Apparatus and method using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming
First Claim
1. A system for programming and automatically recording video signals, by a video recorder, under control of sets of channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands, the system comprising:
- an input for receiving compressed coded indications, each compressed coded indication comprising one or more alphanumeric characters and each compressed coded indication incorporating the data represented in a set of individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands, wherein said compressed coded indications have a length that is less than the length of the concatenation of said individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands represented by such compressed coded indications; and
a decoder for decoding and expanding said compressed coded indications into sets of individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands for control of the video recorder.
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Accused Products
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 either the video cassette recorder or a remote controller to convert the compressed code into channel, date, time and length information. The channel, date, time and length information is communicated to a VCR and used to automatically activate the VCR to record a given television program with the corresponding channel, date, time and length. Alternately, the channel, date, time and length information is decoded directly in a remote controller and only start record, stop record and channel selection commands are sent to the VCR at the appropriate times. The compressed code indications associated with each television program can be printed in a television program calendar in advance and used with a VCR or remote controller with the decoding means. The compressed codes for timer preprogramming can be utilized for just one program or repeatedly for daily or weekly use. Algorithms for decoding the compressed codes can be a function of time to ensure security of the decoding method. A method is included for use of the compressed codes with cable channels and a method and apparatus is described for timer preprogramming for a large number of programs.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A system for programming and automatically recording video signals, by a video recorder, under control of sets of channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands, the system comprising:
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an input for receiving compressed coded indications, each compressed coded indication comprising one or more alphanumeric characters and each compressed coded indication incorporating the data represented in a set of individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands, wherein said compressed coded indications have a length that is less than the length of the concatenation of said individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands represented by such compressed coded indications; and a decoder for decoding and expanding said compressed coded indications into sets of individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands for control of the video recorder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of programming and automatically recording video signals, by a video recorder, under control of sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving compressed coded indications, each compressed coded indication comprising one or more alphanumeric characters and each compressed coded indication incorporating the data represented in a set of individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands, wherein said compressed coded indications have a length that is less than the length of the concatenation of said individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands represented by such compressed coded indications; and decoding and expanding said compressed coded indications into sets of individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands for control of the video recorder. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A system for programming and automatically recording video signals, by a video recorder, under control of sets of channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands, the system comprising:
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an input for receiving compressed coded indications, each incorporating the data represented in a set of individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands, wherein said compressed coded indications have a length that is less then the length of the concatenation of said individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands represented by such compressed coded indications, said input comprising a keyboard; and a decoder for decoding and expanding said compressed coded indications into sets of individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands for control of the video recorder.
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50. A method of programming and automatically recording video signals, by a video recorder, under control of sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving compressed coded indications through a keyboard, each compressed coded indication incorporating the data represented in a set of individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands, wherein said compressed coded indications have a length that is less than the length of the concatenation of said individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands represented by such compressed coded indications; and decoding and expanding said compressed coded indications into sets of individual channel, day, time-of-day and program length commands for control of the video recorder.
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Specification