Interface for a TV-VCR system

• US 5,047,867 A
• Filed: 06/08/1989
• Issued: 09/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: North American Philips Corp. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Gentner, Donald R., Strubbe, Hugo J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Envall, Jr., Roy N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Application Number:
  US07/363,569
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 358/310, 358/194.1, 358/183, 358/335, 358/191.1, 358/192.1, 358/193.1, 358/22, 358/22 PIP, 358/22 CK, 369/30, 369/24, 360/33.1, 360/79
• US Class Current: 386/291
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/65 wherein solid state memory is used for storing indexing information or metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/34 Indicating arrangements indicating means incorporated in magazine or cassette G11B23/046 and G11B23/0875; indicating measured values in general G01D
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• 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 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4755 for defining user preferences, e.g. favourite actors or genre retrieval personalisation and generation of user profiles for the retrieval of video data G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape

Abstract

A system for integrating the operation and control of a television receiver and a video cassette recorder (vcr), the television receiver being capable of receiving and displaying various television channels as well as other video signals, and the vcr being capable of recording programs at least from the broadcast channels and reproducing programs previously recorded on tapes and outputting the programs as video signals, the system having a device for enabling a user to control the system and thereby operate the television receiver and/or the vcr, and to enter information concerning the user'"'"'s favorite broadcast programs and various particular broadcast programs into the system, the information including the program name, broadcast channel, starting time, length, repeat pattern in the case of favorite broadcast programs, and whether the user wants the program recorded; a first store for storing the favorite broadcast program information and the various particular broadcast program informantion; a second store for storing information concerning programs on a tape currently loaded in the vcr; a third store for storing information concerning programs on other tapes of the user; a devicd coupled to the vcr for controlling the recording and reproducing functions thereof in response to the information stored in the first and second stores and the enabling device; an output device coupled to the first, second and third stores for selectively providing to the television receiver an output of the system including the favorite broadcast program information, the program information of the current tape, and the program information of the other tapes; and a device coupled to the television receiver for selectively switching an input of the television receiver between the broadcast channels, the vcr output and the system output.

Claims

1. A system for integrating the operation and control of a television receiver and a video cassette recorder, said television receiver being capable of receiving and displaying various television broadcast channels as well as other video signals, and said video cassette recorder being capable of recording programs at least from said broadcast channels and reproducing programs previously recorded on tapes and outputting said programs as video signals, an output of said video cassette recorder being coupled to said television receiver, said system comprising:

means for enabling a user to control said system and thereby operate said television receiver and/or said video cassette recorder, and to enter information concerning said user'"'"'s favorite broadcast programs and various particular broadcast programs into said system, said information including the program name, broadcast channel, starting time, length, repeat pattern in the case of favorite broadcast programs, and whether the user wants the program recorded;

first storing means for storing said favorite broadcast program information and said various particular broadcast program information, said information being stored in the form of program description pages and a menu page;

second storing means for storing information concerning programs on a tape currently loaded in said video cassette recorder, said information being stored in the form of program description pages and a menu page;

third storing means for storing information concerning programs on other tapes of said user, said information being stored in the form of menu pages;

means coupled to said video cassette recorder for operating the recording and reproducing functions thereof in response to said information stored in said first and second storing means and said enabling means;

output means coupled to said first, second and third storing means for applying to said television receiver an output of said system including said favorite broadcast program information, the program information of said current tape, and the program information of said other tapes, said output means outputting said program description pages and said menu pages as additional channels included in a television channel ring; and

means coupled to said television receiver for switching said television receiver to selectively receive said broadcast channels, said video cassette recorder output and said system output.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said television receiver and said video cassette recorder both have remote control receivers incorporated therein, and said video cassette recorder operating means comprises a first transmitter cooperating with said video cassette recorder remote control receiver, and said television receiver switching means comprises a second transmitter cooperating with said television receiver remote control receiver.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said television receiver and said video cassette recorder comprise a television monitor, a video cassette recording/playback deck, and a first and a second television tuner.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said system comprises a microcomputer having a memory coupled thereto for storing said various information, said microcomputer having an output for providing said system output;

and a controller for generating control signals for said television monitor, said video cassette recording/playback deck and said first and second television tuners, said controller having data entry means and providing control signals for and receiving control signals from said microcomputer.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said data entry means comprises a bar code scanner.

6. A system a claimed in claim 4, wherein said data entry means comprises a keyboard.

7. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said system further comprises video switching means connected to an output of said first and second tuners and said video cassette recording/playback deck;

and a genlock circuit for selectively superposing the output of said microcomputer on an output of said video switching means, said genlock circuit having a first input connected to an output of said video switching means a second input connected to said output of said microcomputer, and an output coupled to said television monitor, said video switching means receiving switching control signals from said controller.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said system further comprises a picture-in-picture generating circuit having a first input connected to the output of said genlock circuit and an output connected to said television monitor;

a further video switching means also coupled to respective outputs of said first and second tuners and said video cassette recording/playback deck; and

a further genlock circuit having a first input connected to an output of said further video switching means, a second input connected to a further output of said microcomputer, and an output, wherein said picture-in-picture generating circuit has a second input connected to the output of said further genlock circuit, whereby the output of either said genlock circuit or said further genlock circuit may be displayed on said television monitor as a main picture or a PIP picture overlying a portion of the main picture in response to control signals from said controller.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said system further comprises a user operable remote control transmitter for controlling said controller, said remote control transmitter having switches for selecting channels in said first and second tuners, for operating said television monitor and said video cassette recording/playback deck, and for causing the display of various ones of said menu pages.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said memory includes said first, second and third storing means, and wherein said information stored in each of said first and second storing means is in the form of program description pages and a menu page, and the information stored in said third storing means is in the form of menu pages.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said microcomputer outputs said program description pages and said menu pages as additional channels included in the television channel ring.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said program description pages and said menu pages include prompts relating to various ones of said switches on said remote control transmitter for selectively changing control information on said program description pages and for operating said system accordingly.

13. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said picture-in-picture generating circuit includes means for "freezing" a PIP representation of a scene from a particular program being broadcast and said system includes means for encoding and storing said frozen PIP representation, wherein each of said program description pages includes a picture of a scene from the program being described, said picture having been encoded and stored with said program information.