"Channel guide" automatically activated by the absence of program information

• US 5,161,019 A
• Filed: 06/29/1990
• Issued: 11/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RCA Thomson Licensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: RCA Thomson Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Emanuel, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murrell, Jeffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US07/546,470
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 358/183, 358/22 PIP, 358/193.1, 358/191.1, 358/188, 358/189, 358/714, 358/336, 455/15 P, 455/161, 455/179, 455/185, 455/186, 455/184
• US Class Current: 725/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4314 for fitting data in a restricted space on the screen, e.g. EPG data in a rectangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440263 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for displaying on a connected PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• 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 5/782 on tape

Abstract

A "channel guide" system, including a picture-in-picture processing unit for displaying an array of images corresponding to respective channels or auxiliary televisions signals on a display screen is automatically activated when the video signal currently being processed by the receiver no longer contains program information (e.g., either does not contain valid video information, or represents a uniform screen). In a VCR, the "channel guide" system is automatically initiated in response to the detection of the end of tape.

Claims

1. A television system, comprising:

selection means for selecting a television signal from a plurality of television signals;

main signal processing means for processing a main picture signal provided by said selection means and corresponding to a main picture;

auxiliary signal processing means for storing samples representative of a selected television signal for each of a plurality of secondary television signals, and for producing a combined signal which represents a picture including a plurality of images corresponding to respective ones of said secondary television signals in a plurality of inset-image locations of said picture;

detection means for providing a control signal representative of the detection of the absence of program information in said main picture signal; and

control means, coupled to said detection means, said auxiliary signal processing means, and said selection means, for automatically causing said selection means to select each of said plurality of television signals sequentially, and automatically causing said auxiliary signal processing means to store said samples and produce said combined signal in response to said control signal.

2. The television system of claim 1, wherein said signal selection means is a tuner demodulator means for producing a baseband video signal from a selected radio frequency television signal.

3. A picture-in-picture system for a television receiver, comprising:

tuner demodulator means having an input for receiving a plurality of radio frequency signals, and having a control input for receiving a first control signal, said tuner demodulator means tuning one of said radio frequency signals in response to said first control signal and producing a detected video signal therefrom at an output;

memory means having data representing a list of television channel stored therein;

main signal processing means for processing a main picture signal provided by said tuner demodulator means and corresponding to a main picture;

picture-in-picture processing means having an input coupled to said output of said tuner demodulator means for receiving said detected video signal and for storing a predetermined amount of said detected video signal, and for producing a display signal which when displayed on a display screen produces a display comprising an inset-image displayed in one of a plurality of inset-image locations, said inset-image being related to said stored video signal;

control means for controlling said tuner demodulator means and for controlling said picture-in-picture processing means, said control means having an output for developing said first control signal; and

means for detecting the absence of program information in said main picture signal, said detecting means having an input coupled to said output of said tuner demodulator means for receiving said detected video signal and an output coupled to said control means for developing a second control signal indicative of the absence of program information in said main picture signal;

said control means in response to said second control signal automatically causes said tuner demodulator means to tune each of said television channels represented in said stored list of television channels, and automatically causes said picture-in-picture processing means to store said predetermined amount of said detected video signal for each tuned channel and produce said display signal.

4. The picture-in-picture system of claim 3, wherein said means for detecting includes means for detecting a video signal which when displayed causes the display of a uniformly blanked image.

5. A picture-in-picture system for a television receiver, comprising:

tuner demodulator means having an input for receiving a plurality of radio frequency signals, and having a control input for receiving a first control signal, said tuner demodulator means tuning one of said radio frequency signals in response to said first control signal and producing a detected video signal therefrom at a first output;

a baseband video input terminal for receiving an auxiliary baseband video signal;

switch means having a first input coupled to said output of said tuner demodulator means for receiving said detected video signal, a second input for receiving said auxiliary baseband video signal, a control input for receiving a second control signal, and an output for developing a selected one of said video signals at said first and second inputs in response to said second control signal;

memory means having data representing a list of television channels stored therein;

main signal processing means for processing a main picture signal provided by said switch means and corresponding to a main picture;

picture-by-picture processing means coupled to said output of said switch means for receiving said selected video signal and for storing a predetermined amount of said selected video signal, and for producing a display signal which when displayed on a display screen produces a display comprising an inset-image displayed in one of a plurality of inset-image locations, said inset-image being related to said stored video signal;

control means for controlling said tuner demodulator means and for controlling said picture-to-picture processing means, said control means developing said first control signal, and said control means developing said control signal for controlling said switch means; and

means for detecting the absence of program information in said main picture signal, said detecting means main picture signal and an output coupled to said control means for developing a third control signal indicative of the absence of program information in said main picture signal;

said control means in response to said third control signal generates said second control signal causing said switch means to select said detected video signal of said tuner demodulator means, generates said first control signal to cause said tuner demodulator means to tune each of said television channels represented in said stored list of television channels, and automatically causes said picture-in-picture processing means to store said predetermined amount of said detected video signal for each tuned channel and produce said display signal.

6. The picture-in-picture system of claim 5, wherein said control means generates said second control signal causing said switch means to select said auxiliary baseband video signal and causes said picture-in-picture processing means to store a predetermined amount of said auxiliary baseband video signal.

7. A picture-in-picture system for a videocassette recorder, comprising:

tuner demodulator means having an input for receiving a plurality of radio frequency signals, and having a control input for receiving a first control signal, said tuner demodulator means tuning one of said radio frequency signals in response to said first control signal and producing a detected video signal therefrom at a first output;

means for recovering a video signal from a recording medium;

switch means having a first input coupled to said output of said tuner demodulator means for receiving said detected video signal, a second input for receiving said recovered video signal from said recording medium, a control input for receiving a second control signal, and an output for developing a selected one of said video signals at said first and second inputs in response to said second control signal;

memory means having data representing a list of television channels stored therein;

picture-in-picture processing means coupled to said output of said switch means for receiving said selected video signal, for storing a predetermined amount of said selected video signal, and for producing a display signal which when displayed on a display screen produces a display comprising an image displayed in one of a plurality of image locations, said image being related to said stored video signal,

control means for controlling said tuner demodulator means and for controlling said picture-in-picture processing means, said control means developing said first control signal, and said control means developing said second control signal for controlling said switch means; and

means for detecting the absence of program information in said recovered video signal from said recording medium, said absence of said program information being indicative of the termination of a video program, said detecting means having an input for receiving said recovered video signal from said recording medium and an output coupled to said control means for developing a third control signal indicative of the absence of program information in said recovered video signal from said recording medium;

said control means in response to said third control signal generates said second control signal causing said switch means to select said detected video signal of said tuner demodulator means, generates said first control signal to cause said tuner demodulator means to tune each of said television channels represented in said list of television channels, and automatically causes said picture-in-picture processing means to store said predetermined amount of said detected video signal for each of said tuned channels and produce said display signal.

8. A picture-in-picture system for a videocassette recorder, comprising:

tuner demodulator means having an input for receiving a plurality of radio frequency signals, and having a control input for receiving a first control signal, said tuner demodulator means tuning one of said radio frequency signals in response to said first control signal and producing a detected video signal therefrom at a first output;

means for recovering a video signal from a recording medium;

switch means having a first input coupled to said output of said tuner demodulator means for receiving said detected video signal, a second input for receiving said recovered video signal from said recording medium, a control input for receiving a second control signal, and an output for developing a selected one of said video signals at said first and second inputs in response to said second control signal;

memory means having data representing a list of television channels stored therein;

picture-by-picture processing means coupled to said output of said switch means for receiving said selected video signal, for storing a predetermined amount of said selected video signal, and for producing a display signal which when displayed on a display screen produces a display comprising an image displayed in one of a plurality of image locations, said image being related to said stored video signal,

control means for controlling said tuner demodulator means and for controlling said picture-in-picture processing means, said control means developing said first control signal, and said control means developing said second control signal for controlling said switch means;

means for detecting the absence of program information in said recovered video signal from said recording medium, said absence of said program information being indicative of the termination of a video program, said detecting means having an input for receiving said recovered video signal from said recording medium and an output coupled to said control means for developing a third control signal indicative of the absence of program information in said recovered video signal from said recording medium;

said control means in response to said third control signal generates said second control signal causing said switch means to selected said detected video signal of said tuner demodulator means, generates said first control signal to cause said tuner demodulator means to tune each of said television channels represented in said list of television channels, and automatically causes said picture-in-picture processing means to store said predetermined amount of said detected video signal for each of said tuned channels and produce said display signal;

drive means for driving said recording medium; and

sensing means coupled to said drive means for generating a fourth control signal representative of sensing a condition in which a video signal containing program information is no longer recovered from said recording medium;

said control means in response to said fourth control signal generates said second control signal causing said switch means to select said detected video signal of said tuner demodulator means, generates said first control signal to cause said tuner demodulator means to tune each of said television channels represented in said stored list of television channels, and automatically causes said picture-in-picture processing means to store said predetermined amount of said detected video signal for each of said tuned channels and produce said display signal.

9. A picture-in-picture system for a television receiver, comprising:

tuner demodulator means having an input for receiving a plurality of radio frequency signals corresponding to a plurality of television channels, and having a control input for receiving a first control signal, said tuner demodulator means tuning one of said radio frequency signals corresponding to a particular television channel in response to said first control signal and producing a detected video signal therefrom at a first output;

main signal processing means for processing a main picture signal provided by said tuner demodulator means and corresponding to a main picture;

picture-in-picture processing means coupled to said first output of said tuner demodulator means for receiving said detected video signal and for storing a predetermined amount of said detected video signal, and for producing a display signal which when displayed on a display screen produces a display comprising an inset-image displayed in one of a plurality of inset-image locations, said inset-image being related to said stored video signal;

control means for controlling said tuner demodulator means and for controlling said picture-in-picture processing means, said control means having an output for developing said first control signal; and

means for detecting the absence of program information in said main picture signal, said detecting means having an input for receiving said main picture signal and an output coupled to said control means for developing a second control signal indicative of the absence of program information in said main picture signal;

said control means in response to the detection of said second control signal generates said first control signal to automatically cause said tuner demodulator means to tune each of said plurality of television channels, and automatically causes said picture-in-picture processing means to store said predetermined amount of said detected video signal for each of said tuned channels and to produce said display signal.

10. A picture-in-picture system for a videocassette recorder, comprising:

tuner demodulator means having an input for receiving a plurality of radio frequency signals, and having a control input for receiving a first control signal, said tuner demodulator means tuning one of said radio frequency signals in response to said first control signal and producing a detected video signal therefrom at a first output;

means for recording video signals onto a video tape, and for recovering playback video signals from said video tape;

switch means having a first input coupled to said output of said tuner demodulator means for receiving said detected video signal, a second input for receiving said playback video signal, a control input for receiving a second control signal, and an output for developing a selected one of said video signals at said first and second inputs in response to said second control signal;

picture-in-picture processing means coupled to said output of said switch means for receiving said selected video signal, for storing a predetermined amount of said selected video signal, and for producing a display signal which when displayed on a display screen produces a display comprising an image displayed in one of a plurality of image locations, said image being related to said stored video signal,

control means for controlling said tuner demodulator means and for controlling said picture-in-picture processing means, said control means developing said first control signal, and said control means developing said second control signal for controlling said switch means; and

means for detecting the absence of program information in said playback video signal, said absence of said program information being indicative of the termination of a video program, said detecting means having an input for receiving said playback video signal and an output coupled to said control means for developing a third control signal indicative of the absence of program information in said playback video signal;

said control means in response to said third control signal generates said second control signal causing said switch means to select said detected video signal of said tuner demodulator means, generates said first control signal to cause said tuner demodulator means to automatically tune each of said plurality of radio frequency signals, and automatically causes said picture-to-picture processing means to store said predetermined amount of said detected video signal for each of said tuned channels and produce said display signal.

11. A picture-in-picture system for a videocassette recorder, comprising:

tuner demodulator means having an input for receiving a plurality of radio frequency signals, and having a control input for receiving a first control signal, said tuner demodulator means tuning one of said radio frequency signals in response to said first control signal and producing a detected video signal therefrom at a first output;

means for recording video signal therefrom at a first output;

recovering playback video signals from said video tape;

switch means having a first input coupled to said output of said tuner demodulator means for receiving said detected video signal, a second input for receiving said playback video signal, a control input for receiving a second control signal, and an output for developing a selected one of said video signals at said first and second inputs in response to said second control signal;

picture-in-picture processing means coupled to said output of said switch means for receiving said selected video signal, for storing a predetermined amount of said selected video signal, and for producing a display signal which when displayed on a display screen produces a display comprising an image displayed in one of a plurality of image locations, said image being related to said stored video signal,

control means for controlling said tuner demodulator means and for controlling said picture-in-picture processing means, said control means developing said first control signal, and said control means developing said second control signal for controlling said switch means;

means for detecting the absence of program information in said playback video signal, said absence of said program information being indicative of the termination of a video program, said detecting means having an input for receiving said playback video signal and an output coupled to said control means for developing a third control signal indicative of the absence of program information in said playback video signal;

said control means in response to said third control signal generates said second control signal causing said switch means to select said detected video signal of said tuner demodulator means, generates said first control signal to cause said tuner demodulator means to automatically tune each of said plurality of radio frequency signals, and automatically causes said picture-in-picture processing means to store said predetermined amount of said detected video signal for each of said tuned channels and produce said display signal;

tape drive means for driving said video tape; and

end-of-tape sensing means coupled to said tape drive means for detecting an end-of-tape condition and generating a fourth control signal in response thereto;

said control means in response to said fourth control signal generates said second control signal causing said switch means to select said detected video signal of said tuner demodulator means, generates said first control signal to cause said tuner demodulator means to tune each of said plurality of television channels, and automatically causes said picture-in-picture processing means to store said predetermined amount of said detected video signal for each of said tuned radio frequency signals and produce said display signal.

12. A television system, comprising:

selection means for selecting a television signal from a plurality of television signals;

signal processing means for operating in a first mode of operation for producing a video signal representing a full-size picture corresponding to a selected one of said plurality of television signals, and for operating in a second mode of operation for producing a multiple-image video signal representative of a plurality of inset-images, each of said inset-images corresponding to a selected one of said plurality of television signals, said signal processing means switching between said first and second modes of operation in response to a first control signal;

video signal storing means for storing samples representative of a selected television signal for each of said plurality of television signals;

detection means for providing a second control signal indicative of the detection of an absence of program information when said signal processing means is operating in said first mode of operation; and

control means coupled to said detection means for receiving said second control signal, said control means being coupled to said video signal storing means, said selection means, and said signal processing means;

said control means in response to said second control signal causes said selection means to select each of said plurality of television signals, sequentially, causes said video signal storing means to store said samples, and generates said first control signal causing said signal processing means to switch to said second mode of operation for producing said multiple-image picture signal.