Merging multi-source information in a television system
First Claim
1. A method of providing a consolidated channel guide information listing to a television system, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a first individual channel guide information listing from a first source by a merging system, wherein said first source is selected from the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, a direct broadcast satellite system, a telephone line, and a fiber optic;
receiving a second individual channel guide information listing from a second source by said merging system, wherein said second source is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard and a recorded medium;
merging said first and second individual channel guide information listings to form said consolidated channel guide information listing, wherein said consolidated channel guide information listing includes at least one signal source identifier associated with each channel, each of said signal source identifiers identifying one of multiple signal providing sources; and
transmitting said consolidated channel guide information listing over at least one television signal source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a scheme for merging television schedule information received from multiple sources (26, 28, 30 and 34). In the preferred embodiment, a microprocessor (36) mixes and sorts the schedule information received from multiple source devices (26, 28, 30 or 34). The schedule information is then displayed in a television schedule guide (50). A user can select a program (60 or 62) by pointing to that program in the displayed schedule information (50). The system (10) then carries out an automatic switching/tuning such that the required source device (26, 28, 30 or 34) is input to the destination device (22), and a tuner is then tuned to the selected program'"'"'s channel (52).
604 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of providing a consolidated channel guide information listing to a television system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first individual channel guide information listing from a first source by a merging system, wherein said first source is selected from the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, a direct broadcast satellite system, a telephone line, and a fiber optic; receiving a second individual channel guide information listing from a second source by said merging system, wherein said second source is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard and a recorded medium; merging said first and second individual channel guide information listings to form said consolidated channel guide information listing, wherein said consolidated channel guide information listing includes at least one signal source identifier associated with each channel, each of said signal source identifiers identifying one of multiple signal providing sources; and transmitting said consolidated channel guide information listing over at least one television signal source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An information merging system, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a first individual channel guide information listing from a first source, wherein said first source is selected from the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, a direct broadcast satellite system, a telephone line, and a fiber optic; a microprocessor coupled to said receiver; an input device coupled to said receiver for inputting a second individual channel guide information listing into said microprocessor, wherein said microprocessor merges said first and second individual channel guide information listings to form a consolidated channel guide information listing, wherein said consolidated listing includes at least one signal source identifier associated with each channel, each of said signal source identifiers identifying one of multiple signal providing sources; and a transmitter coupled to said microprocessor for transmitting said consolidated channel guide information listing over at least one television signal source. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of providing a consolidated channel guide information listing to a television system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first individual channel guide information listing from a first source by a merging system, wherein said first source is selected from the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, a direct broadcast satellite system, a telephone line, and a fiber optic; receiving a second individual channel guide information listing from a second source by said merging system, wherein said second source is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard and a recorded medium; merging said first and second individual channel guide information listings to form said consolidated channel guide information listing, wherein said consolidated channel guide information listing is ordered according to numerical order, and transmitting said consolidated channel guide information listing over at least one television signal source.
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19. A method of providing a consolidated channel guide information listing to a television system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first individual channel guide information listing from a first source by a merging system, wherein said first source is selected from the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, a direct broadcast satellite system, a telephone line, and a fiber optic; receiving a second individual channel guide information listing from a second source by said merging system, wherein said second source is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard and a recorded medium; merging said first and second individual channel guide information listings to form said consolidated channel guide information listing, wherein said consolidated channel guide information listing is ordered according to a user defined ordering scheme, and transmitting said consolidated channel guide information listing over at least one television signal source.
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Specification