Automatic characterization of a television signal
First Claim
1. In a processing system that is configured to receive a plurality of television signal types including standard cable (STD), incremental coherent carrier (IRC) and harmonically related carrier (HRC), a method of characterizing an input television signal, the method comprising the following:
- a step for tuning to a plurality of television channels in the range of from channel 2 to channel 13;
for each of the plurality of the television channels tuned to in the step for tuning, a step for determining which of the plurality of television signal types that the television channel frequency is closest to;
a step for maintaining a counter corresponding to each of the plurality of television signal types;
a step for incrementing a counter corresponding to a television signal type when the step for determining determines that a television channel corresponds to the television signal type; and
a step for automatically identifying the input television signal type as that having the highest counter.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus in a client processing system are provided for characterizing an input television signal as broadcast television or cable television and, if the signal is cable television, as IRC cable, HRC cable, or standard cable. The client processing system includes processing circuitry configured to receive hypertext pages from a remote server and to display the hypertext pages on a display device, such as a conventional television set. The client system further includes a television tuner for receiving either cable television or broadcast television signals. When a television signal is initially provided to the client system, the client system executes a routine to automatically characterize the received television signal as broadcast, HRC cable, IRC cable, or standard cable. The characterization is made based upon one or more frequencies at which the incoming television signal is detected.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a processing system that is configured to receive a plurality of television signal types including standard cable (STD), incremental coherent carrier (IRC) and harmonically related carrier (HRC), a method of characterizing an input television signal, the method comprising the following:
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a step for tuning to a plurality of television channels in the range of from channel 2 to channel 13; for each of the plurality of the television channels tuned to in the step for tuning, a step for determining which of the plurality of television signal types that the television channel frequency is closest to; a step for maintaining a counter corresponding to each of the plurality of television signal types; a step for incrementing a counter corresponding to a television signal type when the step for determining determines that a television channel corresponds to the television signal type; and a step for automatically identifying the input television signal type as that having the highest counter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a processing system that is configured to receive a plurality of television signal types including standard cable (STD), incremental coherent carrier (IRC) and harmonically related carrier (HRC), a computer program product for implementing a method of characterizing an input television signal, the computer program product comprising the following:
a computer readable medium having storing thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the following steps; a step for tuning to a plurality of television channels in the range of from channel 2 to channel 13; for each of the plurality of the television channels tuned to in the step for tuning, a step for determining which of the plurality of television signal types that the television channel frequency is closest to; a step for maintaining a counter corresponding to each of the plurality of television signal types; a step for incrementing a counter corresponding to a television signal type when the step for determining determines that a television channel corresponds to the television signal type; and a step for automatically identifying the input television signal type as that having the highest counter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a processing system that is configured to receive a plurality of television signal types including standard cable (STD), incremental coherent carrier (IRC) and harmonically related carrier (HRC), a method of characterizing an input television signal, the method comprising the following:
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a specific act of the processing system tuning to a plurality of television channels in the range of from channel 2 to channel 13; for each of the plurality of the television channels tuned to in the step for tuning, a specific act of the processing system determining which of the plurality of television signal types that the television channel frequency is closest to; a specific act of the processing system maintaining a counter corresponding to each of the plurality of television signal types; a specific act of the processing system incrementing a counter corresponding to a television signal type when the step for determining determines that a television channel corresponds to the television signal type; and a specific act of the processing system automatically identifying the input television signal type as that having the highest counter. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. In a processing system that is configured to receive a plurality of television signal types including standard cable (STD), incremental coherent carrier (IRC) and harmonically related carrier (HRC), a computer program product for implementing a method of characterizing an input television signal, the computer program product comprising the following:
a computer readable medium having storing thereon computer-executable instructions for performing the following; a specific act of the processing system tuning to a plurality of television channels in the range of from channel 2 to channel 13; for each of the plurality of the television channels tuned to in the specific act of the processing system tuning, a specific act of determining which of the plurality of television signal types that the television channel frequency is closest to; a specific act of maintaining a counter corresponding to each of the plurality of television signal types; a specific act of incrementing a counter corresponding to a television signal type when the step for determining determines that a television channel corresponds to the television signal type; and a specific act of automatically identifying the input television signal type as that having the highest counter. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
Specification