Automated channel detection with one-way control of a channel source
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of determining a channel line-up available through a primary TV receiver, comprising:
- at an electronic device configured to receive media programs, the electronic device including one or more processors and memory;
identifying a plurality of candidate channels from a list;
for each of the plurality of candidate channels;
sending a respective control command to the primary TV receiver that tunes the primary TV receiver to the respective candidate channel;
capturing respective display data provided by the primary TV receiver in response to the primary TV receiver receiving the respective control command;
analyzing the respective display data to determine whether or not the respective candidate channel is delivering television content associated with a subscription corresponding to the electronic device, including analyzing signal strength of the respective candidate channel;
when the respective channel is delivering television content associated with a subscription;
transmitting a first respective code to the primary TV receiver to initiate display of a respective text overlay corresponding to the respective candidate channel;
extracting respective text from the text overlay, wherein the respective text is associated with a respective media program delivered on the respective channel;
transmitting a second respective code to the primary TV receiver to end display of the respective text overlay; and
adding the respective channel and at least a portion of the corresponding respective text to the channel line-up;
when the respective channel is delivering television content not associated with a subscription;
not adding the respective channel to the channel line-up; and
displaying the channel line-up to a user of the electronic device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Features of various implementations are used to enable delivery of matched functionality, content and/or services, as a part of an interactive television suite of technologies. In some implementations, a content delivery process is enabled so that communication between the primary TV receiver and a supplemental set-top box is reduced in order to avoid the need for one or more provider-specific APIs. For example, one aspect of the disclosure is a method of identifying a media program by capturing display data from the media program, and extracting text from the display data in response to determining that the display data includes the text overlay, wherein the extracted text is associated with the media program. In some implementations, a supplemental set-top box is configured to operate a primary TV receiver, without a provider-specific API, in order to determine the channel line-up available to a particular subscriber through the primary TV receiver.
68 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of determining a channel line-up available through a primary TV receiver, comprising:
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at an electronic device configured to receive media programs, the electronic device including one or more processors and memory; identifying a plurality of candidate channels from a list; for each of the plurality of candidate channels; sending a respective control command to the primary TV receiver that tunes the primary TV receiver to the respective candidate channel; capturing respective display data provided by the primary TV receiver in response to the primary TV receiver receiving the respective control command; analyzing the respective display data to determine whether or not the respective candidate channel is delivering television content associated with a subscription corresponding to the electronic device, including analyzing signal strength of the respective candidate channel; when the respective channel is delivering television content associated with a subscription; transmitting a first respective code to the primary TV receiver to initiate display of a respective text overlay corresponding to the respective candidate channel; extracting respective text from the text overlay, wherein the respective text is associated with a respective media program delivered on the respective channel; transmitting a second respective code to the primary TV receiver to end display of the respective text overlay; and adding the respective channel and at least a portion of the corresponding respective text to the channel line-up; when the respective channel is delivering television content not associated with a subscription; not adding the respective channel to the channel line-up; and displaying the channel line-up to a user of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
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identifying a plurality of candidate channels from a list; for each of the plurality of candidate channels; sending a respective control command to the primary TV receiver that tunes the primary TV receiver to the respective candidate channel; capturing respective display data provided by the primary TV receiver in response to the primary TV receiver receiving the respective control command; analyzing the respective display data to determine whether or not the respective candidate channel is delivering television content associated with a subscription corresponding to the electronic device, including analyzing signal strength of the respective candidate channel; when the respective channel is delivering television content associated with a subscription; transmitting a first respective code to the primary TV receiver to initiate display of a respective text overlay corresponding to the respective candidate channel; extracting respective text from the text overlay, wherein the respective text is associated with a respective media program delivered on the respective channel; transmitting transmit a second respective code to the primary TV receiver to end display of the respective text overlay; and adding the respective channel and at least a portion of the corresponding respective text to the channel line-up; when the respective channel is delivering television content not associated with a subscription; not adding the respective channel to the channel line-up; and displaying the channel line-up to a user of the electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for determining a channel line-up available through a primary TV receiver, comprising:
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an electronic device configured to receive media programs, the electronic device including one or more processors and memory that stores instructions for execution by the one or more processors; wherein the memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to; identify a plurality of candidate channels from a list; for each of the plurality of candidate channels; send a respective control command to a primary TV receiver that tunes the primary TV receiver to the respective candidate channel; capture respective display data provided by the primary TV receiver in response to the primary TV receiver receiving the respective control command; analyze the respective display data to determine whether or not the respective candidate channel is delivering television content associated with a subscription corresponding to the electronic device, including analyzing signal strength of the respective candidate channel; when the respective channel is delivering television content associated with a subscription; transmit a first respective code to the primary TV receiver to initiate display of a respective text overlay corresponding to the respective candidate channel; extract respective text from the text overlay, wherein the respective text is associated with a respective media program delivered on the respective channel; transmit a second respective code to the primary TV receiver to end display of the respective text overlay; and add the respective channel and at least a portion of the corresponding respective text to the channel line-up; when the respective channel is delivering television content not associated with a subscription; not add the respective channel to the channel line-up; and display the channel line-up to a user of the system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification