Changing channels in a digital broadcast system

• US 20070188665A1
• Filed: 02/10/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Masilko, Gary, Watson, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,929,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/731
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4384 involving operations to reduce the access time, e.g. fast-tuning for reducing channel switching latency
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64315 DVB-H
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for changing digital broadcast channels. In one implementation, upon receiving a request for switching to a new channel in a digital broadcast receiving device, the device switches from a power saving mode, in which the device processes time-slices only for the currently selected broadcast channel, to a channel changing mode, in which broadcast data is buffered for more than one broadcast channels in anticipation of channel surfing. In another implementation, the user'"'"'s perception of the channel change delay is mitigated by displaying channel information about the newly selected channel.

Claims

1-56. -56. (canceled)

57. A method for operating a digital broadcast receiving device, the method comprising:

receiving user input requesting a first broadcast channel to be displayed from a plurality of broadcast channels, each broadcast channel representing a respective stream of media programs;

upon receiving the user input requesting the first broadcast channel, presenting channel information associated with the first broadcast channel;

verifying whether broadcast data is available for the first broadcast channel; and

if the broadcast data is available for the first broadcast channel, displaying a current program in the first broadcast channel after presenting the channel information.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein each broadcast channel in the plurality of broadcast channels is broadcast in a respective time slice.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

upon receiving the user input requesting the first broadcast channel, switching to a channel changing mode of operation in which broadcast data is buffered for each broadcast channel in the plurality of broadcast channels.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

switching from the channel changing mode of operation to a power saving mode of operation in which broadcast data is received only for the first broadcast channel.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein the channel information about the first broadcast channel includes information identifying a content provider for the first broadcast channel.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the information identifying the content provider for the first broadcast channel is prestored in the device.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein the information identifying the content provider for the first broadcast channel includes a channel logo for the first broadcast channel.

64. The method of claim 57, wherein the channel information about the first broadcast channel includes information identifying a currently broadcast program in the first broadcast channel.

65. The method of claim 57, wherein the channel information includes an advertisement.

66. The method of claim 57, wherein presenting the channel information includes displaying the channel information.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein displaying the channel information includes displaying a video or an animation.

68. The method of claim 57, wherein presenting the channel information includes presenting an audio effect.

69. The method of claim 57, wherein presenting the channel information includes presenting information about pre-recorded programs from the first broadcast channel.

70. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

receiving the channel information about the first broadcast channel through a bi-directional communication component.

71. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

updating the channel information about the first broadcast channel.

72. A software product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, for operating a digital broadcast receiving device, the software product comprising instructions to cause the device to perform operations comprising:

receiving user input requesting a first broadcast channel to be displayed from a plurality of broadcast channels, each broadcast channel representing a respective stream of media programs;

upon receiving the user input requesting the first broadcast channel, presenting channel information about the first broadcast channel;

verifying whether broadcast data is available for the first broadcast channel; and

if the broadcast data is available for the first broadcast channel, displaying a current program in the first broadcast channel after presenting the channel information.

73. The software product of claim 72, wherein each broadcast channel in the plurality of broadcast channels is broadcast in a respective time slice.

74. The software product of claim 72, further comprising instructions to cause the device to perform operations comprising:

upon receiving the user input requesting the first broadcast channel, switching to a channel changing mode of operation in which broadcast data is buffered for each broadcast channel in the plurality of broadcast channels.

75. The software product of claim 74, further comprising instructions to cause the device to perform operations comprising:

switching from the channel changing mode of operation to a power saving mode of operation in which broadcast data is received only for the first broadcast channel.

76. The software product of claim 72, wherein the channel information about the first broadcast channel includes prestored information identifying a content provider for the first broadcast channel.

77. The software product of claim 72, wherein the channel information about the first broadcast channel includes information identifying a currently broadcast program in the first broadcast channel.

78. The software product of claim 72, wherein presenting the channel information includes displaying a video or an animation.

79. The software product of claim 72, further comprising instructions to cause the device to perform operations comprising:

updating the channel information about the first broadcast channel.

80. A method for providing data to a device configured to receive digital broadcast including a plurality of broadcast channels, each broadcast channel representing a respective stream of media program, the method comprising:

generating channel information about a first broadcast channel in the plurality of broadcast channels, wherein the generated channel information is assigned to be presented during a channel change in the device; and

transmitting the generated channel information to the device.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the generated channel information includes information identifying a first content provider corresponding to the first broadcast channel.

82. The method of claim 80, wherein the generated channel information includes information identifying content broadcast in the first broadcast channel.

83. The method of claim 80, wherein the generated channel information includes a video or an animation.

84. The method of claim 80, wherein the generated channel information includes an advertisement.

85. A software product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, for providing data to a device configured to receive digital broadcast including a plurality of broadcast channels, each broadcast channel representing a respective stream of media program, the software product comprising instructions to cause a data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

generating channel information about a first broadcast channel in the plurality of broadcast channels, wherein the generated channel information is assigned to be presented during a channel change in the device; and

transmitting the generated channel information to the device.

86. The software product of claim 85, wherein the generated channel information includes information identifying a first content provider corresponding to the first broadcast channel.

87. The software product of claim 85, wherein the generated channel information includes a video, an animation, or an advertisement.