Linkable scan lists for a television receiver

• US 5,182,646 A
• Filed: 09/24/1990
• Issued: 01/26/1993
• 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:
  US07/589,830
• Time in Patent Office: 855 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: 348/732
• 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 has a respective scan list, a controller links the lists to form a single scan list with a single wrap-around point, and separates the linked list into separately accessible scan lists in response to a user-entered command. As the user scans through the channels and changes from one linked scan list to another, the appropriate RF input connector is automatically selected.

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 a selected one of said groups of RF signals, said RF input switch having a control input for receiving a first control signal for selecting said selected one of said groups 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;

control means for generating said first and second control signals for causing said RF switch means to select an appropriate one of said groups of said RF signals and for causing 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;

wherein in response to ones of said data entered by said user corresponding to one of a CHANNEL UP and a CHANNEL DOWN command, 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; and

said control means selecting said linked and unlinked modes in response to data entered by said user corresponding to a command code for causing said control means to change operating modes between said linked mode and said unlinked mode.

2. 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 a selected one of said groups of RF signals, said RF input switch having a control input for receiving a first control signal for selecting said selected one of said groups 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;

control means for generating said first and second control signals for causing said RF switch means to select an appropriate one of said groups of said RF signals and for causing 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, 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

wherein response to ones of said data entered by said user corresponding to one of a CHANNEL UP and a CHANNEL DOWN command, said control means sequentially retrieves said tuning data from said memory means in one of a linked mode in which said control means automatically and sequentially 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 a 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;

said control means selecting said linked and unlinked modes in response to data entered by said user corresponding to a command code for causing said control means to change operating modes between said linked mode and said unlinked mode.