EPG apparatus and its control method
First Claim
1. A system comprising a television receiver receiving a signal containing electronic program guide (EPG) data and a recording/reproducing apparatus connected to the television receiver by bus means;
- said television receiver including;
an EPG decoder,display means for displaying EPG data decoded by said EPG decoder, andfirst control means for communicating with said recording/reproducing apparatus via said bus means, said recording/reproducing apparatus including;
second control means for communicating with said television receiver via said bus means,wherein said first control means detects that said recording/reproducing apparatus is connected to said television receiver by receiving a control data from said second control means via said bus means and causes data regarding said recording/reproducing apparatus to be displayed on said display means along with said EPG data.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A television receiver receives a television signal that includes electronic program guide (EPG) information and the television receiver has an EPG decoder and display for displaying the EPG information. A video tape recorder or satellite broadcast receiver is connected to the television receiver over a special bus and when the EPG information is displayed on the television receiver either the identity of the VTR or the EPG information decoded by an EPG decoder in the satellite receiver is displayed along with the EPG information decoded by the EPG decoder in the television receiver. The viewer then can select a program from among the television receiver EPG stations or select the VTR or can select a program from among the satellite broadcast receiver EPG stations.
87 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising a television receiver receiving a signal containing electronic program guide (EPG) data and a recording/reproducing apparatus connected to the television receiver by bus means;
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said television receiver including; an EPG decoder, display means for displaying EPG data decoded by said EPG decoder, and first control means for communicating with said recording/reproducing apparatus via said bus means, said recording/reproducing apparatus including; second control means for communicating with said television receiver via said bus means, wherein said first control means detects that said recording/reproducing apparatus is connected to said television receiver by receiving a control data from said second control means via said bus means and causes data regarding said recording/reproducing apparatus to be displayed on said display means along with said EPG data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A control method for controlling a system including an electronic program guide (EPG) apparatus having an EPG decoder and a display, a bus, and an external apparatus connected to said EPG apparatus by said bus, said control method comprising the steps of;
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dislaying on said display EPG data decoded by said EPG decoder; causing said EPG apparatus to detect that said external apparatus is connected to said EPG apparatus by said bus; and upon detecting a connection to said external apparatus, causing said EPG apparatus to display data regarding said external apparatus on said display along with EPG data decoded by said EPG decoder. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A television receiver receiving a signal containing electronic program guide (EPG) data comprising:
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an EPG decoder, display means for displaying EPG data decoded by said EPG decoder, control means for communicating with an recording/reproducing apparatus via bus means, wherein said control means detects that said recording/reproducing apparatus is connected to said television receiver by receiving a control data from said recording reproducing apparatus via said bus means and causes data regarding said recording/reproducing apparatus to be displayed on said display means along with said EPG data.
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20. A system comprising:
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a first television receiver including a first EPG decoder, display means for displaying EPG data decoded by said first EPG decoder and first control means; bus means; a second television receiver connected to said television receiver by said bus means and including a second EPG decoder and second control means; wherein said first controller detects that said second television receiver is connected to said first television receiver by receiving a control data from said second control means via said bus means and causes said EPG data decoded by said second EPG decoder to be displayed on said display along with the EPG data decoded by said first EPG decoder.
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Specification