Schedule display system for video recorder programming

• US 5,508,815 A
• Filed: 09/13/1995
• Issued: 04/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Smart VCR Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Levine, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Khoi
• Application Number:
  US08/527,417
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 358/335, 358/310, 360/33.1, 348/589, 348/906
• US Class Current: 386/299
• 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

A system for programming the automatic operation of a video recorder over an extended time period uses an associated television receiver as a display device for alphanumeric messages to the operator to provide a self-explanatory, interactive programming routine. The video recorder system includes a digital memory, a real time digital clock, and an alphanumeric character generator, all connected to a central digital controller. A keypad allows the operator to initiate a programming routine in which previously stored programming messages are called up from memory and generated on the TV receiver'"'"'s display tube using the character generator. The operator'"'"'s responses entered via the keypad are stored in the memory and are called up at future times to generate control signals for the video recorder. The video recorder system further includes a memory storing digital data representing a schedule of programming available for a future period. The video system permits this schedule to be recalled and displayed on the TV receiver for review by the user.

Claims

1. A television program selection system connected to a television receiver and a remote source of television programming coupled to the receiver, the system comprising:

a first addressable memory disposed in proximity and directly coupled to the television receiver and digitally storing a database of information relating to the television programming available to the receiver from the source, said information including program titles;

a second addressable memory disposed in proximity and directly coupled to the television receiver and digitally storing a plurality of operator prompts;

a video display generator connected to the television receiver;

an operator input device for outputting commands in response to operator inputs; and

a controller connected to the first memory, the second memory, the operator input device and the video display generator, the controller being operative to receive commands from the operator input device and being operative in response to said commands to;

(a) select prompts from the second memory for display on the television receiver via the video display generator;

(b) display, on the television receiver, at any time, an operator selected portion of the information relating to television programming available to the receiver from the database stored in the first memory; and

(c) enable entry into the system of commands from the operator input device relating to selections of television programming.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a source of broadcast signals including schedule information, wherein the system is operative to store said schedule information.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller operates in an interactive process whereby the selection of a particular prompt to be displayed is a function of previous operator inputs.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said database of information comprises information relating to television programming available to the receiver for a future period.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a tuner for selecting from among the television programming available to the receiver, wherein the controller operates the tuner so as to cause the receiver to display a selected program.

6. A television program selection system connected to a television receiver and a remote source of television programming coupled to the receiver, the system comprising:

a first addressable memory disposed in proximity and directly coupled to the television receiver and digitally storing a database of information relating to the television programming available to the receiver from the source, said information including program titles;

a second addressable memory disposed in proximity and directly coupled to the television receiver and digitally storing a plurality of operator prompts;

a video display generator connected to the television receiver;

an operator input device for outputting commands in response to operator inputs; and

a controller connected to the first memory, the second memory, the operator input device, and the video display generator, the controller being operative to receive commands from the operator input device and being operative in response to said commands to;

(a) select prompts from the second memory for display on the television receiver via the video display generator;

(b) display information contained in the database stored in the first memory;

(c) enable entry into the system of the operator'"'"'s selections; and

(d) select information from said database relating to a program currently being viewed on the television receiver and display that selected information superimposed on the television program.

7. A television program selection system connected to a television receiver and a remote source of television programming coupled to the receiver, the system comprising:

a first addressable memory disposed in proximity and directly coupled to the television receiver and digitally storing a database of information relating to the television programming available to the receiver from the source, said information including program titles;

a second addressable memory digitally storing a plurality of operator prompts, at least certain ones of said prompts presenting multiple choices to the operator;

a video display generator connected to the television receiver;

an operator input device for outputting commands in response to operator inputs, said operator input device including a pad having a plurality of operator actuable keys; and

a controller connected to the first memory, the second memory, the operator input device, and the video display generator, the controller being operative to receive commands from the operator input device including commands responsive to said prompts presenting multiple choices, and being operative in response to said commands to;

(a) select prompts from the second memory for display on the television receiver via the video display generator;

(b) display at any time, an operator selected portion of the information contained in the database stored in the first memory; and

(c) enable entry into the system of me operator'"'"'s selections, including the choice represented by the commands generated in response to the prompts presenting multiple choices to the operator.

8. A television program selection system connected to a television receiver having a tuner and a remote source of television programming coupled to the receiver, the system comprising:

a first addressable memory disposed in proximity and directly coupled to the television receiver and digitally storing a database of information relating to the television programming available to the receiver from the source, said information including program titles;

a second addressable memory disposed in proximity and directly coupled to the television receiver and digitally storing a plurality of operator prompts for setting the tuner at a future time;

a video display generator connected to the television receiver;

an operator input device for outputting commands in response to operator inputs; and

a controller connected to the first memory, the second memory, the operator input device and the video display generator, the controller being operative to receive commands from the operator input device and being operative in response to said commands to;

a) display at any time, an operator selected portion of the information from the first memory on the television receiver;

b) display operator prompts from the second memory on the television receiver;

c) accept responses to the displayed prompts from the operator input device; and

d) set the tuner in accordance with the responses.