Apparatus and method using compressed codes for scheduling broadcast information recording

• US 8,233,773 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2007
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United Video Properties Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuen, Henry C., Kwoh, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/807,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20080131080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,890 Days
• Field of Search: 386/291, 386/293, 386/296, 386/297
• 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, a combination including a set of channel, time-of-day and length commands for an information broadcast;

a decoder that decodes a compressed code having at least one digit into a set of channel, time-of-day and length commands, wherein the decoding comprises extracting a validity period code; and

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

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 the 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 including a set of channel, time-of-day and length commands for an information broadcast;

decoding a compressed code having at least one digit into a set of channel, time-of-day and length commands, wherein the decoding comprises extracting a validity period code; and

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