Apparatus and method using compressed codes for television program record scheduling

• US 5,307,173 A
• Filed: 02/03/1992
• Issued: 04/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Kwoh, Daniel S., Yuen, Henry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): McElheny, Jr., Donald E.
• Application Number:
  US07/829,412
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 358/335, 358/191.1, 358/192.1, 358/193.1, 358/194.1, 360/33.1, 455/170.1, 455/171.1, 455/181.1, 455/185.1, 455/186.1, 455/151.2, 455/151.4, 455/154.1, 359/146
• US Class Current: 386/234
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/025 Stands or organisers to facilitate location or operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Encoded video recorder/player timer preprogramming information listed in a television calendar allows a timer preprogramming feature on a video cassette recorder VCR to be programmed using a compressed code of as few as 1 to 8 digits, which are decoded by a decoder built into a television to convert the compressed code into channel, date, time and length information. The compressed code indications associated with each television program can be printed in a television program calendar in advance. The user would use the television remote or controls on the television to enter the code that signifies the program to be recorded. When the codes are entered they are transmitted to the television and the decoded in the television and then the codes themselves and the CDTL information, which is the result of decoding the codes, could be displayed "on screen" so that the user can verify that the proper codes have been entered. Then at the appropriate time the television would transmit the proper commands to a VCR and a cable box, if present, to command the recording of the selected program. This control function can be carried out by using an infrared link by placing infrared transmitters on the television cabinet, preferably at the corners. The television circuitry would include the capability of storing or learning the infrared code protocols for the VCR and the cable box. The decoder can be embedded into various other equipments associated with television, such as a video cassette recorder, cable box or satellite receiver. In any system the decoder would only have to be present in one of the equipments, such as the cable box, which would then at the appropriate time distribute the proper commands to the other equipments such as a VCR and a satellite receiver to record the desired program. The infrared transmitter can be placed in a infrared dome on the equipment, mounted behind the front panel, or attached to a mouse coupled via a cable to the equipment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming that comprises:

a television receiver;

means for entering into said television receiver compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a programs;

said television receiver comprising;

means for decoding each compressed code into the combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,

means for storing said combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,

a clock with an output as a function of time,

means for reordering said combinations of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said means for storing into temporal order, and

means for comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time combination in said means for storing to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

means for recording;

means for transmitting record on commands to said means for recording after the predetermined relation is found to exist according to the date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in time combination, wherein said means for transmitting is compounded to said television receiver;

means for channel selection;

wherein said means for transmitting transmit channel select commands to said means for channel selection after the predetermined relation is found to exist according to the channel command of said temporally earliest in time combination wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said television receiver; and

wherein said means for transmitting transmit record off commands to said means for recording following an elapsed time interval corresponding to the length command of said temporally earliest in time combination.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for entering comprises a television remote controller.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for entering comprises controls coupled to said television receiver.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for channel selection comprises a cable box.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for channel selection comprises a satellite receiver.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for recording comprises a video cassette recorder.

7. The apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming of claim 1 which further comprises means for substituting a local channel number for a channel number in at least one said channel command.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for selecting a periodicity for repeating the operation of said means for.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means for warning a user that said clock output will compare within a preset time to said date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in times combination.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for transmitting comprises at least one infrared transmitter.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for transmitting further comprises a plurality of infrared transmitters positioned on said television receiver to transmit simultaneously in a plurality of directions.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in a dome mounted on said television receiver.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said mouse and wherein said mouse is attached via a cable to said television receiver and wherein said mouse is placed near said means for recording.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said mouse and wherein said mouse is attached via a cable to said television receiver and wherein said mouse is placed near said means for channel selection.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a miniature mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said miniature mouse and wherein said miniature mouse is attached via a cable to said television receiver and wherein said miniature mouse is placed near said means for recording.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a miniature mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said miniature mouse and wherein said miniature mouse is attached via a cable to said television receiver and wherein said miniature mouse is placed near said means for channel selection.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 that further comprises:

means for advancing time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by a predetermined time interval; and

means for retarding time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by a predetermined time interval.

18. The apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming of claim 1 that further comprises:

means for storing a plurality of protocol sets of record the channel select transmit signals coupled to said means for transmitting;

means for selecting one of said protocol sets of record transmit signals; and

means for selecting one of said protocol sets of channel select transmit signals.

19. An apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming that comprises:

a video cassette recorder;

means for entering into said video cassette recorder compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;

said video cassette recorder comprising;

means for decoding each compressed code into the combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,

means for storing said combinations of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,

a clock with an output as a function of time,

means for recording said combinations of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said means for storing into temporal order, and

means for comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time combination in said means for storing to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

wherein said video cassette recorder begins recording after the predetermined relationship is found to exist according to the date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in time combination;

means for channel selection;

means for transmitting channel select commands to said means for channel selection after the predetermined relation is found to exist according to the channel command of said temporally earliest in time combination wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said video cassette recorder; and

wherein said video cassette recorder stops recording following an elapsed time interval corresponding to the length command of said temporally earliest in time combination.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for entering comprises a video cassette recorder remote controller.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for entering comprises controls coupled to said video cassette recorder.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for channel selection comprises a cable box.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for channel selection comprises a satellite receiver.

24. The apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming of claim 19 which further comprises means for substituting a local channel number for a channel number in at least one said channel command.

25. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising means for selecting a periodicity for repeating the operation of said means for.

26. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a means for warning a user that said clock output will compare within a preset time to said date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in time combination.

27. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for transmitting comprises at least one infrared transmitter.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said means for transmitting further comprises a plurality of infrared transmitters positioned on said television receiver to transmit simultaneously in a plurality of directions.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in a dome mounted on said video cassette recorder.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising a mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said mouse and wherein said mouse is attached via a cable to said video cassette recorder and wherein said mouse is placed near said means for channel selection.

31. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising a miniature mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said miniature mouse and wherein said miniature mouse is attached via a cable to said video cassette recorder and wherein said miniature mouse is placed near said means for channel selection.

32. The apparatus of claim 19 that further comprises:

means for advancing time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by a predetermined time interval; and

means for retarding time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by a predetermined time interval.

33. The apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming of claim 19 that further comprises:

means for storing a plurality of protocol sets of record and channel select transmit signals coupled to said means for transmitting; and

means for selecting one of said protocol sets of channel select transmit signals.

34. An apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming that comprises:

a cable box;

means for entering into said cable box compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;

said cable box comprising;

means for decoding each compressed code into the combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,

means for storing said combinations of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,

a clock with an output as a function of time,

means for reordering said combinations of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said means for storing into temporal order, and

means for comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time combination in said means for storing to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

means for recording;

means for transmitting record on commands to said means for recording after the predetermined relation is found to exist according to the date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in time combinations wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said cable box;

means for channel selection;

wherein said means for transmitting transmit channel select commands to said means for channel selection after the predetermined relation is found to exist wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said cable box; and

wherein said means for transmitting transmit record off commands to said means for recording following an elapsed time interval corresponding to the length command of said temporally earliest in time combination.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said means for entering comprises a cable box remote controller.

36. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said means for entering comprises controls coupled to said cable box.

37. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said means for channel selection comprises a satellite receiver.

38. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said means for channel selection comprises a cable box.

39. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said means for recording comprises a video cassette recorder.

40. The apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming of claim 34 which further comprises means for substituting a local channel number for a channel number in at least one said channel command.

41. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising means for selecting a periodicity for repeating the operation of said means for.

42. The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising a means for warning a user that said clock output will compare within a preset time to said date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in time combination.

43. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said means for transmitting comprises at least one infrared transmitter.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said means for transmitting further comprises a plurality of infrared transmitters positioned on said television receiver to transmit simultaneously in a plurality of directions.

45. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in a dome mounted on said cable box.

46. The apparatus of claim 43 further comprising a mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said mouse and wherein said mouse is attached via a cable to said cable box and wherein said mouse is placed near said means for recording.

47. The apparatus of claim 43 further comprising a mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said mouse and wherein said mouse is attached via a cable to said cable box and wherein saidmouse is placed near said means for channel selection.

48. The apparatus of claim 43 further comprising a miniature mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said miniature mouse and wherein said miniature mouse is attached via a cable to said cable box and wherein said miniature mouse is placed near said means for recording.

49. The apparatus of claim 43 further comprising a miniature mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said miniature mouse and wherein said miniature mouse is attached via a cable to said cable box and wherein said miniature mouse is placed near said means for channel selection.

50. The apparatus of claim 34 that further comprises:

means for advancing time-of-day command decoded from a compressed code by a predetermined time interval; and

means for retarding time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by a predetermined time interval.

51. The apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming of claim 34 that further comprises:

means for storing a plurality of protocol sets of record and channel select transmit signals coupled to said means for transmitting;

means for selecting one of said protocol sets of record transmit signals; and

means for selecting one of said protocol sets of channel select transmit signals.

52. An apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming that comprises:

a satellite receiver;

means for entering into said satellite receiver compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;

said satellite receiver comprising;

means for decoding each compressed code into the combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,

means for storing said combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,

a clock with an output as a function of time,

means for reordering said combinations of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said means for storing into temporal order, and

means for comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time combination in said means for storing to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

means for recording;

means for transmitting record on commands to said means for recording after the predetermined relation is found to exist according to the date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in time combination, wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said satellite receiver;

means for channel selection;

wherein said means for transmitting transmit channel select commands to said means for channel selection after the predetermined relation is found to exist wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said satellite receiver; and

wherein said means for transmitting transmit record off commands to said means for recording following an elapsed time interval corresponding to the length command of said temporally earliest in time combination.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said means for entering comprises a satellite receiver remote controller.

54. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said means for entering comprises controls coupled to said satellite receiver.

55. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said means for channel selection comprises a cable box.

56. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said means for channel selection comprises a satellite receiver.

57. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said means for recording comprises a video cassette recorder.

58. The apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming of claim 52 which further comprises means for substituting a local channel number for a channel number in at least one said channel command.

59. The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising means for selecting a periodicity for repeating the operation of said means for.

60. The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising a means for warning a user that said clock output will compare within a preset time to said date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in time combination.

61. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said means for transmitting comprises at least one infrared transmitter.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein said means for transmitting further comprises a plurality of infrared transmitters positioned on said television receiver to transmit simultaneously in a plurality of directions.

63. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in a dome mounted on said satellite receiver.

64. The apparatus of claim 61 further comprising a mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said mouse and wherein said mouse is attached via a cable to said satellite receiver and wherein said mouse is placed near said means for recording.

65. The apparatus of claim 61 further comprising a mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said mouse and wherein said mouse is attached via a cable to said satellite receiver and wherein said mouse is placed near said means for channel selection.

66. The apparatus of claim 61 further comprising a miniature mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said miniature mouse and wherein said miniature mouse is attached via a cable to said satellite receiver and wherein said miniature mouse is placed near said means for recording.

67. The apparatus of claim 61 further comprising a miniature mouse wherein said infrared transmitter is enclosed in said miniature mouse and wherein said miniature mouse is attached via a cable to said satellite receiver and wherein said miniature mouse is placed near said means for channel selection.

68. The apparatus of claim 52 that further comprises:

means for advancing time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by a predetermined time interval; and

means for retarding time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by a predetermined time interval.

69. The apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming of claim 52 that further comprises:

means for storing a plurality of protocol sets of record and channel select transmit signals coupled to said means for transmitting;

means for selecting one of said protocol sets of record transmit signals; and

means for selecting one of said protocol sets of channel select transmit signals.

70. A method of permitting programs to be preprogrammed for recording by a recorder for time shifted viewing comprising:

providing a television receiver having a means for transmitting signals and a clock with an output as a function of time;

entering into said television receiver compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;

decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day, date and length commands;

providing a memory;

storing each said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands into said memory;

recording said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said memory into temporal order;

comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time entry in said memory to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

transmitting channel and record on commands from said television receiver after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;

selecting the channel;

recording the program;

measuring length of time from transmitting record on command; and

transmitting record off commands from said television receiver when the measured length of time compares with said length command.

74. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 wherein the step of selecting and recording are performed by a video cassette recorder.

75. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 wherein the step of selecting is performed by a cable box.

76. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 wherein the step of selecting is performed by a satellite receiver.

77. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 which further comprises the step of advancing said time-of-day command by a predetermined number of hours.

78. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 which further comprises the step of retarding said time-of-day command by a predetermined number of hours.

79. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 wherein the step of transmitting is performed by an infrared transmitter.

80. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 wherein the step of transmitting is performed by an infrared transmitter attached to a cable.

81. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 which further comprises the step of:

selecting a periodicity for repeating the step of recording on a channel corresponding to said channel command at a time-of-day corresponding to said time-of-day command and for a length corresponding to said length command.

82. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 wherein the step of entering is performed by a television remote.

83. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 which further comprises the step of:

warning a user that said clock output will compare within a preset time to said date and time-of-day commands.

84. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 which further comprises the step of:

substituting a local channel number for a channel number in said channel command.

85. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 which further comprises the steps of:

storing a plurality of protocol sets of transmit signals; and

selecting a protocol set of transmit signals for a particular means for recording.

86. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 wherein the step of decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day, date and length commands comprises the step of:

converting said compressed code into a binary number;

recording the bits in said binary number to obtain a reordered binary compressed code;

grouping said reordered binary compressed code into channel, date, time and length priority numbers; and

deriving said channel, day, time-of-day and length commands from said channel, date, time and length priority numbers.

87. The method of claim 86 wherein the steps of reordering comprises the step of performing said reordering as a function of the output of a clock.

88. The method of claim 86 wherein the step of deriving comprises the step of performing said deriving as a function of the output of a clock.

89. The method of claim 70, 71, 72 or 73 wherein the step of decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day, date and length commands comprises the steps of:

converting said compressed code into a mixed radix number;

reordering the bits in said mixed radix number to obtain a reordered mixed radix compressed code;

grouping said reordered mixed radix compressed code into channel, date, time and length priority numbers; and

deriving said channel, day, time-of-day and length commands from said channel, date, time and length priority numbers.

71. A method of permitting programs to be preprogrammed for recording by a recorder for time shifted viewing comprising:

providing a video cassette recorder having a means for transmitting signals and a clock with an output as a function of time;

entering into said video cassette recorder compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;

decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day, date and length commands;

providing a memory;

storing each said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said memory into said memory;

reordering said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said memory into temporal order;

comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time entry in said memory to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

transmitting channel commands from said video cassette recorder after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;

selecting the channel;

recording the program when predetermined relation is found to exist;

measuring length of time from start of recording; and

stopping recording when the measured length of time compares with said length command.

72. A method of permitting programs to be preprogrammed for recording by a recorder for time shifted viewing comprising:

providing a cable box having a means for transmitting signals and a clock with an output as a function of time;

entering into said cable box compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;

decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day, date and length commands;

providing a memory;

storing each said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands into said memory;

reordering said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said memory into temporal order;

comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time entry in said memory to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

transmitting channel and record on commands from said cable box after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;

selecting the channel;

recording the program;

measuring length of time from transmitting record on command; and

transmitting record off commands from said cable box when the measured length of time compares with said length command.

73. A method of permitting program to be preprogrammed for recording by a recorder for time shifted viewing comprising:

providing a satellite receiver having a means for transmitting signals and a clock with an output as a function of time;

entering into said satellite receiver compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;

decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day, date and length commands;

providing a memory;

storing each said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands into said memory;

reordering said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said memory into temporal order;

comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time entry in said memory to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

transmitting channel and record on commands from said satellite receiver after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;

selecting the channel;

recording the program;

measuring length of time from transmitting record on command; and

transmitting record off commands from said satellite receiver when the measured length of time compares with said length command.

90. An apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming that comprises:

a television receiver;

means for entering into said television receiver compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;

said television receiver comprising;

means for decoding each compressed code into the combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,

means for storing said combinations of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands,

a clock with an output as a function of time,

means for reordering said combinations of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said means for storing into temporal order, and

means for comparing said ate and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time program entry in said means for storing to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

means for transmitting channel select and record on commands to a recorder after the predetermined relationship is found to exist according to the channel, date and time-of-day command of said temporally earliest in time combination, wherein said means for transmitting is coupled to said television receiver; and

wherein said means for transmitting transmits record off commands following an elapsed time interval corresponding to the length command of said temporally earliest in time combination.

91. The apparatus of claim 90 wherein said means for entering comprises a television remote control.

92. The apparatus of claim 90 wherein said means for entering comprises controls coupled to said television receiver.

93. The apparatus of claim 90 which further comprises:

a channel selector responsive to said transmitted channel select commands; and

a means for recording the program responsive to said transmitted record on and record off commands.

94. The apparatus of claim 93 wherein said channel selector comprises a cable box.

95. The apparatus of claim 93 wherein said means for recording comprises a video cassette recorder.

96. The apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming of claim 90 which further comprises means for substituting a local channel number for a channel number in at least one of said channel commands.

97. The apparatus of claim 90 further comprising means for selecting a periodicity for repeating the operation of said means for transmitting.

98. The apparatus of claim 90 further comprising a means for warning a user that said clock output will compare within a preset time to said date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in time combination.

99. The apparatus of claim 90 wherein said means for transmitting further comprises means for transmitting simultaneously in a plurality of directions.

100. The apparatus of claim 90 or 99 wherein said means for transmitting comprises at least one infrared transmitter.

101. The apparatus of claim 90 that further comprises:

means for advancing time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by a predetermined time interval; and

means for retarding time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by a predetermined time interval.

102. The apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming of claim 90 that further comprises:

means for storing a plurality of protocol sets of transmit signals coupled to said means for transmitting; and

means for selecting one of said protocol sets of transmit signals.

103. A method of permitting programs to be preprogrammed for recording by a recorder for time shifted viewing comprising:

providing a television receiver having a decoder, a memory, means for transmitting signals to the recorder and a clock with an output as a function of time;

entering into said television receiver compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands for a program;

decoding each compressed code into the combination of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands with said decoder;

storing each said combination of said channel, time-of-day, date and length commands into said memory;

reordering said combinations of channel, time-of-day, date and length commands in said memory into temporal order;

comparing the date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time combination in said memory to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

transmitting channel select and record on commands from said television receiver to the recorder after the predetermined relation is found to exist according to the channel, date and time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time combination; and

transmitting record off commands from said television receiver to the recorder following an elapsed time interval corresponding to the length command of said temporally earliest in time combination.

104. The method of claim 103 further comprising the steps of selecting a channel and recording a program corresponding to said temporally earliest in time combination and wherein the steps of selecting and recording are performed by a video cassette recorder.

105. The method of claim 103 further comprising the steps of selecting a channel corresponding to said temporally earliest in time combination and wherein the steps of selecting is performed by a cable box.

106. The method of claim 103 which further comprises the step of advancing said time-of-day commands by a predetermined time interval.

107. The method of claim 103 which further comprises the step of retarding time-of-day commands by a predetermined time interval.

108. The method of claim 103 wherein the steps of transmitting further comprise the step of transmitting simultaneously in a plurality of directions.

109. The method of claim 103 which further comprises the step of selecting a periodicity for repeating the steps of transmitting.

110. The method of claim 103 wherein the step of entering is performed by a television remote.

111. The method of claim 103 wherein the step of entering is performed by controls coupled to said television receiver.

112. The method of claim 103 which further comprises the step of warning a user that said clock output will compare within a preset time to said date and time-of-day commands of said temporally earliest in time combination.

113. The method of claim 103 which further comprises the step of substituting a local channel number for a channel number in at least one of said channel commands. PG,85

114. The method of claim 103 which further comprises the step of:

storing a plurality of protocol sets of transmit signals; and

selecting one of said protocol sets of transmit signals.

115. The method of claim 103 wherein the step of decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day, date and length commands comprises the steps of:

converting each said compressed code into a binary number;

reordering the bits in said binary number to obtain a reordered binary compressed code;

grouping said reordered binary compressed code into channel, date, time and length priority numbers; and

deriving said combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands from said channel, date, time and length priority numbers.

116. The method of claim 115 wherein the step of reordering comprises the step of performing said reordering as a function of the output of a clock.

117. The method of claim 115 wherein the step of deriving comprises the step of performing said deriving as a function of the output of a clock.

118. The method of claim 103 wherein the step of decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day, date and length commands comprises the steps of:

converting each said compressed code into a mixed radix number comprising bits;

reordering the bits in said mixed radix number to obtain a reordered mixed radix compressed code;

grouping said reordered mixed radix compressed code into channel, date, time and length priority numbers; and

deriving said combination of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands from said channel, date, time and length priority numbers.