Assigning channel selection time intervals by broadcast region

• US 7,761,891 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Sahasrabudhe, Rajeev Madhukar, Mingot, Jacques, Dartigues, Herve
• Primary Examiner(s): Beliveau; Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ingvoldstad; Bennett
• Application Number:
  US10/552,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20060288364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,295 Days
• Field of Search: 725/38, 725/57, 348731-733
• US Class Current: 725/38
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0075 where the receiving frequencies of the stations are stored in a permanent memory, e.g. ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/51 of receiving stations
• 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 21/42215 by measuring the time interval during which a key is pressed, e.g. for inputting sequences of digits when selecting a television channel
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

A method for selecting a broadcast program is conducive for worldwide or global use. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method includes steps of receiving a first user input representing a first digit associated with the broadcast program, storing first data representing the first digit within one of a first predetermined time interval for a first region and a second predetermined time interval for a second region, and processing the first data for selecting the broadcast program.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a broadcast program, comprising:

storing a first time interval associated with a first region and a second predetermined time interval associated with a second region;

receiving a user selection of one of said first region and said second region;

storing data corresponding to one of said first region and said second region responsive to said user selection

receiving a first user input representing a first digit associated with said broadcast program;

storing first data representing said first digit within one of said first predetermined time interval for said first region in response to said stored data corresponding to said first region and said second predetermined time interval for said second region in response to said stored data corresponding to said second region; and

processing said first data for selecting said broadcast program, wherein said first predetermined time interval and said second predetermined time interval are non-zero time intervals and wherein said first predetermined time interval is shorter than said second predetermined time interval and said first data is processed after one of said first and second predetermined time intervals expires.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprised of:

receiving a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program within one of said first and second predetermined time intervals; and

processing said second data for selecting said broadcast program.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprised of:

receiving a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program within a third predetermined time interval after one of said first and second predetermined time intervals expires; and

processing said second data for selecting said broadcast program.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first region includes Europe and Asia.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said second region includes North America and South America.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said first region receives first broadcast programs from a first service provider; and

said second region receives second broadcast programs from a second service provider.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

tuning means for tuning a frequency providing a broadcast program;

memory means for storing a first predetermined time interval associated with a first region and a second predetermined time interval associated with a second region, said memory means further operative to store a user selection indicating one of said first region and said second region, said memory means further operative for storing first data representing a first digit associated with said broadcast program responsive to a first user input, said memory means storing said first data within one of a first predetermined time interval for a first region in response to said user selection indicating said first region and a second predetermined time interval for a second region in response to said user selection indicating said second region; and

processing means for processing said first data and controlling said tuning means to select said broadcast program, wherein said first predetermined time interval and said second predetermined time interval are non-zero time intervals and wherein said first predetermined time interval is shorter than said second predetermined time interval and said processing means processes said first data after one of said first and second predetermined time intervals expires.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said processing means:

detects a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program within one of said first and second predetermined time intervals; and

processes said second data for selecting said broadcast program.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said processing means:

detects a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program within a third predetermined time interval after one of said first and second predetermined time intervals expires; and

processes said second data for selecting said broadcast program.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first region includes Europe and Asia.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said second region includes North America and South America.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

said first region receives first broadcast programs from a first service provider; and

said second region receives second broadcast programs from a second service provider.

13. A television signal receiver, comprising:

a tuner operative to tune a frequency providing a broadcast program;

a memory for storing a first predetermined time interval associated with a first region and a second predetermined time interval associated with a second region, said memory further operative to store a user selection indicating one of said first region and said second region, said memory further operative for storing first data representing a first digit associated with said broadcast program responsive to a first user input, said memory means storing said first data within one of a first predetermined time interval for a first region in response to said user selection indicating said first region and a second predetermined time interval for a second region in response to said user selection indicating said second region; and

a processor operative to process said first data and control said tuner to select said broadcast program, wherein said first predetermined time interval and said second predetermined time interval are non-zero time intervals and wherein said first predetermined time interval is shorter than said second predetermined time interval; and

said processor processes said first data after one of said first and second predetermined time intervals expires.

14. The television signal receiver of claim 13, wherein said processor is further operative to:

detect a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program within one of said first and second predetermined time intervals; and

process said second data to select said broadcast program.

15. The television signal receiver of claim 13, wherein said processor is further operative to:

detect a second user input representing a second digit associated with said broadcast program within a third predetermined time interval after one of said first and second predetermined time intervals expires; and

process said second data to select said broadcast program.

16. The television signal receiver of claim 13, wherein said first region includes Europe and Asia.

17. The television signal receiver of claim 13, wherein said second region includes North America and South America.

18. The television signal receiver of claim 13, wherein:

said first region receives first broadcast programs from a first service provider; and

said second region receives second broadcast programs from a second service provider.