Apparatus and methods for deriving a television guide from audio signals

• US 5,734,786 A
• Filed: 12/27/1993
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: E-Guide Inc.
• Inventors: Mankovitz, Roy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/176,216
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 358/335, 358/341, 358/342, 358/343, 360/19.1, 360/33.1, 360/69
• US Class Current: 386/241
• 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 for a television guide are provided. The method includes the steps of transmitting a television guide encoded as audio tones, starting to record the transmitted television guide on a VCR tape, decoding audio signals from an audio output on the VCR, commanding the VCR to stop recording in response to a first decoded audio signal, and storing a television guide decoded from audio signals while the VCR is stopped. In another embodiment of the invention a method includes the steps of providing a VCR having a signal input line and a clock having an output as a function of time, entering and storing a channel, time-of-day and length for a program to be recorded by the VCR, comparing the clock output with the time-of-day, commanding the VCR to start recording the channel when the clock output compares with the time-of-day, switching a first signal source to the signal input line when the clock output compares with the time-of-day, decoding a television guide from television signals on the signal input line, storing the television guide, commanding the VCR to stop recording the channel when the clock output minus the time-of-day compares with the length, and switching from the first signal source to a second signal source when the clock output minus the time-of-day compares with the length.

Claims

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

a video cassette recorder having a television output and an audio output;

means for decoding audio signals coupled to the audio output;

means for commanding the video cassette recorder to mute audio signals on the television output in response to a first audio signal from the audio output decoded by the means for decoding audio signals;

means for decoding a television guide from audio signals on the audio output by the means for decoding audio signals; and

means for storing the television guide.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for commanding the video cassette recorder to turn on audio signals on the television output in response to a second audio signal from the audio output decoded by the means for decoding audio signals.

3. An apparatus for a television guide, the apparatus comprising:

a video cassette recorder having an audio output;

means for decoding audio signals coupled to the audio output;

means for commanding the video cassette recorder to stop recording in response to a first audio signal from the audio output decoded by the means for decoding audio signals;

means for decoding a television guide from audio signals on the audio output by the means for decoding audio signals; and

means for storing the television guide.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means for commanding the video cassette recorder to start recording in response to a second audio signal from the audio output decoded by the means for decoding audio signals.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 or 4 further comprising means for commanding the video cassette recorder to record an index mark in response to a third audio signal decoded by the means for decoding audio signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

a clock having an output as a function of time coupled to the video cassette recorder;

means for entering and storing a channel, time-of-day and length for a program to be recorded by the video cassette recorder;

means for comparing the clock output with the time-of-day;

means for commanding the video cassette recorder to start recording the channel when the clock output compares with the time-of-day; and

means for commanding the video cassette recorder to stop recording the channel when the clock output minus the time-of-day compares with the length.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the means for entering and storing a channel, time-of-day and length for a program to be recorded by the video cassette recorder comprises:

means for entering compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of the channel, time-of-day, and length; and

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

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the video cassette recorder further comprises a serial input means coupled to the means for decoding audio signals for sending commands to the video cassette recorder.

9. An apparatus for a television guide, the apparatus comprising:

a video cassette recorder having a signal input line and a clock having an output as a function of time;

means for entering and storing a channel, time-of-day and length for a program to be recorded by the video cassette recorder;

means for comparing the clock output with the time-of-day;

means for commanding the video cassette recorder to start recording the channel when the clock output compares with the time-of-day;

means for switching the signal input line between a first signal source and a second signal source;

means for commanding the means for switching to switch to the first signal source when the clock output compares with the time-of-day;

means for decoding a television guide from television signals on the signal input line; and

means for storing the television guide.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

means for commanding the video cassette recorder to stop recording the channel when the clock output minus the time-of-day compares with the length; and

means for commanding the means for switching to switch from the first signal source to the second signal source when the clock output minus the time-of-day compares with the length.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the means for decoding a television guide from television signals on the signal input line comprises a vertical blanking interval decoder.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the means for switching the signal input line between a first signal source and a second signal source comprises:

a switch; and

a control coupled from the video cassette recorder to the switch for controlling the switch.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for entering and storing a channel, time-of-day and length for a program to be recorded by the video cassette recorder comprises:

means for entering compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of the channel, time-of-day, and length; and

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

14. A method for providing a television guide comprising the steps of:

transmitting a television guide encoded as audio tones;

recording the transmitted television guide on a tape installed in a video cassette recorder having a television output and an audio output;

playing the recorded tape;

decoding audio signals from the audio output;

commanding the video cassette recorder to mute audio signals on the television output in response to a first audio signal decoded from the audio output; and

storing the television guide decoded from audio signals from the audio output.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising commanding the video cassette recorder to turn on audio signals on the television output in response to a second audio signal decoded from the audio output.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of recording the transmitted television guide on a video cassette recorder tape further comprises the steps of:

providing a clock having an output as a function of time coupled to the video cassette recorder;

entering and storing a channel, time-of-day and length for a program to be recorded by the video cassette recorder;

comparing the clock output with the time-of-day;

commanding the video cassette recorder to start recording the channel when the clock output compares with the time-of-day; and

commanding the video cassette recorder to stop recording the channel when the clock output minus the time-of-day compares with the length.

19. The method of claim 16 or 18 further comprising the step of commanding the video cassette recorder to record an index mark in response to a third audio signal decoded from the audio output.

22. The method of claim 16 or 20 wherein the step of entering and storing a channel, time-of-day and length for a program to be recorded by the video cassette recorder comprises the steps of:

entering compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of the channel, time-of-day, and length; and

decoding a compressed code having at least one digit into channel, time-of-day, and length.

17. A method for providing a television guide comprising the steps of:

transmitting a television guide encoded as audio tones;

starting to record the transmitted television guide on a video cassette recorder tape;

decoding audio signals from an audio output on the video cassette recorder;

commanding the video cassette recorder to stop recording in response to a first audio signal decoded from the audio output; and

storing a television guide decoded from audio signals from the audio output in a memory while the video cassette recorder is stopped.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of commanding the video cassette recorder to start recording in response to a second audio signal decoded from the audio output.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of starting to record the transmitted television guide on a video cassette recorder tape comprises the steps of:

providing a clock having an output as a function of time coupled to the video cassette recorder;

entering and storing a channel, time-of-day and length for a program to be recorded by the video cassette recorder;

comparing the clock output with the time-of-day; and

commanding the video cassette recorder to start recording the channel when the clock output compares with the time-of-day.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of commanding the video cassette recorder to start recording in response to a second audio signal decoded from the audio output comprises the steps of:

commanding the video cassette recorder to stop recording the channel when the clock output minus the time-of-day compares with the length.