Video tape recorder which allows preset program recording

• US 5,526,127 A
• Filed: 12/06/1994
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yonetani, Naoki, Doumura, Tatsuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Tommy P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUY THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/350,585
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 358/335, 360/33.1, 360/27, 348/906, 348/731, 348/734, 455/185.1, 455/186.1, 455/186.2
• US Class Current: 386/291
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/309 Table of contents
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals

Abstract

The video tape recorder includes key input unit for inputting the "G-code", decoder for decoding the "G-code", teletext signal extracting circuit for extracting the program list including the VPS code multiplexed on the vertical blanking period from the video signal, and teletext control unit and preset control unit, implemented by a microcomputer, for carrying out a predetermined control. The "G-code" input from key input unit 11 is decoded by decoder. Preset control unit causes teletext control unit to extract the VPS code of the program specified by the "G-code" from the program list transmitted by the broadcasting station specified by the "G-code". Recording is controlled based on the extracted VPS code. Therefore, even when the time of broadcasting of the preset program is changed by the broadcasting station, the program can be recorded accordingly.

Claims

1. A video tape recorder for recording a desired program to be broadcast by a broadcasting station, comprising:

means for supplying a program preset code entered by a user, said program preset code being a pre-defined multi-digit code which contains pre-defined encoded program data associated with the desired program and, when decoded, identifies the broadcasting station, and a date and a start time at which the desired program will be broadcast by the station;

means, responsive to said supplying means, for decoding the program preset code to yield said program data;

means for receiving a program list broadcast as teletext data by the station identified by said program data, said list containing a date, a start time and a program identifying code allotted to each one of a plurality of programs to be broadcast within a predetermined time period by the station, wherein said program list is multiplexed onto a signal broadcast by said station, and wherein, while said one program is being broadcast, the corresponding program identifying code for said one program is itself multiplexed, apart from the program list, onto the broadcast signal so as to distinguish said one program from every other program delineated in said list;

means for checking the date and start time in said program data against corresponding date and start time data for individual programs delineated in said program list in order to determine a coincidence between said program data and any one of said programs in said list;

a memory;

means, responsive to said checking means and in the event both the coincidence arises and the program identifying code exists within the program list, for storing, in said memory, at least the program identifying code, from the program list, for said any one program as the program identifying code for the desired program; and

recording means for recording a corresponding broadcast program, as the desired program, if and when the program identifying code multiplexed on the broadcasting signal for the corresponding program coincides with the program identifying code stored within said memory;

wherein the program identifying code, contained in the teletext data, for said one program specified by the program preset code is stored within the memory and controls subsequent recording of the desired program.

2. The video tape recorder according to claim 1, wherein

said program identifying code includes a video program system code.

3. The video tape recorder according to claim 1, wherein

said program identifying code includes a program delivery control code.

4. The video tape recorder according to claim 1, wherein

said program identifying code includes an extended data service code.

5. The video tape recorder according to claim 1 further comprising:

clock means for maintaining at least a current date; and

means, responsive to said clock means, for causing said checking means to check the date and start time in said program data against the corresponding date and start time data for the individual programs in said program list whenever the date maintained in said clock means is changed.

6. The video tape recorder according to claim 1, wherein said program list further includes a title for the corresponding program, further comprising:

means for recording the title prior to recording the corresponding program.

8. A video tape recorder for recording a desired program to be broadcast by a broadcasting station, comprising:

means for supplying a program preset code entered by a user, said program preset code being a pre-defined multi-digit code which contains pre-defined encoded program data associated with the desired program and, when decoded, identifies the broadcasting station, and a date and a start time at which the desired program will be broadcast by the station;

means, responsive to said supplying means, for decoding the program preset code to yield said program data;

a memory;

first means for storing said program data in said memory;

means for receiving a program list broadcast as teletext data by the station identified by said program data, said list containing a date, a start time and a program identifying code allotted to each one of a plurality of programs to be broadcast within a predetermined time period by the station, wherein said program list is multiplexed onto a signal broadcast by said station, and wherein, while said one program is being broadcast, the corresponding program identifying code for said one program is itself multiplexed, apart from the program list, onto the broadcast signal so as to distinguish said one program from every other program delineated in said list;

means for checking the date and start time in said program data, stored within said memory, against corresponding date and start time data for individual programs delineated in said program list in order to determine a coincidence between said program data and any one of said programs in said list;

second means, responsive to said checking means and in the event both the coincidence arises and the program identifying code exists within the program list, for storing, in said memory, at least the program identifying code, from the program list, for said any one program as the program identifying code for the desired program; and

recording means for recording a corresponding broadcast program if and when the program identifying code multiplexed on the broadcasting signal for the corresponding program coincides with the program identifying code stored within said memory;

wherein the program identifying code, contained in the teletext data, for said one program specified by the program preset code is stored within the memory and controls subsequent recording of the desired program.

7. The video tape recorder in claim 8, wherein teletext data broadcast by said each one of a plurality of stations comprises a corresponding plurality of pages of data, further comprising:

means for presetting, for each of the plurality of stations, an associated initial page number so as to form a plurality of preset page numbers, wherein said associated page number identifies where a program list for said each station exists within the teletext data to be broadcast by said each station; and

page selection means, responsive to received teletext data and to one of the preset page numbers associated with the station identified in the program data, for designating an initial page from the received teletext data so as to obtain said program list for the identified station.

9. The video tape recorder in claim 8, wherein teletext data broadcast by said each one of a plurality of stations comprises a corresponding plurality of pages of data, further comprising:

means for presetting, for each of the plurality of stations, an associated initial page number so as to form a plurality of preset page numbers, wherein said associated page number identifies where a program list for said each station exists within the teletext data to be broadcast by said each station; and

page selection means, responsive to received teletext data and to one of the preset page numbers associated with the station identified in the program data, for designating an initial page from the received teletext data so as to obtain said program list for the identified station.