STB channel reader
First Claim
1. A method of determining a tuned television channel, comprising:
- placing an image capture device in physical proximity to a television receiver device, wherein the television receiver device has a display that displays the currently tuned channel;
capturing at least one image of the display that displays the currently tuned channel;
processing the captured image to ascertain the currently tuned channel displayed on the display; and
transmitting data representative of the ascertained currently tuned channel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A display reader device that reads a channel displayed on a television set top box channel display consistent with certain embodiments has an array of light sensitive electronic elements receiving light signals from a television set top box'"'"'s channel display and producing an output signal representative of the light pattern received by the array of light sensitive electronic elements. An image processor converts the output signal representative of the light pattern received by the array of light sensitive elements and converts the output signal to a signal representing the channel number displayed on the display. An output from the image processor carries the signal representing the channel number. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of determining a tuned television channel, comprising:
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placing an image capture device in physical proximity to a television receiver device, wherein the television receiver device has a display that displays the currently tuned channel; capturing at least one image of the display that displays the currently tuned channel; processing the captured image to ascertain the currently tuned channel displayed on the display; and transmitting data representative of the ascertained currently tuned channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A display reader device that reads a channel displayed on a television set top box channel display, comprising:
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an array of light sensitive electronic elements receiving light signals from a television set top box'"'"'s channel display and producing an output signal representative of the light pattern received by the array of light sensitive electronic elements; an image processor that converts the output signal representative of the light pattern received by the array of light sensitive elements and converts the output signal to a signal representing the channel number displayed on the display; and an output from the image processor carrying the signal representing the channel number. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A display reader device that reads a channel displayed on a television set top box channel display, comprising:
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an array of light sensitive electronic elements receiving light signals from a television set top box'"'"'s channel display and producing an output signal representative of the light pattern received by the array of light sensitive electronic elements; wherein the light sensitive electronic elements comprise one of a charge coupled device array and a CMOS optical transistor array; an image processor that converts the output signal representative of the light pattern received by the array of light sensitive elements and converts the output signal to a signal representing the channel number displayed on the display using optical character recognition; and an output from the image processor carrying the signal representing the channel number. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification