Automatic tuning radio/TV using filtered seek
First Claim
1. An apparatus for automatic tuning control in a receiver which receives broadcast signals, said tuning control being by a filtered seek operation, wherein said apparatus includes:
- receiving means for receiving incoming broadcast signals and providing an output to a tuner, each of said signals having associated therewith coded data characterizing the subject matter content of the associated broadcast signals,a tuner for selecting a frequency or frequency range from the output of said receiving means and for providing an output to a reading means.reading means for reading said coded data accompanying a broadcast signal in said frequency or frequency range from said tuner, and for providing an output to a comparison means,a user input device enabling a user to interact with said apparatus to make a selection of a subject matter topic,comparison means for comparing the use'"'"'s selection of a subject matter topic with the coded data from said reading means characterizing the subject matter content of a broadcast signal corresponding to said frequency or frequency range,means for advancing said tuner in a seek mode to a plurality of frequencies, andcontrol means between said means for advancing and said comparison means for deciding whether to advance said tuner based on whether a match is made between said coded data from said reading means and said user'"'"'s selection of a subject matter topic.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and technique for automatic tuning (to an arbitrary broadcast frequency) of an audio-video or audio device in accordance with a topic selection made by a user. Knowledge of specific broadcasted programs and times is not necessary. A user makes a selection of a subject matter topic from a menu or list and the necessary tuning is thereafter automatically done under control of a menu or list control interface. In the example of digital information transmitted in the vertical blanking interval of a video signal, the menu control interface automatically adjusts the tuner in accordance with the menu selection made by the user to choose an arbitrary channel and page of information within that channel. The menu or menus can be transmitted with the incoming information, or can be stored internally. Digital data can also be transmitted with the broadcast signal to characterize the subject matter content of the broadcast signal. In this latter situation, the tuner will seek to any arbitrary frequency having a digital code matching the subject matter topic chosen by the user.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for automatic tuning control in a receiver which receives broadcast signals, said tuning control being by a filtered seek operation, wherein said apparatus includes:
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receiving means for receiving incoming broadcast signals and providing an output to a tuner, each of said signals having associated therewith coded data characterizing the subject matter content of the associated broadcast signals, a tuner for selecting a frequency or frequency range from the output of said receiving means and for providing an output to a reading means. reading means for reading said coded data accompanying a broadcast signal in said frequency or frequency range from said tuner, and for providing an output to a comparison means, a user input device enabling a user to interact with said apparatus to make a selection of a subject matter topic, comparison means for comparing the use'"'"'s selection of a subject matter topic with the coded data from said reading means characterizing the subject matter content of a broadcast signal corresponding to said frequency or frequency range, means for advancing said tuner in a seek mode to a plurality of frequencies, and control means between said means for advancing and said comparison means for deciding whether to advance said tuner based on whether a match is made between said coded data from said reading means and said user'"'"'s selection of a subject matter topic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for automatic control of a tuner in an audio-video apparatus in accordance with a subject matter choice made by a user, including the steps of:
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receiving a plurality of broadcast signals each of which includes audio or video information and coded digital data classifying the audio or video information in accordance with subject matter topics, reading coded digital data corresponding to a broadcast signal of a particular frequency or frequency range and providing an output to be compared to a choice of subject matter topic made by a user, advancing a tuner in said apparatus in seek mode to a plurality of frequencies, comparing said coded digital data in said output from said reading step with a subject matter topic selected by a user to determine if matches are made, and controlling the further advance of said tuner based on whether a match is made. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification