Apparatus and method using compressed codes for scheduling broadcast information recording

• US 7,239,798 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gemstar Development Corporation (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Kwoh, Daniel S., Yuen, Henry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier; Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/737,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20050008333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 386/83, 386/46, 386/125, 386/109, 386/111, 386/112, 386/1, 386/95
• US Class Current: 386/291
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/023 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/026 by using processor, e.g. microcomputer
• 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 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Digital compressed codes, associated with advertisements enable a user to selectively record additional information, which would be broadcast on a television channel at a later time. The advertisement could be print advertisement or broadcast advertisement on television or radio. The user enters the digital code (I code) associated with an advertisement into a unit with a decoding means which automatically converts the code into CTL (channel, time and length). The unit within a twenty four hour period activates a VCR to record information on the television channel at the right time for the proper length of time. The decoded channel, time and length information can be communicated directly to a VCR and used by the VCR directly to automatically activate the VCR to record a given television information broadcast corresponding to the communicated channel, time and length. Alternately, the channel, time and length information can be decoded directly in a remote control unit and only start record, stop record and channel selection commands sent to the VCR at the appropriate times. Algorithms for decoding the I codes can be a function of time to ensure security of the decoding method. A method is included for use of the I codes with cable channels.

Claims

1. An apparatus for using compressed codes for information broadcast recording that comprises:

an interface that receives compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of of channel, time-of-day and length commands for an information broadcast and each having an indicator digit indicating that the compressed code does not include or represent a date command;

a decoder that decodes a compressed code having at least one digit and an indicator digit indicating that the compressed code does not include or represent a date command into channel, time-of-day and length commands; and

a controller configured to have recorder start recording according to the time-of-day command during the twenty-four hour period following receipt of the compressed code.

2. The apparatus for using compressed codes of claim 1 wherein each compressed code:

has a length less than the length of the concatenation of said set of channel, time-of-day and length commands.

3. The apparatus for using compressed codes of claim 1 wherein each compressed code:

comprises one or more alphanumeric characters.

4. A method for using compressed codes for information broadcast recording that comprises:

receiving compressed codes, each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day and length commands for an information broadcast and each having an indicator digit indicating that the compressed code does not include or represent a date command;

decoding a compressed code having at least one digit and an indicator digit indicating that the compressed code does not include or represent a date command into channel, time-of-day and length commands; and

turning the recording function of a recorder on according to the time-of-day command during the twenty-four hour period following receipt of the compressed code.