Apparatus and methods for a television on-screen guide

• US 6,341,195 B1
• Filed: 05/23/1997
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: E-Guide Inc.
• Inventors: Mankovitz, Roy J., Yuen, Henry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/862,199
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.576, H04/N.592, H04/N.5445, 386/1, 386/83, 348/468, 348/461, 348/906, 725/39-56
• US Class Current: 386/291
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/91 Helical scan format, wherein tracks are slightly tilted with respect to tape direction, e.g. VHS, DAT, DVC, AIT or exabyte
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/107 of operating tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/324 Duty cycle modulation of control pulses, e.g. VHS-CTL-coding systems, RAPID-time code, VASS- or VISS-cue signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4821 using a grid, e.g. sorted out by channel and broadcast time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9208 involving the use of subcodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0882 for the transmission of character code signals, e.g. for teletext circuits for the digital non-picture data signal H04N7/035
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 : Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for a television guide. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a device for comparing a current time with at least one stored time period for extracting television guide data to determine if the current time is within the stored time period, a device for switching a signal output from a first television signal source to a second television signal source, if television guide data is not contained in the signal output from the first television signal source when the current time is within the stored time period, a device for extracting the television guide data from the signal output when the current time is within the stored time period, and a memory for storing the extracted television guide data. In another embodiment the apparatus includes a device for controlling a tuner to tune to a plurality of channels in the first television signal source, when the current time is within the stored time period, a device for controlling a tuner to tune to a plurality of channels in the second television signal source, when the current time is within the stored time period, and a device for locking the tuner on a channel containing television guide data in order to permit extraction of the television guide data from the channel, wherein the device for switching switches from the first television signal source to the second television signal source, if television guide data is not contained in the signal output from the plurality of channels in the first television signal source.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring data related to television programming comprising the steps of:

receiving from a first television signal source a television signal capable of incorporating embedded data relating to television programming;

determining if data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the first source;

if data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the first source, storing the embedded data in an electronic memory; and

if data related to television programming is not embedded in the television signal from the first source, performing the following steps;

receiving from a second signal source a television signal capable of incorporating embedded data relating to television programming;

determining if data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the second source; and

if data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the second source, storing the embedded data in the electronic memory.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the following steps if data related to television programming is not embedded in the television signal from the second source:

receiving from a third television signal source a television signal capable of incorporating embedded data relating to television programming;

determining if data to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the third source; and

if data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the second source, storing the embedded data in the electronic memory.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the first source is a cable network.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the first source is a satellite receiver.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the first source is an over the air antenna.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the data is embedded in the VBI of the television signal.

7. The method of claim 1, in which the data comprises an electronic program guide.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the data comprises video clips.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the first source comprises a plurality of channels of television programs and each channel is capable of incorporating data related to television programming in its VBI and the step of determining if data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the first source comprises successively scanning the channels and searching the VBI of each channel while scanning.

10. The method of claim 9, in which the second source comprises a plurality of channels of television programs and each channel is capable of incorporating data related to television programming in its VBI and the step of determining if data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the second source comprises successively scanning the channels and searching the VBI of each channel while scanning.

11. The method of claim 1, in which the data is acquired by an appliance having a tuner that receives the television signal, the method additionally comprising the step of sensing if the appliance is turned off, the receiving steps receiving the television signal from the first and second sources only if the appliance is turned off.

12. The method of claim 11, additionally comprising the step of storing days and times for receiving information in the appliance, the sensing step only sensing if the appliance is turned off during the stored days and times.

13. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the step of storing days and times, the determining steps only determine if the data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal during the stored days and times.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a program from a third television signal source.