VCR Programmer

• US 4,908,713 A
• Filed: 06/29/1988
• Issued: 03/13/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Michael R. Levine
• Inventors: Levine, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCELHENY JR, DONALD E
• Application Number:
  US07/213,162
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 360/33.1, 360/69, 360/79, 358/335, 358/188, 434/308, 434/323, 455/171, 455/178, 455/181, 455/185, 455/186, 455/344, 340/706, 340/799
• US Class Current: 386/291
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A system for programming the automatic operation of a video recorder over an extended time period uses an associated television receiver as a display device for alphanumeric messages to the operator to provide a self-explanatory, interactive programming routine. The video recorder system includes a digital memory, a real time digital clock, and an alphanumeric character generator, all connected to a central digital controller. A keypad allows the operator to initiate a programming routine in which previously stored programming messages are called up from memory and generated on the TV receiver'"'"'s display tube using the character generator. The operator'"'"'s responses entered via the keypad are stored in the memory and are called up at future times to generate control signals for the video recorder. The video recorder system further includes a memory storing data representing a schedule of programming available for a future period. The video recorder system permits this schedule to be recalled and displayed on the TV receiver'"'"'s display for review by the user.

Claims

1. A video recorder interactive control system for connection to a source of television signals and a television display, the system comprising:

an electronically adjustable television channel tuner connected to the source of television signals;

a video record/playback means having a input connected to said television channel tuner and a video output, said video record/playback means operating in a record mode for recording the television signal tuned by said television channel tuner and in a playback mode for reproducing a previously recorded television signal;

a character generator having an input for receiving digital signals representative of a video display, said character generator being operative to convert said digital signals into a video signal;

an interface means connected to the television display, said video record/playback means and said character generator for displaying either said video signal from said video record/playback means or said video signal from said character generator via the television display;

a clock means for generating a real time clock signal indicative of the current time;

a record program memory having stored therein the channel and the time of occurrence of at least one instance of a future program which it is desired to record;

a schedule memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals representive of a schedule of television programming available for a future period;

an operator controlled input means for entering a plurality of control inputs for said video recorder interactive control system; and

a control means connected to said television channel tuner, said video record/playback means, said character generator, said interface means, said clock means, said message memory, said record program memory, said schedule memory and said input means, said control means being operative to

supply a channel input to said television channel tuner in accordance with control inputs from said input means,

place said video record/playback means in either record mode or playback mode in response to control inputs from said input means,

store the channel and the time of at least one instance of a desired future recording program in said record program memory in response to control inputs from said input means,

compare said real time clock signal with the time for the next instance of a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,

supply said channel stored in said record program memory for an instance of a desired future recording program to said television channel tuner,

recall digital signals representative of an appropriate portion of the schedule of programming available for a future period from said schedule memory,

supply said digital signals to said character generator, and

select said video signal from said character generator at said interface means for display via the television display.

2. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a message memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals representative of a plurality of prompting messages for an operator; and

said control means being further operative to

recall digital signals representative of appropriate prompting messages from said message memory,

supply said digital signals to said character generator,

select said video signal from said character generator at said interface means for display via the television display, and

store the channel and time of at least one instance of a desired future recording program in said record program memory in accordance with an interactive program adapted to receive control inputs from said input means, said interactive program being operative to adaptively select said prompting messages according to the previous control inputs from said input means.

3. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said schedule of television programming available for a future period stored in said schedule memory includes the program available during each scheduled period for each channel contained in said television signal.

4. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said schedule of television programming available for a future period stored in said schedule memory further includes text describing at least one program.

5. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said schedule of television programming available for a future period stored in said schedule memory further includes digitally encoded graphic information.

6. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said schedule of television programming available for a future period stored in said schedule memory further includes segments of at least one program for display.

7. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said schedule memory consists of a plug-in read only memory.

9. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said schedule memory is loaded via the source of television signals.

10. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said interface means includes means to simultaneously display said video signal from said video record/playback means and said video signal from said character generator via the television display by superposition of said video signal from said character generator on said video signal from said video record/playback means; and

said control means is further operative to

supply digital signals representative of a program title from a video tape to said character generator, and select superposition of said video signal from said video record/playback means at said interface means for display via the television display when in said playback mode.

11. A program schedule display generator for use in connection with a television receiver comprising:

a schedule memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals representative of a schedule of programming available for a future period;

a character generator having an input for receiving digital signals representative of a video display, said character generator being operative to convert said digital signals into a video signal;

an interface means connected to the television receiver and said character generator for displaying said video signal from said character generator via the television receiver;

a control means connected to said schedule memory, said character generator and said interface means, said control means being operative to reacall digital signals representative of an appropriate portion of the schedule of programming available for a future period from said schedule memory and supply said digital signals to said character generator for display via the television receiver.

12. The program schedule display generator as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said schedule of programming available or a future period stored in said schedule memory includes the program available during each scheduled period for each channel.

13. The program schedule display generator as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said schedule of programming available for a future period stored in said schedule memory further includes text describing at least one program.

14. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said schedule of programming available for a future period stored in said schedule memory further includes digitally encoded graphic information.

15. The program schedule display generator as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said schedule of programming available for a future period stored in said schedule memory further includes segments of at least one program for display.

16. The program schedule display generator as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said schedule memory consists of a plug-in read only memory.

17. The program schedule display generator as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said schedule memory consists of a throw-away read only memory.

18. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said schedule memory is loaded via a source of RF signals at a particular time.

19. A video recorder interactive control system for connection to a source of television signals and to a television display, the system comprising:

a video recorder system housing;

an electronically adjustable television channel tuner disposed in said video recorder system housing and connected to the source of television signals;

a video record/playback means disposed in said video recorder system housing and having a input connected to said television channel tuner and having an output, said video record/playback means operating in a record mode for recording the television signal tuned by said television channel tuner and in a playback mode for reproducing a previously recorded video signal on said output;

a character generator disposed in said video recorder system housing and having an input for receiving digital signals representative of alphanumeric characters, said character generator being operative to convert said digital signals into video signals;

an interface means disposed in said video recorder system housing and connected to the television display, to said video record/playback means and to said character generator for displaying either said output signal from said video record/playback means or said video signal from said character generator via the television display;

a clock means disposed in said video recorder system housing for generating a real time clock signal indicative of the current time;

a message memory disposed in said video recorder system housing and having stored therein a plurality of digital signals representative of a plurality of alphanumeric prompting messages for an operator;

a record program memory disposed in said video recorder system housing and being operative to store the channel and the time of occurrence of a plurality of future programs that are to be recorded;

a first operator controlled input means disposed remotely from said video recorder system housing for entering a plurality of control inputs for said video recorder interactive control system including the channel and start time of future programs that are to be recorded in said record program memory;

second operator controlled input means disposed on said video recorder system housing not including means for entering the channel and start time of future programs to be recorded; and

a control means disposed in said video recorder system housing and connected to said television channel tuner, said video record/playback means, said character generator, said interface means, said clock means, said message memory, said record program memory and said first and second input means, said control means being operative to

supply a channel input to said television channel tuner in accordance with control inputs from said first or second input means,

place said video record/playback means in either record mode or playback mode in response to control inputs from said first or second input means,

recall digital signals representative of appropriate prompting messages from said message memory,

supply said digital signals to said character generator,

select said video signal from said character generator at said interface means for display via the television display,

store the channel and start time of future programs that are to be recorded in said record program memory in accordance with an interactive program adapted to receive control inputs from said first input means, said interactive program being operative to adaptively select said prompting messages according to the previous control inputs from said input means,

compare said real time clock signal with the time for the next instance of a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,

supply said channel stored in said record program memory to said television channel tuner;

and place said video record/playback means in record mode when said real time signal is included within a time stored in said record program memory for the recording of a program;

whereby said first operator controlled input means disposed remotely from said video recorder system housing replaces substantially all controls for entering the channel and start time of future programs that are to be recorded, which controls would otherwise be disposed on said video recorder system housing.

20. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said first operator controlled input means is connected to said control means via a cable.

21. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said first operator controlled input means is connected to said control means via a telephone line.

22. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said first operator controlled input means is connected to said control means via an radio transmitter.

23. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said first operator controlled input means is connected to said control means via an infrared transmitter.

24. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said first operator controlled input means includes a keypad having a set of keys corresponding to decimal numbers and at least one mode selection key.

25. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 24, further including designation indica for said set of keys wherein:

said designation indicia are modified to designate symbols corresponding to video record/playback means operation upon selection of a predetermined one of said at least one mode selection key.

26. A video recorder interactive control system for connection to a source of television signals and to a television display, the system comprising:

an electronically adjustable television channel tuner connected to the source of television signals;

a video record/playback means having an input connected to said television channel tuner and having an output, said video record/playback means operating in a record mode for recording the television signal tuned by said television channel tuner and in a playback mode for reproducing a previously recorded video signal on said output;

a character generator having an input for receiving digital signals representative of alphanumeric characters, said character generator being operative to convert said digital signals into video signals;

an interface means connected to the television display, to said video record/playback means and to said character generator for displaying either said output signal from said video record/playback means or said output signal from said character generator via the television display;

a clock means for generating a real time clock signal indicative of the current time;

a message memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals representative of a plurality of alphanumeric prompting messages for an operator;

a record program memory being operative to store therein the channel and the time of occurrence of a plurality of desired future programs that are to be recorded;

a keypad having a set of keys corresponding to decimal numbers and at least one mode selection key, said at least one mode selection key including a record program mode selection key; and

a control means connected to said television channel tuner, said video record/playback means, said character generator, said interface means, said clock means, said message memory, said record program memory, said schedule memory and said keypad, said control means being operative to

supply a channel input to said television channel tuner in accordance with control inputs from said keypad,

place said video record/playback means in either record mode or playback mode in response to control inputs from said keypad,

recall digital signals representative of appropriate prompting messages from said message memory,

supply said digital signals to said character generator,

select said video signal from said character generator at said interface means for display via the television display,

store the channel and the time of at least one instance of a desired future recording program in said record program memory in accordance with an interactive program adapted to receive input from said kaypad, said interactive program being operative to

adaptively select said prompting messages corresponding to menu selections according to the previous decimal key inputs from said keypad,

compare said real time clock signal with the time for the next instance of a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,

supply said channel stored in said record program memory to said television channel, and

place said video record/playback means in record mode when said real time signal is included within the time for that instance of a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory.

27. A video recorder interactive control system for connection to a source of television signals and to a television display, the system comprising:

an electronically adjustable television channel tuner connected to the source of television signals;

a video record/playback means having an input connected to said television channel tuner and an output, said video record/playback means operating in a record mode for recording the television signal tuned by said television channel tuner and in a playback mode for reproducing a previously recorded video signal on its output;

a character generator having an input for receiving digital signals representative of a video display, said character generator being operative to convert said digital signals into a video signal;

an interface means connected to the television display, said video record/playback means and said character generator for displaying either said video signal from said video record/playback means or said video signal from said character generator via the television display;

a clock means for generating a real time clock signal indicative of the current time;

a message memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals representative of a plurality of prompting messages for an operator;

a record program memory having stored therein the channel and the time of at least one instance of a future program which the operator desires to record;

an operator controlled input means for entering a plurality of control inputs for said video recorder interactive control system; and

a control means connected to said television channel tuner, said video record/playback means, said character generator, said interface means, said clock means, said message memory, said record program memory and said input means, said control means being operative to

supply a channel input to said television channel tuner in accordance with control inputs from said input means,

place said video record/playback means in either record mode or playback mode in response to control inputs from said input means,

recall digital signals representative of appropriate prompting messages from said message memory,

supply said digital signals to said character generator,

select said video signal from said character generator at said interface means for display via the television display,

and store the channel and the time of at least one instance of a desired future recording program in said record program memory in accordance with an interactive program adapted to receive control inputs from said input means, said interactive program being operative to

adaptively select said prompting messages according to the previous inputs from said input means,

display the channel and the time of the present desired future recording program for verification via said input means,

compare said real time clock signal with the time for the next instance of a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,

supply said channel stored in said record program memory to said television channel and

place said video record/playback means in record mode when said real time signal is included within the time for that instance of a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory.

28. A video recorder interactive control system for connection to a source of television signals and a television receiver, the system comprising:

an electronically adjustable television channel tuner connected to the source of television signals;

a video record/playback means having an input connected to said television channel tuner and a video output, said video record/playback means operating in a record mode for recording the television signal tuned by said television channel tuner and in a playback mode for reproducing a previously recorded video signal;

a character generator having an input for receiving digital signals representative of a video display, said character generator being operative to convert said digital signals into video signals;

a radio frequency modulator connected to the television receiver, said video record/playback means and said character generator for controllably modulating a radio frequency carrier with a selected one of either said video signal from said video record/playback means or said video signal from said character generator and supplying said modulated radio frequency carrier to the television receiver;

a clock means for generating a real time clock signal indicative of the current time;

a message memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals representative of a plurality of prompting messages for an operator;

a record program memory having stored therein the channel and the time of at least one instance of a desired future recording program;

an operator controlled input means for entering a plurality of control inputs for said video recorder interactive control system and for the television receiver; and

a control means connected to said television channel tuner, said video record/playback means, said character generator, said interface means, said clock means, said message memory, said record program memory and said input means, said control means being operative to

supply a channel input to said television channel tuner in accordance with control inputs from said input means,

place said video record/playback means in either record mode or playback mode in response to control inputs from said input means,

recall digital signals representative of appropriate prompting messages from said message memory,

supply said digital signals to said character generator,

select said video signal from said character generator for modulation by said radio frequency modulator for supply to the television receiver, and

store the channel and time of at least one instance of a desired future recording program in said record program memory in accordance with an interactive program adapted to receive control inputs from said input means, said interactive program being operative to

adaptively select said prompting messages according to the previous control inputs from said input means,

compare said real time clock signal with the time for the next instance of a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,

supply said channel stored in said record program memory to said television channel

place said video record/playback means in record mode when said real time signal is included within the time for that instance of a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory, and

transmit control signals to the television receiver in response to control inputs for the television receiver from said operator controlled input means.

29. A video recorder interactive control system for connection to a source of television signals and a television display, the system comprising:

an electronically adjustable television channel tuner connected to the source of television signals;

a video record/playback means having an input connected to said television channel tuner, a video output and being adapted to receive a video tape, said video record/playback means operating in a record mode for recording the television signal tuned by said television channel tuner and in a playback mode for reproducing a video signal previously recorded on a video tape;

a character generator having an input for receiving digital signals representative of a video display, said character generator being operative to convert said digital signals into a video signal;

an interface means connected to the television display, to said video record/playback means and to said character generator for displaying either said video signal from said video record/playback means or said video signal from said character generator via the television display;

a clock means for generating a real time clock signal indicative of the current time;

a message memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals representative of a plurality of prompting messages for an operator;

a record program memory having stored therein the channel and the time of occurrence of at least one instance of a desired future recording program;

an operator controlled input means for entering a plurality of control inputs for said video recorder interactive control system; and

a control means connected to said television channel tuner, said video record/playback means, said character generator, said interface means, said clock means, said message memory, said record program memory and said input means, said control means being operative to

supply a channel input to said television channel tuner in accordance with control inputs from said input means,

place said video record/playback means in either record mode or playback mode in response to control inputs from said input means,

compare said real time clock signal with the time for the next instance of a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,

supply said channel stored in said record program memory to said television channel,

place said video record/playback means in record mode when said real time signal is included within the time for that instance of a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,

recall digital signals representative of appropriate prompting messages from said message memory, supply said digital signals to said character generator,

select said video signal from said character generator at said interface means for display via the television display, and

store the channel and time of at least one instance of a desired future recording program in said record program memory in accordance with an interactive program adapted to receive control inputs from said input means, said interactive program being operative to

adapatively select said prompting messages according to the previous control inputs from said input means, and

place said video record/playback means in playback mode and transmitting alphanumeric messages stored on a video tape to the television display via said interface means.

8. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said schedule memory consists of a throw-away read only memory.

30. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 29, wherein:

said character generator is further connected to said video record/playback means for receiving digital signals indicative of alphanumeric characters from a video tape for display by the television display via said interface means.