Integration of off-air and satellite TV tuners in a direct broadcast system

• US 5,790,202 A
• Filed: 12/19/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Echostar Engineering Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Communications Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Kummer, David A., Petruzzelli, Edmund F.
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US08/772,031
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 348/553, 348/554, 348/555, 348/556, 348/557, 348/558, 348/563, 348/569, 348/705, 348/706, 348/725, 348/728
• US Class Current: 348/553
• 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 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4382 Demodulation or channel decoding, e.g. QPSK demodulation analog front ends or means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line H04L27/0002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

An improved system for the integration of off-air and satellite TV tuners in a direct broadcast system, comprising a source of an RF television signal, a TV tuner coupled to the RF signal source for demodulating the RF signal and producing baseband video and audio signals, a satellite antenna for receiving a data stream including direct broadcast satellite signals, a direct broadcast satellite tuner coupled to the satellite antenna for converting and demodulating the incoming signals to video and audio baseband output signals. An electronic program guide is included as part of the data stream received along with the direct broadcast satellite signals. A microprocessor is coupled to the direct broadcast satellite tuner for conditioning the electronic program guide. A multiplexer is coupled to the TV tuner, the broadcast satellite tuner, the electronic program guide and the microprocessor and is used to switch the signals and source so that an appropriate output signal can be directed to a display device for using the baseband video and audio signals. A controller is provided for the selection of the desired program channel from the guide and the automatic switching of the appropriate video and audio baseband signals and the signal source for the selected program. The user programs the zip code into the system for localizing the electronic programming guide used in the selection process.

Claims

1. An improved system for the integration of off-air and satellite TV tuners in a direct broadcast satellite system, comprising:

a) a source of an RF television signal;

b) a TV tuner coupled to the RF television signal source for demodulating the RF television signal;

c) a satellite antenna for receiving a data stream from a satellite consisting of direct broadcast satellite signals and an electronic program guide;

d) a direct broadcast satellite tuner coupled to the satellite antenna for converting and demodulating the incoming satellite data stream;

e) a microprocessor coupled to the direct broadcast satellite tuner for conditioning the electronic program guide from the satellite data stream;

f) an output device for displaying or otherwise using signals from the TV tuner and the satellite tuner;

g) a multiplexer which is coupled to the TV tuner, the direct broadcast satellite tuner, the electronic program guide, and the output device, the multiplexer being arranged to switch all of signals being sent to the output device; and

h) a unified control means for controlling the selection of signals from the RF television signal source and from the satellite antenna to be displayed on the output device.

2. An improved system as defined in claim 1 wherein a satellite receiver means includes the TV tuner, the direct broadcast satellite tuner, the microprocessor, and the multiplexer.

3. An improved system as defined in claim 1 wherein the RF television signal source is provided by a VHF or UHF off-air antenna or by a cable signal provider.

4. An improved system as defined in claim 1 wherein the electronic program guide includes national and local programing schedules, and the microprocessor combines the electronic program guide with user-programmed information for identifying the location of the system and selects the applicable portions of the electronic program guide to integrate the local programming schedule with standard national satellite programming schedule on the output device.

5. An improved system as defined in claim 1 wherein a wireless remote control is used as the control means for controlling the selection of signals from either the RF television signal source or the satellite antenna.

6. An improved system for the integration of off-air and satellite TV tuners in a direct broadcast system, comprising:

a) a source of an RF television signal;

b) a TV tuner coupled to the RF television signal source for demodulating the RF television signal and producing a baseband video and audio output signal;

c) a satellite antenna for receiving a data stream from a satellite consisting of direct broadcast satellite signals and an electronic program guide;

d) a low noise block converter coupled to the satellite antenna for converting the entire frequency band of the satellite data stream into a lower frequency range that can be better carried by a coaxial cable;

e) a direct broadcast satellite tuner coupled to the converter for converting and demodulating an incoming signal to a video and audio baseband output signal;

f) a microprocessor coupled to the direct broadcast satellite tuner for conditioning the electronic program guide from the satellite data stream;

g) an output device for displaying or otherwise using the baseband video and audio output signals;

h) a multiplexer which is coupled to the TV tuner, the direct broadcast satellite tuner, the electronic program guide and the output device and which is used to switch all of received signals being sent to the output device; and

i) a unified control means for controlling the selection of video baseband and audio baseband signals from the RF television signal source and from the satellite antenna to be displayed on the output device.

7. An improved system as defined in claim 6 which further includes a satellite receiver comprised of the TV tuner, the direct broadcast satellite tuner, the microprocessor, and the multiplexer.

8. An improved system as defined in claim 6 wherein the RF signal source is provided by a VHF or UHF off-air antenna or by a cable signal provider.

9. An improved system as defined in claim 6 wherein the low noise block converter includes a converter module having a low noise amplifier and converter that receives the direct broadcast satellite signals and converts the entire frequency band of the satellite data stream into the lower frequency range of approximately 0.95 to 2.15 Gigahertz.

10. An improved system as defined in claim 6 wherein the electronic program guide includes national and local programing schedules, and the microprocessor combines the electronic program guide with user-programmed zip code information for identifying the location of the system, and selects the applicable portions of the electronic program guide to integrate the local programming schedule with a standard national satellite programming schedule on the output device.

11. An improved system as defined in claim 6 wherein the output device is a TV monitor or videotape recorder.

12. An improved system as defined in claim 6 wherein a wireless remote control is used as the control means for controlling the selection of video baseband and audio baseband signals from either the RF television signal source or the satellite antenna.

13. A method for integrating off-air and satellite TV tuners in a direct broadcast system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving RF television signals;

b) tuning and demodulating the RF television signals and producing video and audio output signals;

c) receiving a data stream from a satellite downlink consisting of direct broadcast satellite signals and electronic program guide signals;

d) converting and demodulating the incoming direct broadcast satellite signals to video and audio output signals;

e) processing and conditioning the electronic program guide signals and outputting the conditioned signals to an output device for displaying or using the signals; and

f) selecting a desired program from said electronic program guide signals and switching the signals from either the satellite direct broadcast signals or the RF television signals for display on the output device.

14. A method of integrating off-air and satellite TV tuner in a direct broadcast system as described in claim 13 which further includes a step of remotely controlling the selection of the program and automatically switching the appropriate signal to the output device.

15. A method for integrating off-air and satellite TV tuners in a direct broadcast system as described in claim 13 which further includes the step of converting and demodulating incoming signals from the RF television signals or the satellite data stream signals to video and audio baseband output signals for display on a TV monitor output device.

16. An improved system for the integration of multiple programming sources in a television receiving system, comprising:

a) a source of an RF analog television signal;

b) a TV tuner coupled to the RF analog television signal source for demodulating the RF analog television signal;

c) a digital network interface module source for receiving a digital datastream consisting of video and audio signals;

d) an electronic program guide data source;

e) a suitable tuner coupled to the digital network interface module source for converting and demodulating the incoming audio and video datastream;

f) a microprocessor coupled to the electronic program guide data source for conditioning an electronic program guide and directing the selection of an appropriate program source depending upon an program selected;

g) an output device for displaying or otherwise using signals from the TV tuner and the suitable tuner;

h) a multiplexer which is coupled to the TV tuner, the suitable tuner, the electronic program guide data source, and the output device, the multiplexer being arranged to switch all of the signals being sent to the output device; and

i) a unified control means for controlling the switching of selected signals from the RF analog television signal source and the digital network interface module source to be displayed on the output device.

17. An improved system as defined in claim 16 wherein the TV tuner, the digital network interface module source, the microprocessor and the multiplexer are connected within a receiver means.

18. An improved system as defined in claim 16 wherein the RF analog television signal source is provided by a VHF or UHF off-air antenna or by a cable signal provider.

19. An improved system as defined in claim 16 wherein the electronic program guide includes national and local programming schedules, and the microprocessor combines the electronic program guide with user-programed information for identifying the location of the system and selects the applicable portions of the electronic program guide to integrate the local programming schedule with standard national satellite program schedules on the output device.

20. An improved system as defined in claim 16 wherein a wireless remote control is used as the control means for controlling a selection of input signals.

21. An improved system as defined in claim 16 wherein the digital network interface module source incorporates an input from a HDTV source or other digital cable, telephony or microwave input source.