asia.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said second region includes North America and South America.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

said first region receives first broadcast programs from a first service provider; and

said second region receives second broadcast programs from a second service provider.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said memory means stores data corresponding to one of said first region and said second region responsive to user selection of one of said first region and said second region.

17. A television signal receiver, comprising:

a tuner operative to tune a frequency providing a broadcast program;

a memory operative to store first data representing a first digit associated with said broadcast program responsive to a first user input, wherein said memory stores said first data within one of a first predetermined time interval for a first region and a second predetermined time interval for a second region; and

a processor operative to process said first data and control said tuner (15) to select said broadcast program.

18. The television signal receiver of claim 17, wherein:

said first predetermined time interval is shorter than said second predetermined time interval; and

said processor processes said first data after one of said first and second predetermined time intervals expires.

19. The television signal receiver of claim 17, wherein said processor is further operative to:

detect a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program within one of said first and second predetermined time intervals; and

process said second data to select said broadcast program.

20. The television signal receiver of claim 17, wherein said processor is further operative to:

detect a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program within a third predetermined time interval after one of said first and second predetermined time intervals expires; and

process said second data to select said broadcast program.

21. The television signal receiver of claim 17, wherein said first region includes Europe and Asia.

22. The television signal receiver of claim 17, wherein said second region includes North America and South America.

23. The television signal receiver of claim 17, wherein:

said first region receives first broadcast programs from a first service provider; and

said second region receives second broadcast programs from a second service provider.

24. The television signal receiver of claim 17, wherein said memory is further operative to store data corresponding to one of said first region and said second region responsive to user selection of one of said first region and said second region.

25. A method for selecting a broadcast program, comprising:

receiving a first user input representing a first digit associated with said broadcast program;

receiving a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program;

processing data corresponding to said first and second user inputs to select said broadcast program if said second digit is in a first set of digits; and

waiting for a third user input representing a third digit associated with said broadcast program without selecting said broadcast program if said second digit is in a second set of digits, wherein said first set of digits is different from said second set of digits.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein:

said first set of digits includes 3 through 9; and

said second set of digits includes 0 through 2.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprised of:

starting a predetermined time interval responsive to said first user input; and

wherein said second user input is received within said predetermined time interval;

28. An apparatus, comprising:

tuning means for tuning frequencies providing broadcast programs;

processing means for detecting a first user input representing a first digit associated with a broadcast program and a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program;

wherein said processing means processes data corresponding to said first and second user inputs to select said broadcast program if said second digit is in a first set of digits; and

wherein said processing means waits for a third user input representing a third digit associated with said broadcast program without selecting said broadcast program if said second digit is in a second set of digits, wherein said first set of digits is different from said second set of digits.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein:

said first set of digits includes 3 through 9; and

said second set of digits includes 0 through 2.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein:

said processing means starts a predetermined time interval responsive to said first user input; and

said second user input is detected by said processing means within said predetermined time interval;