Television receiver apparatus for selectively displaying a video picture or alphanumeric data information
First Claim
1. Television receiver apparatus for receiving and selectively displaying a video picture derived from video signals transmitted on a broadcasting channel during field and horizontal line intervals or alphanumeric data information derived from alphanumeric data signals transmitted during selected ones of said intervals, a predetermined number of alphanumeric data programs being transmitted on said broadcasting channel, each alphanumeric data program comprising a number of said intervals of alphanumeric data signals and each of said intervals containing an alphanumeric data program identification code, said apparatus comprising:
- alphanumeric data program separating means for separating said alphanumeric data signals and said alphanumeric data program identification code from the received broadcasting channel;
memory means for storing all of the alphanumeric data program identification codes transmitted on said received broadcasting channel;
write means for writing each of said alphanumeric data program identification codes transmitted on said received broadcasting channel into said memory means;
read means for reading out each of the alphanumeric data program identification codes stored in said memory means;
display means for displaying the alphanumeric data program identification codes read out of said memory means; and
indicating means for indicating the particular one of the displayed alphanumeric data program identification codes then being received by said television receiver apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Television receiver apparatus is disclosed for receiving and selectively displaying a video picture derived from video signals transmitted on a broadcasting channel, or alphanumeric data information derived from alphanumeric data signals which are transmitted during at least one horizontal line interval in each video frame interval. A predetermined number of alphanumeric data programs are transmitted on a given broadcasting channel, with each alphanumeric data program being comprised of alphanumeric data signals and an alphanumeric data program identification code. An entire alphanumeric data program is transmitted over a number of frame intervals. The television receiver apparatus includes an alphanumeric data program separator for separating the alphanumeric data signals and the alphanumeric data program identification code from the received broadcasting channel. A memory stores all of the alphanumeric data program identification codes transmitted on the received broadcasting channel; and a write-in circuit writes each of the alphanumeric data program identification codes into the memory, and a read-out circuit reads out each of the stored alphanumeric data program identification codes. A display device, such as the display screen of the television cathode ray tube, displays the alphanumeric data program identification codes which are read out of the memory. In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, the particular one of the displayed alphanumeric data program identification codes which then is being received by the television receiver apparatus is indicated. In accordance with another embodiment, any of the displayed alphanumeric data program identification codes may be selected such that the alphanumeric data information contained in that program is displayed, and the selected alphanumeric data program identification code is displayed distinctively.
291 Citations
24 Claims
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1. Television receiver apparatus for receiving and selectively displaying a video picture derived from video signals transmitted on a broadcasting channel during field and horizontal line intervals or alphanumeric data information derived from alphanumeric data signals transmitted during selected ones of said intervals, a predetermined number of alphanumeric data programs being transmitted on said broadcasting channel, each alphanumeric data program comprising a number of said intervals of alphanumeric data signals and each of said intervals containing an alphanumeric data program identification code, said apparatus comprising:
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alphanumeric data program separating means for separating said alphanumeric data signals and said alphanumeric data program identification code from the received broadcasting channel; memory means for storing all of the alphanumeric data program identification codes transmitted on said received broadcasting channel; write means for writing each of said alphanumeric data program identification codes transmitted on said received broadcasting channel into said memory means; read means for reading out each of the alphanumeric data program identification codes stored in said memory means; display means for displaying the alphanumeric data program identification codes read out of said memory means; and indicating means for indicating the particular one of the displayed alphanumeric data program identification codes then being received by said television receiver apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Television receiver apparatus for receiving and selectively displaying on the display screen of a cathode ray tube a video picture derived from video signals transmitted on a broadcasting channel and having field and horizontal line intervals, or alphanumeric data information derived from alphanumeric data program signals transmitted during at least one selected horizontal line interval in each field interval, said broadcasting channel transmitting a predetermined number of alphanumeric data programs, each alphanumeric data program being transmitted over a number of said field intervals with each of said selected horizontal line intervals containing an alphanumeric data program identification code formed of alphanumeric characters representing a respective alphanumeric data program, said apparatus comprising:
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alphanumeric data program separating means for separating said alphanumeric data program signals and said alphanumeric program identification codes from the received broadcasting channel; addressable memory means having a plurality of addressable storage locations for storing respective ones of said alphanumeric program identification codes; switch means manually operable to clear the contents of said addressable memory means; read means, including read address counter means, operative after the contents of said addressable memory means have been cleared, to address successively each of said storage locations during a predetermined interval so as to read out the contents of each addressed storage location; comparator means coupled to said separating means and to said addressable memory means to compare each alphanumeric program identification code read out from said addressable memory means to the alphanumeric program identification code then being received by said television receiver apparatus and to produce a comparison signal if the compared codes are equal; write means, including write address counter means, operative after the contents of all of said storage locations have been read out, to write the alphanumeric program identification code then being received by said television receiver apparatus into the storage location addressed by said write address counter means; write address pulse generating means for supplying periodic write address pulses to said write address counter means to increment the count thereof; inhibit means responsive to said comparison signal to inhibit said write means from writing the alphanumeric program identification code then being received by said television receiver apparatus into the storage location addressed by said write address counter means and to inhibit the count of said write address counter means from being incremented; read only memory (ROM) means having a plurality of sections, each associated with an alphanumeric character and each section having storage locations for storing patterns of data elements representing a respective alphanumeric character; means for addressing the sections of said ROM means with the alphanumeric characters forming the alphanumeric program identification code read out from said addressable memory means; means for reading out the patterns of data elements from the storage locations of the addressed section of said ROM means during predetermined portions of successive ones of said horizontal line intervals; color signal generating means for supplying a predetermined background color signal to said cathode ray tube; enabling means for enabling said color signal generating means during at least said predetermined portions of a preselected number of horizontal line areas such that an area of background color is displayed on the display screen of said cathode ray tube; and color control means for controlling said color signal generating means in accordance with said patterns of data elements read out from said ROM means to modify said background color and provide a viewable display of alphanumeric program identification codes.
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24. A method of controlling a television receiver, of the type adapted to selectively display either a video entertainment picture derived from a composite video signal or an alphanumeric data picture derived from alphanumeric data signals multiplexed onto said composite video signal, to display alphanumeric program identification codes representing the alphanumeric data programs that may be observed, comprising the steps of separating the alphanumeric data signals, including program identification codes, from said composite video signal;
- writing each separated program identification code into a respective location of a memory;
reading out the contents of all of said respective locations of said memory during predetermined, repetitive intervals;
displaying the contents read out of said memory on the cathode ray tube of said television receiver in the form of a list positioned at a predetermined location on the display screen of said cathode ray tube; and
indicating which of the displayed program identification codes represents the alphanumeric data program then being received by said television receiver.
- writing each separated program identification code into a respective location of a memory;
Specification