Color-coded system for selection of RF input terminals and associated scan lists

• US 5,103,314 A
• Filed: 09/24/1990
• Issued: 04/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Keenan, Douglas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murrell, Jeffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US07/589,832
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 358/191.1, 358/194.1, 358/193.1, 455/150, 455/151, 455/160, 455/161, 455/179, 455/185, 455/186, 455/140, 455/166, 455/168, 455/176
• US Class Current: 725/59
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0091 provided with means for scanning over a band of frequencies H03J1/0058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

In a television receiver including a plurality of RF input terminals, each of which having a respective scan list, the channel numbers of respective scan lists are displayed in respective colors to indicate to the viewer which RF input terminal and associated scan list is selected. In one embodiment of the invention, the RF input terminals and the antenna selection keys of a user-operable keyboard are color-coded to correspond to the color-coded channel numbers.

Claims

1. A television receiver, comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal input terminals, each of which receives a group of RF signals from respective RF signal sources;

RF switch means having a plurality of inputs, each of which is connected to a respective one of said RF input terminals, said RF switch means having an output at which is developed one of said groups of RF signals selected from said groups of RF signals at said inputs, said RF input switch having a control input for receiving a first control signal for selecting said selected group of RF signals;

tuner means coupled to said RF switch means for receiving said selected group of RF signals, said tuner means selecting a particular RF signal from said group of RF signals in response to a second control signal, and converting said particular RF signal to a signal at an intermediate frequency (IF);

control means for generating said first and second control signals for causing said RF switch means to select one of said groups of RF signals and said tuner means to select said particular RF signal;

means, coupled to said control means, for entering data in response to operation by a user;

memory means having a plurality of areas for storing data related to the tuning of ones of said RF signals which are preferred by a user, each of said areas storing tuning information specific to the RF signals of a respective one of said groups of RF signals received at one of said RF input terminals;

video processing means coupled to said tuner means for receiving, demodulating and amplifying said IF signal; and

on-screen display means coupled to said control means and said video processor means for generating video signals indicative of characters for display;

wherein in response to said data entered by said user, said control means sequentially retrieves said tuning data from said memory means in one of a linked mode in which said control means automatically retrieves said tuning data from a second one of said areas after having completed the sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said first area, and an unlinked mode in which said control means automatically begins the sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said first area upon completion of said sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said first area;

said control means automatically generating said first control signal for selecting the respective one of said RF input terminals which is related to the memory area from which said tuning data is to be retrieved, said control means generating said second control signal in response to said retrieved tuning data;

said on-screen display means generating said character signals in a first color when said first RF input terminal is selected, and in a second color when said second RF input terminal is selected.

2. A television receiver, comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency L(RF) signal input terminals, each of which receives a group of RF signals from respective RF signal sources;

RF switch means having a plurality of inputs, each of which is connected to a respective one of said RF input terminals, said RF switch means having an output at which is developed one of said groups of RF signals selected from said groups of RF signals at said inputs, said RF input switch having a control input for receiving a first control signal for selecting said selected group of RF signals;

tuner means coupled to said RF switch means for receiving said selected group of RF signals, said tuner means selecting a particular RF signal from said group of RF signals in response to a second control signal, and converting said particular RF signal to a signal at an intermediate frequency (IF);

control means for generating said first and second control signals for causing said RF switch means to select one of said group of RF signals and said tuner means to select said particular RF signal;

means, coupled to said control means, for entering data in response to operation by a user;

memory means having a plurality of areas for storing data related to the tuning of ones of said RF signals which are preferred by a user, each of said areas storing tuning information specific to the RF signals of a respective one of said groups of RF signals received t one of said RF input terminals;

video processing means coupled to said tuner means for receiving, demodulating and amplifying said IF signal; and

on-screen display means coupled to said control means and said video processor means for generating video signals indicative of characters for display;

wherein in response to said data entered by said user, said control means sequentially retrieves said tuning data from said memory means in one of a linked mode in which said control means automatically retrieves said tuning data from a second one of said areas after having completed the sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said first area, and an unlinked mode in which said control means automatically begins the sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said first area upon completion of said sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said first area;

said control means automatically generating said first control signal for selecting the respective one of said RF input terminals which is related to the memory area from which said tuning data is to be retrieved, said control means generating said second control signal in response to said retrieved tuning data;

said on-screen display means generating said character signals in a first color when said first RF input terminal is selected, and in a second color when said second RF input terminal is selected;

said means for entering data comprises a remote control unit, said remote control unit including keys for selecting individual ones of said RF input terminals, each of said keys for selecting said RF input terminals being distinguished from the others by a color associated with said key.

3. The television receiver of claim 2, wherein one of said RF input terminals is distinguished from the others by a color associated with said RF input terminal, and wherein said key for selecting a particular RF input terminal and said one RF input terminal are associated with the same color.

4. The television receiver of claim 3 wherein said one RF input terminal, said key for selecting said particular RF input terminal, and said character signals generated for display when said one RF input terminal is selected, are all associated with the same color.

5. A television receiver, comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal input terminals, each of which receives a group of RF signals from respective RF signal sources;

RF switch means having a plurality of inputs, each of which is connected to a respective one of said RF input terminals, said RF switch means having an output at which is developed one of said groups of RF signals selected from said groups of RF signals at said inputs, said RF input switch having a control input for receiving a first control signal for selecting said selected group of RF signals;

tuner means coupled to said RF switch means for receiving said selected group of RF signals, said tuner means selecting a particular RF signal from said group of RF signals in response to a second control signal, and converting said particular RF signal to a signal at an intermediate frequency (IF);

control means for generating said first and second control signals for causing said RF switch means to select one of said groups of RF signals and said tuner means to select said particular RF signal;

means, coupled to said control means, for entering data in response to operation by a user;

video processing means coupled to said tuner means for receiving, demodulating and amplifying said IF signal; and

on-screen display means coupled to said control means and said video processor means for generating video signals indicative of characters for display;

memory means having a plurality of areas for storing data related to the tuning of ones of said RF signals which are preferred by a user, each of said areas storing tuning information specific to the RF signals of a respective one of said groups of RF signals received at one of said RF input terminals, each of said area including a plurality of memory locations between first and second limits;

wherein in response to said data entered by said user, said control means sequentially retrieves said tuning data from said memory means in one of a linked mode in which said control means automatically retrieves said tuning data beginning at said first limit of a second one of said areas after having retrieved said tuning data from said memory location at said second limit of said first area, and an unlinked mode in which said control means automatically begins the sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said memory location at said first limit of said first area upon retrieving said tuning data from said memory location at said second limit of said first area, said control means automatically generating said first control signal for selecting the respective one of said RF input terminals which is related to the memory area from which said tuning data is to be retrieved, and said control means generating said second control signal in response to said retrieved tuning data;

said on-screen display means generating said character signals in a first color when said first RF input terminal is selected, and in a second color when said second RF input terminal is selected.

6. A television receiver, comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal input terminals, each of which receives a group of RF signals from respective RF signal sources;

RF switch means having a plurality of inputs, each of which is connected to a respective one of said RF input terminals, said RF switch means having an output at which is developed one of said groups of RF signals selected from said groups of RF signals at said inputs, said RF input switch having a control input for receiving a first control signal for selecting said selected group of RF signals;

tuner means coupled to said RF switch means for receiving said selected group of RF signals, said tuner means selecting a particular RF signal from said group of RF signals in response to a second control signal, and converting said particular RF signal to a signal at an intermediate frequency (IF);

control means for generating said first and second control signals for causing said RF switch means to select one of said group of RF signals and said tuner means to select said particular RF signal;

means, coupled to said control means, for entering data in response to operation by a user;

video processing means coupled to said tuner means for receiving, demodulating and amplifying said IF signal; and

on-screen display means coupled to said control means and said video processor means for generating video signals indicative of characters for display;

memory means having a plurality of areas for storing data related to the tuning of ones of said RF signals which are preferred by a user, each of said areas storing tuning information specific to the RF signals of a respective one of said groups of RF signals received at one of said RF input terminals, each of said area including a plurality of memory locations between first and second limits;

wherein in response to said data entered by said user, said control means sequentially retrieves said tuning data from said memory means in one of a linked mode in which said control means automatically retrieves said tuning data beginning at said first limit of a second one of said areas after having retrieved said tuning data from said memory location at said second limit of said first area, and an unlinked mode in which said control means automatically begins the sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said memory location at said first limit of said first area upon retrieving said tuning data from said memory location at said second limit of said first area, said control means automatically generating said first control signal for selecting the respective one of said RF input terminals which is related to the memory area from which said tuning data is to be retrieved, and said control means generating said second control signal in response to said retrieved tuning data;

said on-screen display means generating said character signals in a first color when said first RF input terminal is selected, and in a second color when said second RF input terminal is selected;

said means for entering data comprises a keyboard including a first key for selecting said first RF input terminal and a second key for selecting said second RF input terminal, said first key for selecting said first RF input terminal being distinguished from said second key for selecting said second RF input terminal by a color associated with said first key.

7. The television receiver of claim 6, wherein one of said first RF input terminal is distinguished from said second RF input terminal by a color associated with said first RF input terminal, and wherein said key for selecting said first RF input terminal and said first RF input terminal are associated with the same color.

8. The television receiver of claim 7 wherein said first RF input terminal, said first key for selecting said first input terminal, and said character signals generated for display when said first RF input terminal is selected, are all associated with the same color.