CATV system with an easy program reservation
First Claim
1. A cable television (CATV) terminal apparatus for receiving a television signal transmitted from a CATV center facility and providing the received television signal to a television receiver (TV receiver), comprising:
- means for displaying, on the TV receiver upon receiving a first instruction from a user, information indicating programs being broadcast and scheduled to be broadcast over a set of linked channels based on program data transmitted from the center facility wherein the linked channels are channels logically coupled to each other, the program data for each of said linked channels including titles, start times, lengths of the respective programs and linking information which identifies another one of said linked channels;
means for receiving a second instruction indicating one of the programs that has been selected by the user;
means for storing data indicating the start time, length and channel of the selected program; and
means for automatically displaying, on the TV receiver based on the stored data, the selected program during a period defined by the start time and the length.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Based on in-band data transmitted from a center facility that include titles, start times, lengths and channel numbers of respective programs of linked channels, the titles and start times are displayed together with selection numbers on a TV receiver upon depression of a schedule switch by a user. While watching a displayed picture, the user selects one of the selection numbers. Data indicating the start time, length and channel of the selected program is stored in a timer reservation area of a memory. The selected program is automatically displayed based on the stored data.
371 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A cable television (CATV) terminal apparatus for receiving a television signal transmitted from a CATV center facility and providing the received television signal to a television receiver (TV receiver), comprising:
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means for displaying, on the TV receiver upon receiving a first instruction from a user, information indicating programs being broadcast and scheduled to be broadcast over a set of linked channels based on program data transmitted from the center facility wherein the linked channels are channels logically coupled to each other, the program data for each of said linked channels including titles, start times, lengths of the respective programs and linking information which identifies another one of said linked channels; means for receiving a second instruction indicating one of the programs that has been selected by the user; means for storing data indicating the start time, length and channel of the selected program; and means for automatically displaying, on the TV receiver based on the stored data, the selected program during a period defined by the start time and the length. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A cable television (CATV) system comprising:
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a center facility for transmitting over a set of linked channels, in addition to television signals, program data including titles, start times, lengths and linking information of respective programs being broadcast and scheduled to be broadcast, said linking information identifying a set of linked channels wherein linked channels are channels logically coupled to each other, and forming a ring-type link between said linked channels; and a plurality of terminal apparatuses, each comprising; means for displaying, on an associated television receiver (TV receiver) upon receiving a first instruction from a user, information indicating the programs based on the program data transmitted from the center facility; means for receiving a second instruction indicating one of the programs that has been selected by the user; means for storing data indicating the start time, length and channel of the selected program; and means for automatically displaying, on the associated TV receiver based on the stored data, the selected program during a period defined by the start time and the length. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for reserving a broadcast program and displaying the reserved program in a cable television (CATV) system, comprising the steps of:
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displaying, on a television receiver (TV receiver) connected to a terminal apparatus, a menu of programs being broadcast and scheduled to be broadcast over a set of linked channels based on program data transmitted from a center facility wherein linked channels are channels logically coupled to each other, the program data including titles, start times, lengths of the respective programs and linking information identifying another one of said linked channels, said menu including programs only from channels linked to one another by said linking information; receiving, from a user, an instruction indicating one of the programs that has been selected by the user; storing data indicating the start time, length and channel of the selected programs; comparing a present time with the start time of the selected program; first tuning the terminal apparatus to a channel indicated by said stored data and displaying the selected program on the TV receiver, when the present time has reached the start time; comparing the present time with an end time of the selected program that is the start time plus the length; and prohibiting the display of subsequent programs broadcast on a selected channel which broadcasts chargeable programs, when the present time has reached the end time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification