Schedule display system for video recorder programming

• US 5,568,272 A
• Filed: 10/20/1995
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• 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:
  US08/546,335
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 358/335, 358/310, 360/33.1, 348/589, 348/906
• US Class Current: 386/296
• 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 randomly 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 randomly 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;

a real time clock; and

a controller connected to the first memory, the second memory, the operator input device, the real time clock 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 at any time, an operator selected portion of the information contained in the database stored in the first memory;

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

(d) select operator prompts for display from the second memory as a function of one of said operator inputs and said real time clock.

2. The television program selection system of claim 1 wherein said operator input device comprises a keypad including a key operative, when depressed, to output a command to initiate a program selection sequence and wherein said operator prompt selected for display by said controller upon receipt of said command to initiate a program selection sequence is also a function of the state of said real-time clock.