Identifier generation and remote programming for individually addressable video cassette recorders

• US 6,058,238 A
• Filed: 01/03/1997
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Index Systems Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Ng, Yee Kong
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUY THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/778,588
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 386/46, 386/83, 386/95, 348/1, 348/2, 348/5, 348/906, 348/7, 348/9, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 455/2, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 380/15
• US Class Current: 386/200
• 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 7/025 Systems for the transmission of digital non-picture data, e.g. of text during the active part of a television frame transmission of digital non-picture data during the vertical blanking interval only H04N7/088
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0884 for the transmission of additional display-information, e.g. menu for programme or channel selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0887 for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for controlling recording of video programs. In one embodiment an apparatus for controlling the recording of video programs includes a device for retrieving a recorder identifier and recorder programming data from a television signal received from a television signal source, a device for determining whether the retrieved recorder identifier matches a first identifier for the apparatus, a device for storing the recorder programming data, if the retrieved recorder identifier matches the first identifier for the apparatus, and a device for using the stored recorder programming data to control recording. The device for retrieving a recorder identifier and recorder programming data from a television signal includes a vertical blanking interval decoder.

Claims

1. A method of selectively transmitting information to user terminals over a point-to-multipoint television transmission system, the method comprising the steps of:

randomly generating unique addresses for the respective user terminals in real-time based on actions of users of the respective user terminals;

storing the unique address for each user terminal in a RAM located at the user terminal;

sending the unique address for each user terminal to a point-to-multipoint television transmitter;

inserting a unique address and information designated for transmission to the user terminal identified by such address into a television signal to be telecast from the transmitter;

telecasting the television signal, including the address and the information, from the transmitter;

receiving the telecast television signal at the user terminals;

comparing the unique address of the telecast television signal received at each user terminal with the address stored in the RAM at such user terminal; and

storing the information of the telecast television signal if the unique address of the telecast television signal matches the address stored in the RAM.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the generating step for each user terminal comprises:

applying electrical power to the user terminal;

initiating counting on a first counter and a second counter at the user terminal responsive to the application of power;

halting counting on the first counter responsive to receipt of a first user operating command for the user terminal;

halting counting on the second counter responsive to receipt of a second user operating command for the user terminal; and

combining the counts from the first counter and the second counter to form the unique address.

3. A system for remotely and automatically controlling an information receiving user terminal comprising:

a) a central station comprising

i) means for receiving an identifier of a selected user terminal and a request for controlling the selected user terminal;

ii) means for inserting into a television signal to be telecast the received identifier and control signals instructing the selected user terminal to implement the request; and

iii) means for telecasting the television signal, including the identifier and the-control signals;

b) a plurality of individually addressable user terminals resident at remote locations, each user terminal comprising

i) means responsive to one or more user commands at the user terminal for randomly generating an identifier for the user terminal that is different from the identifiers for the other user terminals;

ii) means for receiving the television signal telecast from the central station;

iii) means for extracting the identifier and the control signals from the television signal telecast from the central station; and

iv) means responsive to the control signals for implementing the request when the received identifier matches the generated identifier; and

c) a point-to-point transmission link from the user terminals to the central station, permitting the identifiers to be sent to the central station for insertion into the telecast signal.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the inserting means inserts the received identifier and the control signals into the vertical blanking interval of the television signal.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein each user terminal is a video cassette recorder, the request includes a request for controlling the video cassette recorder to record a selected program and the control signals include a compressed code representing channel, date, time-of-day, and length data for the selected program.

6. The system of claim 3, further comprising means at each user terminal for displaying the generated identifier to a user.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the generating means comprises means for automatically generating a random number as the generated identifier.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the generating means comprises a first counter and a second counter, means for receiving first and second user commands to control a video cassette recorder, means responsive to the first command for operating the first counter, means responsive to the second command for operating the second counter, and means for combining the states of the first counter and the second counter to form the random number.