APPARATUS AND METHOD USING COMPRESSED CODES FOR SCHEDULING BROADCAST INFORMATION RECORDING

• US 20020006267A1
• Filed: 08/10/1999
• Published: 01/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1988
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daniel S. Kwoh, Henry C. Yuen
• Original Assignee: Daniel S. Kwoh, Henry C. Yuen
• Inventors: KWOH, DANIEL S., YUEN, HENRY C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,466,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/83
• 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:

means for entering compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day and length commands for a information broadcast;

means for decoding a compressed code having at least one digit into channel, time-of-day and length commands;

means for recording coupled to said means for decoding;

a clock for providing an output as a function of time-coupled to said means for decoding;

means for selecting a channel to record in response to said decoded channel commands;

means for turning said means for recording on in response to comparison of said decoded time-of-day commands with said clock output; and

means for turning said means for recording off in response to comparison of the record on time with said decoded length commands.

2. The apparatus for using compressed codes of claim 1 wherein:

said means for decoding a compressed code into channel, time-of-day and length commands performs the decoding as a function of said-clock output.

3. The apparatus for using compressed codes of claim 1 wherein said means for entering a compressed code comprises:

means for remote control having a signal transmit means for communicating said compressed code to said means for decoding.

4. The apparatus for using compressed codes of claim 1 wherein said means for entering a compressed code comprises a keyboard.

18. The apparatus for using compressed codes of claim 1, 5, 6 or which further comprises:

means for substituting a local channel number for a channel number in said channel command.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, 5, 6, 15, or 44 further comprising:

means for warning a user that said clock output will compare within a preset time to said time-of-day commands.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, 5, 6, 15, or 44 that further comprises:

means for advancing time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by three hours; and

means for retarding time-of-day commands decoded from a compressed code by three hours.

5. An apparatus for using compressed codes for information broadcast recording that comprises:

means for remote control;

means for entering compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day and length commands for a information broadcast coupled to said means for remote control;

means for decoding a compressed code having at least one digit into channel, time-of-day and length commands coupled to said remote control;

means for recording;

means for transmitting channel, time-of-day and length commands from said means for remote control to said means for recording;

a clock for providing an output as a function of time coupled to said means for recording;

means for selecting a channel to record in response to said decoded channel commands;

means for turning said means for recording on in response to comparison of said decoded time-of-day commands with said clock output; and

means for turning said means for recording off in response to comparison of the record on time with said decoded length commands.

7. The apparatus for using compressed codes of claim 5 or 6 that further comprises:

a second clock having an output as a function of time coupled to said means for decoding a compressed code into channel, time-of-day and length commands; and

wherein said means for decoding a compressed code into channel, time-of-day and length commands performs the decoding as a function of said second clock output.

8. The apparatus for using compressed codes of claim 5 or 6 that further comprises:

a stack memory coupled to said means for decoding a compressed code for storing a plurality of channel, time-of-day and length commands;

a second clock having an output as a function of time coupled to said means for decoding a compressed code into channel, time and length commands; and

wherein said means for decoding a compressed code further comprises a means for periodically comparing said time-of-day commands in said tack memory and transmitting said channel, time-of-day and length commands to said means for recording when said time-or-day commands have a predetermined relation with said second means for keeping time.

6. An apparatus for using compressed codes for information broadcast recording that comprises:

means for universal remote control capable of learning protocols of different remote controller with which said means for universal remote contol interfaces;

means for entering compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day and length commands for a information broadcast coupled to said means for universal remote control;

means for decoding a compressed code having at least one digit into channel, time-of-day and length commands coupled to said universal remote control;

means for recording;

means for transmitting channel, time-of-day and length commands from said means for universal remote control to said means for recording;

a clock having an output as a function of time coupled to said means for recording;

means for selecting a channel to record in response to said decoded channel commands;

means for turning said means for recording on in response to comparison of said decoded time-of-day commands with said clock output; and

means for turning said means for recording off in response to comparison of the record on time with said decoded length commands.

9. A method of permitting information broadcasts to be recorded by a recorder for time shifted viewing comprising:

providing a remote controller having a means for transmitting signals to the recorder and a clock with an output as a function of time;

entering into said remote controller compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative, and compressed in length from, the combination of channel, time-of-day and length commands for a information broadcast;

decoding each compressed code to obtain channel, time-of-day and length commands;

providing a memory;

storing each said channel, time-of-day and length commands into said memory;

reordering said channel, time-of-day and length commands in said memory into temporal order;

comparing the time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time entry in said memory to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

transmitting channel select and record on commands to the recorder after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;

selecting the channel;

recording the information broadcast;

measuring length of time from transmitting record on command; and

transmitting record off commands to the recorder when the measured length of time compares with said length command.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the steps of selecting and recording are performed by a video cassette recorder.

11. The method of claim 10, 23 or 63 wherein the step of selecting comprises selection by a cable box.

12. The method of claim 10, 23, or 63 which further comprises the step of advancing said time-of-day command by a predetermined number of hours.

13. The method of claim 10, 23, or 61 which further comprises the step of retarding said time-of-day command by a predetermined number of hours.

14. The method of claim 10, 23, or 63 which further comprises the step of:

transmitting said channel select, record on, and record off commands in forward, backward, left, right and downward directions from said remote controller.

15. An apparatus for using compressed codes for information broadcast recording that comprises:

means for remote control having a means for transmitting signals;

means for entering into said means for remote control compressed codes each having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of individual channel, time-of-day and length commands for a information broadcast;

means for decoding each compressed code into channel, time and length commands coupled to said means for remote control;

means for storing said channel, time-of-day and length commands in said remote control;

a clock with an output as a function of time coupled to said remote control;

a means for reordering said channel, time-of-day and length commands in said means for storing into time-of-day temporal order;

a means for comparing said time-of-day commands of the temporally earliest in time entry in said means for storing to the output of the clock for a predetermined relation;

a means coupled to said remote control for transmitting channel select and record on commands to a recorder after the predetermined relationship is found to exist;

a means for measuring length of time from transmitting a record on command coupled to said remote control; and

a means for transmitting record off commands when the measured length of time of recording compares with said length command.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 which further comprises:

a channel selector responsive to said channel select commands; and

a means for recording the information broadcast responsive to said record on and record off commands.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said channel selector comprises a cable box.

20. The apparatus of claim 5, 6, 15, 32 or 35 that further comprises:

means for transmitting simultaneously in forward, backward, left, right and downward directions.

22. The apparatus for using compressed codes of claim 15 that further comprises:

means for storing a plurality of protocol sets of transmit signals coupled to said means for remote control; and

means for selecting a protocol set of transmit signals for a particular means for recording.

23. A method of using compressed codes for information broadcast recording comprising the steps of:

providing an advertisement wherein said advertisement has an associated compressed code having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of the individual channel, time-of-day and length data for a broadcast;

entering said compressed code associated with said advertisement;

transforming said compressed code into a binary number;

reordering the bits in said binary number to obtain a reordered binary compressed code;

separating said reordered binary compressed code into channel, time and length priority indices;

providing priority vectors for channel, time and length;

using said channel, time and length priority indices to derive channel, time and length commands from said priority vectors for channel, time and length;

comparing the time-of-day commands to the output of a clock for a predetermined relation;

selecting the channel specified in the channel command after the predetermined relation is found to exist;

enabling recording by the video cassette recorder of the video signals on the selected channel by commencing recording after the predetermined relation is found to exist; and

utilizing the length command to terminate the recording.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the step of transforming further comprises the steps of:

extracting a validity period code-from said compressed code;

using said validity period code to select a scramble method for unscrambling said compressed code to obtain a unscrambled compressed code;

converting groups of decimal numbers of said unscrambled compressed code to groups of binary numbers;

concatenating said groups of binary numbers into one binary number; and

deleting said validity period code from said one binary number.

25. The method of claim 9, 23 or 59 further comprising the step of:

substituting a local channel number for a channel number in said channel command.

26. The method of claim 9, 23, or 63 wherein the step of comparing further comprises the step of warning a user that the output of the clock will compare within a preset time to said time-of-day commands.

27. A system for the automatic recording of an information broadcast on a recorder comprising:

an advertisement having a unique compressed coded indication comprising a set of digits and representing the channel on which such information broadcast will appear, the time such information broadcast is to start, and the length of such information broadcast; and

a means for automatically controlling recording of signals by a recorder comprising means for receiving representations of the digits of the compressed coded indications from the advertisement and for enabling such recorder to commence recording information broadcast signals on the channel and at the time and terminating after the length of time represented by said compressed coded indication.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the means for automatically controlling recording comprises:

an input for receiving the representation of the digits of each of the compressed coded indications;

a decoder for decoding the representation of each of the compressed coded indications into corresponding separate channel time and length commands;

a channel selector for selecting the channel identified in the channel command; and

an on/off controller for enabling recording by the recorder of the information broadcast on the selected channel and comprising means operative for turning on the recording commencing at the time specified by the time commands and terminating recording after the length of time specified by the length command.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said channel selector further comprises a video cassette recorder and a cable box.

30. A system for automatically controlling recording by a recorder of a channel of video signals under control of a channel command beginning at the time-of-day specified by a time-of-day command, and for the length of time specified by a length command, the system comprising:

an input for receiving representations of compressed coded indications, each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of one of each said channel command, time-of-day command, and length command; and

a decoder for decoding and expanding any said compressed coded indication to individual channel command, time-of-day command, and length command for control of the recorder.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the input and decoder are an integral part of a video cassette recorder.

32. The system of claim 30 comprising a remote transmitter which comprises said input.

33. The system of claim 31 or 32 wherein the recorder comprises a video cassette recorder and includes control means for interpreting whether said compressed coded indication for a information broadcast has been received by the video cassette recorder.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said control means comprises a microprocessor.

35. The system of claim 30 comprising a remote hand transmitter which comprises said input and decoder.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said remote handheld transmitter comprises a universal remote controller capable of learning protocols of different remote controllers with which said universal remote controller interfaces.

37. The system of claim 31 or 35 wherein said input comprises a keyboard entry device.

38. The system of claim 31 or 35 wherein said decoder comprises a microprocessor.

40. The system of claim 30 wherein said decoder comprises:

means for converting said compressed coded indication into a binary number;

means for reordering the bits in said binary number to obtain a reordered binary compressed code;

means for grouping said reordered binary compressed code into channel time and length priority numbers; and

means for using said channel, time and length priority numbers to derive said channel, time-of-day and length commands.

means for substituting a local channel number for the channel number in said channel command.

41. The system of claim 40 comprising a clock providing an output as a function of time and wherein said means for reordering the bits in said compressed code comprises means for reordering the bits as a function of the output of the clock.

42. The system of claim 40 comprising a clock providing an output as a function of time wherein said means for deriving said channel, time-of-day and length commands comprises means for deriving said channel, time-of-day and length commands as a function of the output of the clock.

43. The system of claim 30 wherein said decoder comprises:

means for converting said compressed coded indication into a of generalized base number;

means for reordering the bits in said generalized base number to obtain a reordered generalized base compressed code;

means for grouping said reordered generalized base compressed code into channel, time and length priority numbers; and

means for using said channel, time and length priority numbers to derive said channel, time-of-day and length commands.

44. The system of claim 30 further comprising:

a clock providing an output as a function of time;

means for comparing the time-of-day to the clock output for a predetermined relation;

a channel selector for selecting the channel specified in the channel command after the predetermined relation is found to exist; and

an on/off controller for enabling recording by the recorder of the video signals on the selected channel comprising means operative for turning on the recording after the predetermined relation is found to exist and for utilizing the length command to terminate the recording.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein:

said channel selector further comprises a cable box; and

said on/off controller and the recorder further comprise a video cassette recorder.

46. The system of claim 30 wherein said decoder comprises:

means for entering encoded data into the decoder;

means for decoding said encoded data to determine channel, time and length of the channel of video signals to be recorded; and

means for generating control commands from said encoded data for selection of said channel of video signals for recording and for control of a recorder to start and stop the recording of the selected channel by the recorder.

39. The system of 30 comprising a clock for providing an output as a function of time and wherein the decoder comprises means for generating said channel, time-of-day and length commands as a function of the output of the clock.

47. In a system for automatically controlling recording of channels of television information broadcasts by a video cassette recorder, apparatus for decoding encoded data, where the data comprises channel, time and length of the information broadcast, said apparatus comprising:

means for entering the encoded data into the apparatus;

means for decoding said encoded data to determine channel, time and length of the information broadcast to be recorded; and

means for generating control commands from said decoded data for selection of a channel for recording and for control of the video cassette recorder to start and stop the recording of the selected channel by the video cassette recorder.

48. The system of claim 47, said apparatus further comprising a cable box responsive to said means for generating control commands from said decoded data for selection of a channel.

49. A method of programming a system for automatically controlling recording by a video cassette recorder of a channel of video signals specified by a channel command beginning at the time-of-day specified by a time-of-day command and for the length of time specified by a length command, the steps comprising:

receiving compressed coded indications, each representative of the combination of one of each said channel command, time-of-day command, and length command; and

decoding and expanding any said compressed coded indications to individual said channel command, time-of-day command and length command for control of the video cassette controller.

50. The method of claim 49 comprising the step of receiving the compressed coded indication in the video cassette recorder.

51. The method of claim 49 comprising the step of receiving the compressed coded indication in a transmitter remote from the video cassette recorder.

52. The method of claim 50 or 51 wherein the step of receiving comprises the step of interpreting whether said compressed coded indication is a decimal compressed code for an information broadcast by inspecting whether the leading digit in said compressed coded indication has a predetermined value.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the step of interpreting is performed by a microprocessor.

54. The method of claim 49 comprising the steps of receiving the compressed coded indication and decoding and expanding the compressed coded indication in a transmitter remote from the video cassette recorder.

55. The method of claim 49 further comprising the step of using a remote handheld transmitter, which interfaces with different remote controllers for learning the protocols of the different controllers.

56. The method of claim 51 or 55 wherein the step of receiving comprises the step of inputting the compressed coded indications with a keyboard entry device.

57. The method of claim 50 or 54 wherein the step of decoding comprises the step of decoding the compressed coded indication with a microprocessor.

58. The method of claim 49 wherein the step of decoding and expanding comprises the step of performing said decoding and expanding as a function of the output of a clock.

59. The method of claim 49 wherein the step of decoding and expanding comprises the steps of:

transforming said compressed coded indication into a binary number;

providing a bit hierarchy key that specifies the reordering of said binary number;

reordering the bits in said binary number according to said bit hierarchy key to obtain a reordered binary compressed code;

separating said reordered binary compressed code into channel, time and length priority indices;

providing priority vectors for channel, time and length;

using said channel, time and length priority indices to derive channel, time and length commands from said priority vectors for channel, time and length.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the step of reordering comprises the step of performing said reordering as a function of the output of a clock.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein the step of deriving comprises the step of performing said deriving as a function of the output of a clock.

62. The method of claim 49 wherein the step of decoding and expanding comprises the steps of:

converting said compressed coded indication into a of generalized base number;

reordering the bits in said generalized base number to obtain a reordered generalized base compressed code;

grouping said reordered Generalized base compressed code into channel, time and length priority numbers; and

using said channel, time and length priority numbers to derive said channel, time-of-day and length commands.

63. The method of claim 49 or 51 further comprising the steps of:

comparing the time-of-day commands to the output of a clock for a predetermined relation;

selecting the channel specified in the channel command after the predetermined relation is found to exist;

enabling recording by the video cassette recorder of the video signals on the selected channel by commencing recording after the predetermined relation is found to exist; and

utilizing the length command to terminate the recording.

64. The method of claim 49 wherein the step of decoding and expanding comprises the steps of:

entering encoded data into the decoder;

decoding said encoded data to determine channel, time and length of the channel of video signals to be recorded; and

generating control commands from said encoded data for selection of said channel of video signals for recording and for control of the video cassette recorder to start and stop the recording of the selected channel by the video cassette recorder.

65. An advertisement in any media for combined direct consumption by a consumer of said media and for use in automatic recording of an information broadcast for future viewing, the combination comprising:

an advertising section; and

an additional unique coded indication for said information broadcast placed in said advertising section.

66. The advertisement of claim 65 wherein the unique code indication comprises a leading digit with a predetermined value.

67. The advertisement of claim 66 wherein the sum of the number of digits of the unique coded indication is less than the sum of the number of digits in all of the individual representations of channel, time-of-day and length.

68. A method of creating an advertisement for combined direct consumption by a consumer of said media and for use in automatic recording of information broadcasts for future viewing, comprising the steps of:

creating an advertising section;

creating a unique coded indication representing the channel, the time-of-day, and the length of time for a information broadcast associated with said advertisement; and

placing in said advertising section, the unique coded indication for said information broadcast.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein the step of creating a unique coded indication for said information broadcast comprises the step of:

creating the unique coded indication wherein the sum of the number of digits of the unique coded indication is less than the sum of the number of digits in all of the individual representations of channel, time-of-day and length.

70. The method of claim 68 wherein the step of creating the unique coded indication comprises the step of encoding that minimizes the number of digits in said unique coded indication for information broadcasts most likely to be selected for recording for future viewing.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein the step of creating the unique coded indication comprises the step of:

encoding the unique coded indication based on probabilities assigned to the channel, time-of-day and length of time.

72. The method of claim 68 wherein the step of creating a unique coded indication comprises the steps of:

creating a representation for each of a channel, time of day and length for any information broadcast;

using said representation to derive a priority number for said channel, time and length representations;

converting the priority numbers into a binary number for each of said channel, time and length commands;

reordering the bits of said binary numbers to obtain a compressed code of binary bits; and

converting the compressed code of binary bits into one said unique coded indication.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the step of reordering comprises the step of performing said reordering as a function of a bit hierarchy key.

74. The method of claim 72 wherein the step of converting comprises the step of performing said converting as a function of the output of a clock.

75. The method of claim 72 wherein the step of reordering comprises the step of performing said reordering as a function of the output of a clock.

76. The method of claim 72 wherein the step of using said representation to derive a priority number comprises the step of performing said derivation as a function of the output of a clock.

77. The method of claim 68 wherein the step of creating a unique coded indication comprises the steps of:

creating a representation for each of a channel, time of day and length for any information broadcast;

using said representation to derive a priority number for said channel, time and length representations;

converting the priority numbers into a generalized base number for each of said channel, time and length commands;

reordering the bits of said generalized base numbers to obtain a compressed code of generalized base bits; and

converting the compressed code of generalized base bits into one said unique coded indication.

78. An advertisement on a display medium for combined direct consumption by a consumer of said media and for use in automatic recording of information broadcasts for future viewing, the combination comprising:

an advertising section; and

an unique coded indication for said advertisement positioned on the display medium in said advertising section.

79. The advertisement of claim 78 wherein the unique code indication comprises a leading digit with a predetermined value.

80. The advertisement of claim 79 wherein the sum of the number of digits of the unique coded indication is less than the sum of the number of digits in all of the individual representations of channel, time-of-day and length.

81. A method of creating on advertisement on a display medium for combined direct consumption by a consumer of said media and for use in automatic recording of information broadcasts for future viewing, comprising the steps of:

creating on the display medium an advertising section;

creating on the display medium a unique coded indication for said advertisement, the coded indication representing the channel, the time-of-day, and the length of time for said information broadcast associated with said advertisement; and

placing in said advertising section, the unique coded indication for said information broadcast.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein the step of creating on a display medium a unique coded indication for said advertisement comprises the step of:

creating the unique coded indication wherein the sum of the number of digits of the unique coded indication is less than the sum of the number of digits in all of the individual representations of channel, time-of-day and length.

83. The method of claim 82 wherein the step of creating the unique coded indication to have less digits comprises the step of:

encoding the unique coded indication based on probabilities assigned to the channel, time-of-day and length of time.