Channel selecting method for programs of the same category

• US 5,296,931 A
• Filed: 03/11/1992
• Issued: 03/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Na, Un-heui
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/849,465
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 358/191.1, 358/192.1, 358/193.1, 358/194.1, 358/195.1, 358/188, 358/160, 358/21, 358/142, 358/147, 358/86, 455/186.1, 455/151.1, 455/154, 455/158, 455/186
• US Class Current: 725/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals

Abstract

A channel selecting method for programs of the same category is disclosed, wherein arbitrary channels are assigned according to the same types of programs as those contained in signals the broadcast sent from the broadcasting station using a VPS function. This method determines whether the received broadcast signal uses video program system broadcasting, encoding and recognizes codes according to the programs to arbitrarily assign channels for the programs according to the codes. Then, if a desired channel to be viewed is selected, the same types of programs corresponding to that channel can be automatically recognized, so that the broadcasting channel selection for viewing the same type of programs can be easily performed.

Claims

1. A channel selecting method for programs of a same category in a broadcasting signal receiving device having a VPS decoder for decoding a video program system (VPS) code included in a video signal detected from a broadcasting signal received through an antenna and showing at least a program starting time, a system controller for recognizing information decoded in said VPS decoder, and display means for displaying said video signal under control of said system controller, said method comprising the steps of:

classifying decoded information into similar-typed programs when information decoded in said VPS decoder is supplied to said system controller;

making broadcast channels of the similar-typed programs, classified in said classifying step, correspond to predetermined channels arbitrarily set in said system controller;

selecting a first broadcast channel corresponding to a desired program category from said predetermined channels;

displaying information about the broadcast channels, corresponding to the channel selected in said first channel selection step, through said display means; and

selecting a second broadcast channel by determining which broadcast channel is desired to be viewed in said displaying step.

2. A channel selecting method for programs of the same category as claimed in claim 1, said displaying step displaying said information about the broadcast channels as an on-screen-display information type.

3. A channel selecting method for programs of the same category as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of recognizing a normal broadcasting mode in said system controller and allowing direct user control of a broadcast channel when said VPS code is not included in said video signal.

4. A channel selecting method for programs of the same category as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the step of:

selecting said broadcast channel from among the predetermined channels selected in said first broadcast channel selecting step while said selected second broadcast channel is viewed, said broadcast channel that is selected from among the predetermined channels being different from said selected first broadcast channel.

6. A channel selecting method for programs of the same category as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the step of recognizing a normal broadcasting mode in said system controller and allowing the direct control of said broadcast channel by the user, when said VPS code is not included in said video signal.

7. A channel selecting method for programs of the same category as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the step of:

selecting said broadcast channel from among the predetermined channels selected in said first broadcast channel selecting step while said selected second broadcast channel is viewed, said broadcast channel that is selected among the predetermined channels being different from said selected first broadcast channel.

8. A channel selecting method for programs of the same category as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of recognizing a normal broadcasting mode in said system controller and allowing direct user control of said broadcast channel when said VPS code is not included in said video signal.

9. A channel selecting method for programs of the same category as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selecting said broadcast channel from among the predetermined channels selected in said first channel selecting step while said selected second broadcast channel is viewed, said broadcast channel that is selected from the predetermined channels being different from said selected first broadcast channel.

5. A channel selecting method for programs of a same category in a broadcasting signal receiving device having, at least one tuner for receiving a broadcasting signal through an antenna, a VPS decoder for decoding a video program system (VPS) code included in a video signal detected through said tuner and showing at least a program starting time, a system controller for recognizing the information decoded in said VPS decoder, and display means for displaying said video signal under the control of said system controller, said method comprising the steps of:

classifying the decoded information into similar-typed programs when the information decoded in said VPS decoder is supplied to said system controller;

making broadcast channels of the programs, classified in said classifying step, correspond to predetermined channels arbitrarily set in said system controller;

selecting a first channel corresponding to the desired program category from said predetermined channels;

displaying video information about said broadcast channels on said display means by controlling a channel selecting operation of said tuner by said system controller; and

selecting a second broadcast channel by determining which broadcast channel is desired to be viewed in said displaying step.