Systems and methods for managing television tuners
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving, by a television receiving system, a request to tune to a first channel of a plurality of television channels including one or more local channels and one or more satellite channels;
determining whether the first channel is one of the one or more local channels;
if it is determined that the first channel is one of the one or more local channels, then tuning to the first channel, using a tuner selected from one or more local tuners and one or more satellite tuners according to a hierarchy that prioritizes the one or more local tuners over the one or more satellite tuners, by;
determining whether at least one of the one or more local tuners is available for tuning;
if it is determined that at least one local tuner is available for tuning, then tuning to the first channel using an available one of the one or more local tuners; and
only if it is determined that none of the one or more local tuners are available for tuning, then tuning to the first channel using an available one of one or more satellite tuners.
5 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Example methods and systems are disclosed for managing television tuners. A method includes receiving a request to tune to a first channel of a plurality of television channels including one or more local channels and one or more satellite channels, and determining whether the first channel is one of the local channel(s). If it is determined that the first channel is one of the local channel(s), the method includes determining whether at least one of one or more local tuners is available for tuning. If it is determined that at least one local tuner is available, the method includes tuning to the first channel using an available local tuner. If it is determined that none of the local tuner(s) are available, the method includes tuning to the first channel using an available one of one or more satellite tuners.
21 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving, by a television receiving system, a request to tune to a first channel of a plurality of television channels including one or more local channels and one or more satellite channels; determining whether the first channel is one of the one or more local channels; if it is determined that the first channel is one of the one or more local channels, then tuning to the first channel, using a tuner selected from one or more local tuners and one or more satellite tuners according to a hierarchy that prioritizes the one or more local tuners over the one or more satellite tuners, by; determining whether at least one of the one or more local tuners is available for tuning; if it is determined that at least one local tuner is available for tuning, then tuning to the first channel using an available one of the one or more local tuners; and only if it is determined that none of the one or more local tuners are available for tuning, then tuning to the first channel using an available one of one or more satellite tuners. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for television tuner management comprising:
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one or more satellite tuners configured to receive a plurality of television channels from a satellite antenna, the plurality of television channels including one or more local channels and one or more satellite channels; one or more local tuners configured to receive the one or more local channels from an over-the-air antenna; one or more processors; and one or more memory storing program instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to; receive a request to tune to a first channel of the plurality of television channels; determine whether the first channel is one of the one or more one local channels; and if it is determined that the first channel is one of the one or more local channels, tune to the first channel using a tuner selected from one or more local tuners and one or more satellite tuners according to a hierarchy that prioritizes the one or more local tuners over the one or more satellite tuners, wherein, to tune to the first channel, the instructions further cause the system to; determine whether the at least one of the one or more local tuners is available for tuning; if it is determined that at least one local tuner is available for tuning, then tune to the first channel using an available one of the one or more local tuners; and only if it is determined that none of the one or more local tuners are available for tuning, then tune to the first channel using an available one of the one or more satellite tuners. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for television tuner management comprising:
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one or more subscription tuners configured to receive a plurality of television channels from a first television broadcast system, the plurality of television channels including one or more local channels and one or more subscription channels; one or more local tuners configured to receive the one or more local channels from a second television broadcast system different from the first television broadcast system; one or more processors; and one or more memory storing program instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to; receive a request to tune to a first channel of the plurality of television channels; determine whether the first channel is one of the one or more one local channels; responsive to a determination that the first channel is one of the one or more local channels, determine whether at least one of the one or more local tuners is available for tuning; responsive to a determination that at least one local tuner is available for tuning, then tune to the first channel using an available one of the one or more local tuners; responsive to a determination that none of the one or more local tuners are available for tuning, then determine whether at least one of the one or more subscription tuners is available for tuning; responsive to a determination that none of the one or more local tuners are available and at least one of the one or more subscription tuners is available for tuning, then tune to the first channel using an available one of the one or more subscription tuners; and responsive to a determination that none of the one or more local tuners and none of the one or more subscription tuners is available for tuning, then generate an error signal, wherein the system does not tune to the first channel via the one or more subscription tuners if at least one of the one or more local tuners is available for tuning to the first channel. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification