Television Start Speed Enhancement

• US 20130242202A1
• Filed: 03/13/2012
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shintani, Peter Rae
• Granted Patent: US 8,531,612 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/730
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/414 Specialised client platforms, e.g. receiver in car or embedded in a mobile appliance
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4343 Extraction or processing of packetized elementary streams [PES]
• 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 21/439 Processing of audio elementary streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4667 Processing of monitored end-user data, e.g. trend analysis based on the log file of viewer selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers

Abstract

A television receives a command to power up from a standby mode. This causes the TV to start a boot process, and while the boot process proceeds. At a that a point in the boot process when the tuner input switch are operative the process simultaneously determines a current time from a real time clock and retrieves a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern database corresponding to the current time. The tuner is tuned to the channel and the input switch is set. At completion of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switch setting corresponding the current time so that time to viewing a desired channel is often minimized. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Claims

1. A method of starting a television, comprising:

receiving a command to power up the television from a standby mode;

starting a television boot process, and while the boot process proceeds;

determining that a point in the boot process when a television tuner is operative and an input switch is operative has been reached;

determining a current time from a real time clock;

retrieving a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern database corresponding to the current time;

tuning the tuner to the channel and selecting the switch setting at an input switch; and

completing the boot process so that at the end of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switch setting corresponding the current time.

2. The method according to claim 1, where determining the current time further comprises determining a current day of the week.

3. The method according to claim 2, where retrieving the channel and the switch setting from the usage pattern database further comprises retrieving the channel and switch setting corresponding to the current time on the current day of the week.

4. The method according to claim 1, where the tuning comprises tuning the tuner to a specified frequency and setting packet filters to select packets having a specified set of packet identifiers from a transport stream corresponding to the channel.

5. The method according to claim 4, where the specified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in the usage pattern database.

6. The method according to claim 4, where the specified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in program and system information protocol (PSIP) tables that are indexed in the usage pattern database.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving an audio volume setting from the usage pattern database and setting the audio volume to a level determined by the usage pattern database so that at the end of the boot process the audio volume is set to a value corresponding the current time.

8. The method according to claim 1, where the channel and switch setting correspond to a channel and switch setting for a recording that corresponds to the current time.

9. A tangible non-transitory computer readable electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on one or more programmed processors, carry out a method comprising:

starting a television boot process, and while the boot process proceeds;

determining that a point in the boot process when a television tuner is operative and an input switch is operative has been reached;

determining a current time from a real time clock;

retrieving a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern database corresponding to the current time;

tuning the tuner to the channel and selecting the switch setting at an input switch; and

completing the boot process so that at the end of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switch setting corresponding the current time.

10. The medium according to claim 9, where determining the current time further comprises determining a current day of the week.

11. The medium according to claim 10, where retrieving the channel and the switch setting from the usage pattern database further comprises retrieving the channel and switch setting corresponding to the current time on the current day of the week.

12. The medium according to claim 9, where the tuning comprises tuning the tuner to a specified frequency and setting packet filters to select packets having a specified set of packet identifiers from a transport stream corresponding to the channel.

13. The medium according to claim 12, where the specified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in the usage pattern database.

14. The medium according to claim 12, where the specified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in program and system information protocol (PSIP) tables that are indexed in the usage pattern database.

15. A television receiver device, comprising:

a remote command receiver configured to receive a command to power up the television receiver device from a standby mode;

a memory storing a usage pattern database;

a real time clock;

a television tuner device;

an input switch;

a programmed processor programmed to;

start a television boot process, and while the boot process proceeds;

determine that a point in the boot process when the television tuner device is operative and the input switch is operative has been reached;

determine a current time from the real time clock;

retrieve a channel and a switch setting from the usage pattern database corresponding to the current time;

tune the tuner to the channel and selecting the switch setting at an input switch; and

complete the boot process so that at the end of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switch setting corresponding the current time.

16. The device according to claim 15, where determining the current time further comprises determining a current day of the week.

17. The device according to claim 16, where retrieving the channel and the switch setting from the usage pattern database further comprises retrieving the channel and switch setting corresponding to the current time on the current day of the week.

18. The device according to claim 15, where the tuning comprises tuning the tuner to a specified frequency and setting packet filters to select packets having a specified set of packet identifiers from a transport stream corresponding to the channel.

19. The device according to claim 18, where the specified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in the usage pattern database.

20. The device according to claim 18, where the specified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in program and system information protocol (PSIP) tables that are indexed in the usage pattern database.

21. The device according to claim 18, where the processor retrieves an audio volume setting from the usage pattern database and sets the audio volume to a level determined by the usage pattern database so that at the end of the boot process the audio volume is set to a value corresponding the current time.

22. A method of starting a television, comprising:

receiving a command to power down the television to a standby mode;

prior to fully entering the standby mode;

determining a next time of operation of the television from a usage pattern database with reference to a real time clock;

retrieving a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern database corresponding to the next time of operation of the television;

pre-tuning the tuner to the channel and selecting the switch setting at an input switch; and

completing entry of the television to the standby mode.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

starting a television boot process; and

completing the boot process so that at the end of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switch setting corresponding the next time of operation.

24. The method according to claim 22, where determining the next time further comprises determining a day of the week.

25. The method according to claim 24, where retrieving the channel and the switch setting from the usage pattern database further comprises retrieving the channel and switch setting corresponding to the next time of operation including the day of the week.

26. The method according to claim 22, where the pre-tuning comprises tuning the tuner to a specified frequency and setting packet filters to select packets having a specified set of packet identifiers from a transport stream corresponding to the channel.

27. The method according to claim 26, where the specified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in the usage pattern database.

28. The method according to claim 26, where the specified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in program and system information protocol (PSIP) tables that are indexed in the usage pattern database.

29. The method according to claim 22, further comprising retrieving an audio volume setting from the usage pattern database and pre-setting the audio volume to a level determined by the usage pattern database.

30. The method according to claim 22, where the channel and switch setting correspond to a channel and switch setting for a recording that corresponds to the current time.

31. A tangible non-transitory computer readable electronic storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on one or more programmed processors, carry out a method comprising:

starting a power down process to power the television to a standby mode;

prior to fully entering the standby mode;

determining a next time of operation of the television from a usage pattern database;

retrieving a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern database corresponding to the next time of operation of the television;

pre-tuning the tuner to the channel and selecting the switch setting at an input switch; and

completing entry of the television to the standby mode.

32. The medium according to claim 31, further comprising:

starting a television boot process; and

completing the boot process so that at the end of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switch setting corresponding the next time of operation.

33. The method according to claim 31, where determining the next time further comprises determining a day of the week.

34. The medium according to claim 31, where retrieving the channel and the switch setting from the usage pattern database further comprises retrieving the channel and switch setting corresponding to the next time of operation including the day of the week.

35. The medium according to claim 31, where the pre-tuning comprises tuning the tuner to a specified frequency and setting packet filters to select packets having a specified set of packet identifiers from a transport stream corresponding to the channel.

36. The medium according to claim 35, where the specified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in the usage pattern database.

37. The medium according to claim 35, where the specified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in program and system information protocol (PSIP) tables that are indexed in the usage pattern database.

38. A television receiver device, comprising:

a remote command receiver configured to receive a command to power up the television receiver device from a standby mode;

a memory storing a usage pattern database;

a real time clock;

a television tuner device;

an input switch;

a programmed processor programmed to;

receive a command to power down the television to a standby mode;

prior to fully entering the standby mode;

determine a next time of operation of the television from a usage pattern database;

retrieve a channel and a switch setting from a usage pattern database corresponding to the next time of operation of the television;

pre-tune the tuner to the channel and selecting the switch setting at an input switch; and

complete entry of the television to the standby mode.

39. The device according to claim 38, further comprising:

starting a television boot process; and

completing the boot process so that at the end of the boot process the tuner is already tuned to the channel and the input switch is set to the switch setting corresponding the next time of operation.

40. The device according to claim 38, where determining the next time further comprises determining a day of the week.

41. The device according to claim 38, where retrieving the channel and the switch setting from the usage pattern database further comprises retrieving the channel and switch setting corresponding to the next time of operation including the day of the week.

42. The device according to claim 38, where the pre-tuning comprises tuning the tuner to a specified frequency and setting packet filters to select packets having a specified set of packet identifiers from a transport stream corresponding to the channel.

43. The device according to claim 42, where the specified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in the usage pattern database.

44. The device according to claim 42, where the specified frequency and set of packet identifiers is stored in program and system information protocol (PSIP) tables that are indexed in the usage pattern database.

45. The device according to claim 42, where the processor retrieves an audio volume setting from the usage pattern database and sets the audio volume to a level determined by the usage pattern database so that at the end of the boot process the audio volume is set to a value corresponding the current time.

46. The device according to claim 42, where the channel and switch setting correspond to a channel and switch setting for a recording that corresponds to the current time.