Switch for automatic selection of television signal sources for delivery of television guide data

• US 5,640,484 A
• Filed: 12/28/1994
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: E-Guide Inc.
• Inventors: Mankovitz, Roy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boccio, Vincent F.
• Application Number:
  US08/364,708
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 358/341, 358/342, 358/335, 348/563, 348/564, 348/569, 348/468, 360/13, 360/10.3, 360/69, 455/3.1, 455/3.2, 455/6.1, 455/6.3, 455/186.1, 386/83
• US Class Current: 386/245
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/91 Helical scan format, wherein tracks are slightly tilted with respect to tape direction, e.g. VHS, DAT, DVC, AIT or exabyte
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/324 Duty cycle modulation of control pulses, e.g. VHS-CTL-coding systems, RAPID-time code, VASS- or VISS-cue signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7755 the recorder being connected to, or coupled with, the antenna of the television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9208 involving the use of subcodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/04 Systems for the transmission of one television signal, i.e. both picture and sound, by a single carrier H04N7/084, H04N7/087 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/08 Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band , e.g. by time division H04N7/007 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for a television guide. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a device for comparing a current time with at least one stored time period for extracting television guide data to determine if the current time is within the stored time period, a device for switching a signal output from a first television signal source to a second television signal source, if television guide data is not contained in the signal output from the first television signal source when the current time is within the stored time period, a device for extracting the television guide data from the signal output when the current time is within the stored time period, and a memory for storing the extracted television guide data. In another embodiment the apparatus includes a device for controlling a tuner to tune to a plurality of channels in the first television signal source, when the current time is within the stored time period, a device for controlling a tuner to tune to a plurality of channels in the second television signal source, when the current time is within the stored time period, and a device for locking the tuner on a channel containing television guide data in order to permit extraction of the television guide data from the channel, wherein the device for switching switches from the first television signal source to the second television signal source, if television guide data is not contained in the signal output from the plurality of channels in the first television signal source.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a television guide, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting whether a television is off;

means for controlling television guide reception comprising;

means for comparing a current time with at least one stored time period;

means for determining whether television guide data is contained in one of a plurality of channels of a television signal when the current time is within the stored time period and the television is off;

means for sending a switching command when television guide data is not contained in any of the plurality of channels;

means for extracting the television guide data from one of the channels of the television signal when the television guide data is contained in one of the plurality of channels; and

means for storing the extracted television guide data; and

means for switching control of the television signal from a first television signal source having a first plurality of channels to a second television signal source having a second plurality of channels, upon command by the controlling means if television guide data is not contained in the television signal output from the first television signal source when the current time is within the stored time period, and the television is off, the switching control means comprising

means for receiving the switching command from the controlling means, the switching command comprising a bit pattern of data signals;

means coupled to the receiving means for detecting a predetermined bit pattern of data signals in the switching command corresponding to a selected one of the television signal sources; and

switching means coupled to the detecting means and the television signal sources for allowing transmission of the television signal output from the selected television signal source to the controlling means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for controlling a tuner to tune to a plurality of channels in the first television signal source, when the current time is within the stored time period and the television is off;

means for controlling a tuner to tune to a plurality of channels in the second television signal source, when the current time is within the stored time period and the television is off; and

means for locking the tuner on a channel containing television guide data in order to permit extraction of the television guide data from the channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for switching the television signal output from the second television signal source to the first television signal source after the television guide data is extracted and stored.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for switching control of the television signal output from a first television signal source to a second television signal source, if television guide data is not contained in the television signal output from the first television signal source when the current time is within the stored time period and the television is off comprises:

second means for switching control of the television signal output from the second television signal source to a third television signal source, if television guide data is not contained in the television signal output from the second television signal source when the current time is within the stored time period and the television is off.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:

the first television signal source comprises a television cable;

the second television signal source comprises an over the air antenna; and

the third television signal source comprises a satellite receiver.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for displaying the stored television guide data to allow a user to select programs for viewing or recording.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for extracting the television guide data from the television signal when the current time is within the stored time period comprises a means for decoding data in a vertical blanking interval of the television signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for extracting the television guide data from the television signal when the current time is within the stored time period comprises a means for decoding audio data in the television signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the stored television guide data comprises at least one compressed code having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of the channel, day, time-of-day, and program length; and

the apparatus further comprises means for decoding a compressed code having at least one digit into channel, day, time-of-day, and program length.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving means comprises an infrared detector.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery to power the switching means.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for extracting power from a selected one of the television signal sources.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the selected television signal source is a cable and the extracting power means comprises a transformer coupled to the cable, a diode coupled to the transformer, and a capacitor coupled to the diode.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first television signal source comprises a selected one of an antenna, a cable or a satellite receiver.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second television signal source comprises a selected one of an antenna, a cable or a satellite receiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching means comprises a FET switch.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the FET switch comprises a plurality of FET transistors gated by a plurality of signal lines coupled to the detecting means.

18. The switch of claim 16, further comprising a third television signal source, wherein the television signal sources comprises an antenna, a cable, and a satellite receiver and the FET switch comprises

a first FET transistor coupled to the detecting means;

a second FET transistor coupled to first FET transistor, the detecting means and the satellite receiver;

a third FET transistor coupled to the detecting means and the antenna; and

a fourth FET transistor coupled to the third FET transistor, the detecting means and the cable.

19. A system for receiving data embedded in a television signal from one of a plurality of television signal sources, each television signal from the plurality of television signal sources including a plurality of channels, comprising:

a detector for detecting when a television is turned off;

a controlling device to send a command comprising a bit pattern of data signals corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of television signal sources and to receive a selected television signal carried by the selected television signal source only when the detector indicates the television is turned off, the controlling device comprising

a television signal tuner to tune a selected one of the plurality of channels of the selected television signal;

decoding means coupled to the television signal tuner for decoding data embedded in one of the plurality of channels of the selected television signal when the television is turned off; and

a controller coupled to the television signal tuner and the decoding means to send the command and receive the decoded data; and

a switch to receive the command and to allow transmission of the selected television signal to the television signal tuner, the switch comprising

receiving means for receiving the command from the controlling device;

detecting means coupled to the receiving means for detecting a predetermined bit pattern of data signals in the received command corresponding to the selected television signal source; and

switching means coupled to the detecting means and the plurality of television signal sources for allowing transmission of the selected television signal from the selected television signal source to the television signal tuner.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the controlling device further comprises an infrared transmitter to send the command and the receiving means comprises an infrared receiver.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the controlling device is a video cassette recorder.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the controlling device is a television.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the embedded data is found in the vertical blanking interval of the selected television signal.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the controlling device sends commands to the switch changing the selected television signal source until the decoded data is television program guide information.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the controlling device further comprises a memory for storing the television program guide information.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the controlling device further comprises means for displaying the television program guide information.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the switch further comprises a battery to power the switch.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein the selected television signal source is a cable and the switch further comprises means for extracting power from a selected one of the television signal sources, the means for extracting power comprising a transformer coupled to the cable, a diode coupled to the transformer, and a capacitor coupled to the diode.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of television signal sources comprises any combination of antennas, cables, and satellite receivers.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein the switch comprises a FET switch.

31. The switch of claim 30, wherein the FET switch comprises a plurality of FET transistors gated by a plurality of signal lines coupled to the detecting means.

32. The switch of claim 30, wherein the plurality of television signal sources comprises an antenna, a cable, and a satellite receiver and the FET switch comprises

a first FET transistor coupled to the detecting means;

a second FET transistor coupled to first FET transistor, the detecting means and the satellite receiver;

a third FET transistor coupled to the detecting means and the antenna; and

a fourth FET transistor coupled to the third FET transistor, the detecting means and the cable.