System and method for optimized channel switching in digital television broadcasting
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- tuning a receiver to a first digital channel via a tuner of the receiver;
storing digital encoded media received from said first digital channel in an encoded media buffer;
decoding output from the encoded media buffer to produce a decoded media stream;
presenting the decoded media stream on a television screen operably coupled to the receiver;
responsive to at least one of a trigger and a time-based switching instruction, initiating a switching of said tuner to a second channel while continuing to decode the output from the encoded media buffer until the buffer is empty thereby presenting the decoded media stream on the television during the switch from the first channel to the second channel, the second channel occupying a different frequency band than the first digital channel, wherein output from the tuner is switched off or ignored after initiating the switching of said tuner to the second channel and during the switch from the first channel to the second channel;
after a passage of time for said tuner to complete switching to said second channel, storing digital encoded media received from said second channel in the encoded media buffer, wherein said passage of time for said tuner to complete switching to said second channel is a predetermined amount of time and a quantity of digital encoded media in said encoded media buffer is maximized to cover a maximal amount of said predetermined amount of time; and
decoding and presenting, from the encoded media buffer, the digital encoded media received from said second channel.
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Abstract
A system and method for masking/reducing the switch time from an analog or digital television channel to another digital television channel and back. Various optimizations which may be used individually or in combination to minimize the potential disruption to the viewer. This optimization is especially important when the channel switch is made automatically by the receiver, such as the case where the presentation of one television program is temporarily continued on another channel.
178 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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tuning a receiver to a first digital channel via a tuner of the receiver; storing digital encoded media received from said first digital channel in an encoded media buffer; decoding output from the encoded media buffer to produce a decoded media stream; presenting the decoded media stream on a television screen operably coupled to the receiver; responsive to at least one of a trigger and a time-based switching instruction, initiating a switching of said tuner to a second channel while continuing to decode the output from the encoded media buffer until the buffer is empty thereby presenting the decoded media stream on the television during the switch from the first channel to the second channel, the second channel occupying a different frequency band than the first digital channel, wherein output from the tuner is switched off or ignored after initiating the switching of said tuner to the second channel and during the switch from the first channel to the second channel; after a passage of time for said tuner to complete switching to said second channel, storing digital encoded media received from said second channel in the encoded media buffer, wherein said passage of time for said tuner to complete switching to said second channel is a predetermined amount of time and a quantity of digital encoded media in said encoded media buffer is maximized to cover a maximal amount of said predetermined amount of time; and decoding and presenting, from the encoded media buffer, the digital encoded media received from said second channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A receiver, comprising:
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a tuner configured to select one channel from multiple channels received by said receiver; a digital encoded media buffer operably coupled to said tuner; a decoder operatively coupled to the digital encoded media buffer, and at least one processor operably coupled to the tuner, the digital encoded media buffer and the decoder, the at least one processor being configured to; tune the receiver to a first digital channel via a tuner of the receiver, store digital encoded media received from in the encoded media buffer, decode output from the encoded media buffer to produce a decoded media stream; present output from the decoder on a television screen operably coupled to the receiver, responsive to at least one of a trigger and a time-based switching instruction, initiating a switch of said tuner to a second channel while continuing to decode the output from the encoded media buffer until the buffer is empty, thereby presenting the decoded media stream on the television during the switch from the first channel to the second channel, the second channel occupying a different frequency band than the first digital channel, wherein output from the tuner is switched off or ignored after initiating the switch of said tuner to the second channel and during the switch from the first channel to the second channel, storing digital encoded media received from said second digital channel in the encoded media buffer; and decoding and presenting, from the encoded media buffer, the digital encoded media received from said second channel after a passage of time for said tuner to complete switching to said second channel, wherein said passage of time for said tuner to complete switching to said second channel is a predetermined amount of time and a quantity of digital encoded media in said encoded media buffer is maximized to cover a maximal amount of said predetermined amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A receiver, comprising:
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a first tuner and a second tuner; and at least one processor operably coupled to the first tuner and the second tuner, the at least one processor being configured to; tune the first tuner to a first channel; cause the output of first media output received from the first tuner to a television screen; tune the second tuner to a second channel while continuing to cause the output of the first media output thereby presenting the first media output on the television screen during a switch from the first channel to the second channel, the second channel occupying a different frequency band than the first channel, wherein output from the second tuner is switched off or ignored after initiating the switch of said tuner to the second channel and during the switch from the first channel to the second channel; monitor for a stable signal of the second channel at the second tuner; and responsive to at least one of a trigger and a time-based switching instruction, cause the output of second media output received from the second tuner on the television screen responsive to the stable signal at the second tuner. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification