Method and apparatus for capturing broadcast EPG data for program title display

• US 6,701,526 B1
• Filed: 07/01/1999
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Trovato, Karen I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): BELIVEAU, SCOTT E
• Application Number:
  US09/345,338
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 725/39, 725/47, 725/52, 725/53, 348/563, 348/569, 345/825, 345/784, 382/159
• US Class Current: 725/39
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• 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 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• 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 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73

Abstract

A method for providing programming information to a viewer. The method includes steps of capturing an image of a broadcast video signal that includes EPG data; extracting programming information from the captured image; storing the extracted programming information; retrieving the stored programming information, including at least a program title that identifies a current program being carried on a channel selected by the viewer; and, displaying both the current program carried on the selected channel and the retrieved programming information on a video display. The capturing, extracting, and storing steps are performed periodically in order to regularly update the stored programming information. Preferably, the displaying step is performed by displaying the retrieved programming information in overlaying relationship to the current program, and is discontinued upon the lapse of a prescribed time period. In one embodiment, the retrieving and displaying steps are performed in response to the viewer changing channels, each time that the viewer changes channels when channel surfing. Also disclosed are an apparatus and television system for performing the above-described method.

Claims

1. A television system, comprising:

a first tuner;

a second tuner for receiving a program video signal carried on a channel selected by a viewer;

a microprocessor;

an image capture module having an input coupled to an output of the first tuner and an output coupled to an output of the microprocessor; and

a video display generator having a first input coupled to an output of the second tuner and a second input coupled to an output of the microprocessor;

wherein the microprocessor is programmed to at least periodically tune the first tuner to an EPG channel carrying a broad cast video signal that includes EPG data, and to periodically control the image capture module to capture an image of the broadcast video signal that includes EPG data;

wherein the microprocessor is also programmed to at least periodically extract programming information from the captured image, and to store the extracted programming information;

wherein the microprocessor is also programmed to retrieve at least selected portions of the stored programming information, and to supply the retrieved programming information to the video display generator, whereby the video display generator simultaneously displays both a current program carried on the selected channel and the retrieved programming information on a video display;

wherein the television system is programmed to perform a set-up routine that trains the microprocessor to recognize a presentation format of the EPG data contained in the broadcast video signal received over the EPG channel; and

wherein the television system is programmed to perform a set-up routine that trains the microprocessor to recognize the locations of different data fields of the EPG data contained in the broadcast video signal received over the EPG channel, whereby the microprocessor uses this location information in extracting the programming information from the captured image.

2. The television system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the retrieved programming information includes at least a program title that identifies the current program being carried on the selected channel.