System for acquiring and processing broadcast programs, program guide and channel identification data

• US 7,024,676 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Klopfenstein, Scott E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHELEHEDA, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US09/506,873
• Time in Patent Office: 2,239 Days
• Field of Search: 725/131, 725/38, 725/100, 725/151, 725/68, 725/70, 725/89, 725/56
• US Class Current: 725/49
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/434 Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream demultiplexing of data packets for data networks, e.g. RTP/UDP H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system for acquiring program guide information conveyed on one of a plurality of broadcast channels involves identifying an individual broadcast channel in response to user entry of either of, (a) a first channel identification number (e.g. a virtual channel identification number) and (b) a different second channel identification number (e.g. a transmission channel identification number). The system is tuned to receive the identified individual broadcast channel and packetized program information is acquired comprising a program conveyed on the individual broadcast channel using an acquired program guide. The packetized program information is processed to be suitable for display. The system also supports navigating within a first list of broadcast channels and a second list of sub-channels associated with individual broadcast channels in response to user activation of first and second navigation controls respectively.

Claims

1. In a video decoder, a system for tuning to acquire packetized program information comprising a program conveyed on one of a plurality of broadcast channels identified by a physical transmission number corresponding to a virtual channel and a virtual channel identification number of said virtual channel including a major number associated with an information provider and a group of sub-channels and a minor number identifying a sub-channel from among said group of sub-channels, comprising the steps of:

navigating within a first list, including a plurality of broadcast channels, to identify and select a broadcast channel and an associated virtual channel identification number, in response to user activation of a first navigation control, wherein the physical transmission number corresponding to said virtual channel identified number is displayed with said virtual channel identification number;

navigating within a second list of a group of sub-channels associated with said selected broadcast channel to identify and select a sub-channel and an associated minor number, in response to user activation of a second navigation control;

tuning to receive a selected broadcast channel using said selected virtual channel identification number; and

acquiring packetized program information comprising a program conveyed on said broadcast sub-channel using said minor number.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said first navigation control comprises a control for incrementally or decrementally traversing through numbered broadcast channels, and

said second navigation control comprises a control for incrementally or decrementally traversing through numbered sub-channels.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second navigation controls use the same user activated remote control unit button.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said first and second navigation controls use different user activated remote control unit buttons.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said first navigation control comprises a control for incrementally or decrementally traversing through a displayed menu listing numbered broadcast channels, and

said second navigation control comprises a control for incrementally or decrementally traversing through a displayed menu listing numbered sub-channels.

6. A system according to claim 1, including the steps of

generating a displayed menu listing numbered broadcast channels incrementally or decrementally traversed in response to said first navigation control, and

generating a displayed menu listing numbered sub-channels incrementally or decrementally traversed in response to said second navigation control.