Multi-channel digital video transmission receiver with improved channel-changing response
First Claim
1. A multi-channel digital video transmission receiver comprising:
- tuning and decoding units capable of tuning and decoding a digital transmission to simultaneously produce a set of decoded digital video signals for each of two or more tuned channels;
a microcontroller programmed to respond to a user'"'"'s request for a selected one of the two or more tuned channels by causing the set of signals for the selected channel to be outputted, predicting a next channel, and causing a second tuning unit to begin tuning the predicted next channel in addition to the selected channel.
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Abstract
A multi-channel digital video receiver (e.g. DBS) includes a tuning unit with two tuner modules and a decoder unit with two decoder modules. These tuner and decoder units enable the receiver to simultaneously produce decoded video and audio signals for two separately-tuned channels. The signals for the channel currently selected by the user are tuned and decoded by one set of tuner and decoder modules. The decoded signals for the selected channel are sent to an output stage (e.g. encoder), where the signals and their output are encoded for use on an attached presentation device (e.g. television, audio processor, computer, etc.) Simultaneously, a microcontroller predicts the next channel the user will select and causes the other tuner and decoder modules to begin tuning to and decoding the signals for that predicted next channel. A third set of tuner and decoder modules can be added to enable the receiver to begin tuning to and decoding the signals for another likely next channel. Since the receiver begins tuning to the predicted next channel even before a new channel is requested, an expected channel-change command can be processed more quickly than in a conventional receiver.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A multi-channel digital video transmission receiver comprising:
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tuning and decoding units capable of tuning and decoding a digital transmission to simultaneously produce a set of decoded digital video signals for each of two or more tuned channels; a microcontroller programmed to respond to a user'"'"'s request for a selected one of the two or more tuned channels by causing the set of signals for the selected channel to be outputted, predicting a next channel, and causing a second tuning unit to begin tuning the predicted next channel in addition to the selected channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for providing prompt response to a user'"'"'s request for a selected digital video channel in a multi-channel digital video transmission, the method comprising the steps of:
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tuning to and decoding a digital video transmission to simultaneously produce decoded digital video signals for each of at least two tuned channels; and upon a user'"'"'s request for one of the tuned channels as the selected new channel, processing the signals for the selected channel for use, making a prediction of the next channel the user will request, and commencing to decode signals for the predicted next channel while continuing to decode signals for the selected channel. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification