Apparatus and method for integrating a plurality of video sources

• US 6,133,910 A
• Filed: 09/18/1997
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Echostar Engineering Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Engineering Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Stinebruner, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLYNN, NATHAN J
• Application Number:
  US08/933,052
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 345/327, 345/328, 348/10, 348/12, 348/721-734, 348/906, 455/3.2
• US Class Current: 725/49
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42225 characterized by types of remote control, e.g. universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/46 for receiving on more than one standard at will deflecting circuits of multi-standard receivers H04N3/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7755 the recorder being connected to, or coupled with, the antenna of the television receiver

Abstract

A video system utilizes a "virtual tuner" that integrates signals from multiple video sources to provide a plurality of "virtual channels", each of which has both a video source and a channel associated with it. When a virtual channel is selected, the correct video source is selected and tuned to the correct channel automatically. The virtual tuner may be embodied in a television or in a separate electronic component coupled thereto, such as a direct broadcast satellite receiver. Alternatively, the video system may be embodied in a universal remote control which is capable of outputting multiple signals to multiple devices in response to a key depression, using either one or two signal transmitters. Channel information may also be downloaded or obtained from a database, for example, to customize an electronic component to receive local broadcast channels.

Claims

1. A video system, comprising:

(a) first and second tuners, each tuner coupled to a video source and being tunable to one of a plurality of channels from the video source in response to a tuning signal, and each tuner outputting a video signal;

(b) a source selector receiving the video signals from the first and second tuners and outputting one of the video signals in response to a select signal;

(c) a memory storing an array of virtual channels, each virtual channel having a channel indicator related to a desired channel and a source indicator related to a desired tuner; and

(d) a controller, coupled to the tuners, the source selector and the memory, the controller selecting one of the plurality of virtual channels by outputting a select signal, related to the source indicator of the selected virtual channel, to the source selector, and outputting a tuning signal, related to the channel indicator of the selected virtual channel, to the selected tuner.

2. The video system of claim 1, wherein the video sources are selected from the group consisting of cable television signals, over-the-air broadcast signals and satellite signals.

3. The video system of claim 1, wherein the source selector further receives a third video signal from a direct video source.

4. The video system of claim 1, wherein each virtual channel includes a channel identifier.

5. The video system of claim 1, further comprising a direct broadcast satellite receiver housing the first and second tuners, the source selector, the memory and the controller, wherein the first tuner is a satellite tuner and the second tuner is a VHF/UHF/CATV tuner.

6. The video system of claim 1, further comprising a television housing the first tuner, the source selector, the memory and the controller.

7. The video system of claim 6, wherein the television further includes:

(a) an external input receiving the video signal from the second tuner; and

(b) a remote control transmitter, coupled to the controller, for outputting a tuning signal to the second tuner.

8. The video system of claim 1, further comprising a remote control housing the memory and controller, the remote control further including a remote control transmitter for sequentially outputting the select and tuning signals to the source selector and the selected tuner.

9. The video system of claim 1, further comprising a remote control housing the memory and controller, the remote control further including first and second remote control transmitters for respectively outputting the select and tuning signals to the source selector and the selected tuner.