Television on/off detector for use in a video cassette recorder
First Claim
1. An apparatus for deriving a television guide, the apparatus comprising:
- means for generating a signal representative of electromagnetic radiation from the picture tube of a television;
means for detecting the amplitude of the signal;
means for comparing the amplitude of the signal to a predetermined threshold value above which the television is turned on;
means for coupling a first television signal source to a signal output;
means for determining whether television guide data is contained in the signal output at a given time;
means for switching the signal output from the 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 at the given time;
means responsive to the comparing means for extracting the television guide data from the signal output at the given time when the television is turned off; and
means for storing the extracted television guide data.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for providing a television guide includes a device for detecting whether a television is off, 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 device for detecting detects that the television is off, a device for extracting the television guide data from the signal output when the device for detecting detects that the television is off, and memory for storing the extracted television guide data. In another embodiment an apparatus for providing a directory for transmitted and recorded programs, includes a device for detecting whether a television is off, a device for switching a signal output from a first television signal source to a second television signal source, if a directory is not contained in the signal output from the first television signal source when the device for detecting detects that the television is off, a device for extracting the directory from the signal output when the device for detecting detects that the television is off, a recorder for recording the transmitted programs, and a memory for storing the extracted directory.
307 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An apparatus for deriving a television guide, the apparatus comprising:
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means for generating a signal representative of electromagnetic radiation from the picture tube of a television; means for detecting the amplitude of the signal; means for comparing the amplitude of the signal to a predetermined threshold value above which the television is turned on; means for coupling a first television signal source to a signal output; means for determining whether television guide data is contained in the signal output at a given time; means for switching the signal output from the 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 at the given time; means responsive to the comparing means for extracting the television guide data from the signal output at the given time when the television is turned off; and means for storing the extracted television guide data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for deriving a television program guide from television guide data transmitted with a television signal, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting electromagnetic radiation from a picture tube of a television; producing from the detected electromagnetic radiation a control signal representative of its amplitude; comparing the control signal with a predetermined threshold value to determine if the television is on or off, the television being on if the control signal exceeds the threshold value and the television being off if the threshold value exceeds the control signal; determining whether television guide data is contained in a signal output at a given time; extracting the television guide data from the signal output at the given time when the threshold value exceeds the control signal; coupling a first television signal source to the signal output; switching the signal output from the 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 at the given time; and storing the extracted television guide data. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification