Method and System for Television Channel Control
First Claim
1. A data processing system for controlling a television to assist returning to a television channel at an end of a commercial, comprising:
- a first tuner configured to receive multiple channels of television content;
a second tuner configured to receive the multiple channels of television content;
a controller configured to;
receive a first channel from the first tuner;
output the first channel from the first tuner to a display;
set the second tuner to the first channel;
change the first tuner to one or more other channels;
output the one or more other channels to the display; and
notify a user of an end of a commercial in response to the detection of the end of the commercial by a processor; and
the processor configured to;
monitor the first channel from the second tuner for the end of the commercial; and
detect the end of the commercial on the first channel from the second tuner.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided to switch television channels during a commercial break and automatically notify the viewer when the commercial on the original channel is over so that the user may switch back to watch the original channel. This permits a viewer to avoid commercials during live television while maximizing the viewing of desired content on the original channel. A television channel selection device includes two independent tuners. In normal operation, a first tuner provides channel-selected signals to a television. When a viewer sees a commercial, the system begins a process employing a second independent tuner to internally monitor the first tuner signal until the termination of the commercial is detected. In the meantime, the first tuner provides channel-selected signals so that the viewer may view other channels. The viewer is notified of the end of the commercials by one of a variety of notification techniques.
74 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A data processing system for controlling a television to assist returning to a television channel at an end of a commercial, comprising:
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a first tuner configured to receive multiple channels of television content; a second tuner configured to receive the multiple channels of television content; a controller configured to; receive a first channel from the first tuner; output the first channel from the first tuner to a display; set the second tuner to the first channel; change the first tuner to one or more other channels; output the one or more other channels to the display; and notify a user of an end of a commercial in response to the detection of the end of the commercial by a processor; and the processor configured to; monitor the first channel from the second tuner for the end of the commercial; and detect the end of the commercial on the first channel from the second tuner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method in a data processing system for controlling a television to assist returning to a television channel at an end of a commercial, comprising:
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displaying a first channel with a first tuner; setting a second tuner to the first channel; changing the first tuner to one or more other channels; monitoring the first channel from the second tuner for an end of a commercial; detecting the end of the commercial on the first channel from the second tuner; and notifying a user of the end of the commercial in response to the detection of the end of the commercial. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method in a data processing system for controlling a television to assist returning to a television channel at an end of a commercial, comprising:
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automatically monitoring television content on a first channel for an end of a commercial while displaying a second channel different from the first channel to a user; automatically detecting the end of the commercial on the first channel; and providing notification of the end of the commercial on the first channel to the user in response to the automatic detection of the end of the commercial. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification