Device, system, and method for managing television tuners

• US 8,434,116 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kortum, Philip Ted, Sullivan, Marc Andrew, Brandt, Jeffrey Lewis
• Primary Examiner(s): Ingvoldstad, Bennett
• Application Number:
  US11/001,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20060114360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,072 Days
• Field of Search: 725/14
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/436 Interfacing a local distribution network, e.g. communicating with another STB or one or more peripheral devices inside the home
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• 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 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers

Abstract

A device for detecting when a television is in a standby mode is provided. The device includes a housing and a plug receptacle is formed within a surface of the housing. Also, a plug extends from the housing. The device further includes a power detection circuit that detects when a television coupled to the device is in a standby mode. In a particular embodiment, the standby mode is a low power mode in which the television is not fully operational. Further, the device includes a cable that extends from the housing. A signal can be sent from the power detection circuit to a set top box via the cable. The signal indicates that the television is in the standby mode. An electrical cord from a television can be plugged into the plug receptacle and the plug that extends from the housing can be plugged into to a wall outlet.

Claims

1. A set top box comprising:

a first television tuner;

a power detection module coupled to a first television, wherein the power detection module is configured to determine whether the first television is in a first standby mode; and

a processor coupled to the power detection module, the processor configured to;

receive a first request to use the first television tuner;

determine whether a recording associated with the first television tuner is scheduled;

determine, based on a first signal from a device associated with a second television, whether the second television is in a standby mode;

transmit a second request to a second set top box to use a second television tuner associated with the second set top box;

receive a rejection associated with the second request from the second set top box; and

generate an indication of the rejection associated with the second request received via the second set top box, wherein the indication includes a graphical message specifying the rejection of the second request.

2. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the power detection module further detects whether the first television is in a first operation mode, wherein the first television is turned on in the first operation mode.

3. The set top box of claim 2, wherein the processor receives a power indication signal from the power detection module when the first television is in the first standby mode or in the first operation mode.

4. The set top box of claim 1, further comprising a memory device accessible to the processor.

5. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

receive the first request via a first wireless transceiver;

transmit the second request to the second set top box via a second wireless transceiver;

receive the rejection associated with the second request via the second wireless transceiver; and

receive the first signal from a receiving module coupled to the second wireless transceiver, wherein the receiving module receives a second signal via the second wireless transceiver from the device when the second television coupled to the device is in a second operation mode.

6. The set top box of claim 5, wherein the second wireless transceiver is a radio frequency transceiver.

7. The set top box of claim 5, wherein the second wireless transceiver is an ultra high frequency transceiver.

8. The set top box of claim 5, further comprising a housing, wherein the power detection module is located within the housing.

9. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the second television provides an indication when the recording is transferred to the second television tuner.

10. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the power detection module comprises a switched connection.

11. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the power detection module is further operable to output an analog signal.

12. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the power detection module is coupled to a cable wall plate.

13. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the power detection module further comprises a wireless transmitter.

14. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the power detection module further comprises a plug receptacle.

15. The set top box of claim 5, wherein the first wireless transceiver includes one of an infrared transceiver and a radio frequency transceiver, and wherein the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver are distinct transceivers.

16. A method comprising:

receiving, at a first set top box in communication with a first television, a first request to use a first television tuner;

determining that a recording is scheduled for the first television tuner;

determining, based on a signal from a power detection module associated with a second television, that the second television is not in a standby mode;

transmitting a second request to a second set top box to use a second television tuner associated with the second set top box;

receiving a return recording option from the second set top box; and

generating, at the first set top box, an indication of a rejection of the second request from the second set top box based on the received return recording option, wherein the indication includes a graphical message specifying the rejection of the second request.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising initiating presentation of at least one option that is presented at the first television, wherein the at least one option includes one of a cancel recording option, a send recording option, and a watch recording option.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one option is presented at the first television via a graphical user interface, and wherein the graphical user interface further comprises a menu navigable via a remote control device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein, in response to transmitting the second request to the second set top box, a second option is presented at the second television, wherein second option includes the return recording option and a watch recording option.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising presenting a second option via the first television, the second option comprising the cancel recording option, wherein the second option is presented in response to receiving the return recording option.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the power detection module is configured to determine when the second television is no longer in the standby mode, and wherein the standby mode comprises receiving no power, a low power mode, being turned off, or any combination thereof.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second request is transmitted directly to the second set top box via a wireless transceiver of the first set top box.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the return recording option includes the rejection of the second request.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the send recording option sends the recording to the second television, wherein the cancel recording option cancels the recording, and wherein the watch recording option changes the first television tuner to a channel associated with the recording.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein the indication further includes a text message specifying the rejection of the second request.