Device, system, and method for managing television tuners

• US 20060114360A1
• Filed: 12/01/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
• Inventors: Sullivan, Marc Andrew, Kortum, Philip Ted, Brandt, Jeff Lewis
• Granted Patent: US 8,434,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/730
• 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 device for detecting when a television is in a standby mode, the device comprising:

a housing;

a plug receptacle formed within a surface of the housing;

a plug extending from the housing; and

a power detection circuit within the housing, the power detection circuit detecting when the television coupled to the device is in the standby mode.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the standby mode is a low power mode in which the television is not fully operational.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a cable extending from the housing, wherein a signal is sent from the power detection circuit to a set top box via the cable, the signal indicating that the television is in the standby mode.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein an electrical cord from a television is inserted into the plug receptacle.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the plug extending from the housing is coupled to a wall outlet.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the cable is a coaxial cable.

21. The set top box of claim 1, wherein the power detection module detects when the television is an operation mode in which the television is turned on.

22. The set top box of claim 21, further comprising a processor the processor receiving a signal from the power detection module when the television is in the standby mode or in the operation mode.

23. The set top box of claim 22, further comprising a memory device accessible to the processor.

24. The set top box of claim 23, wherein the set top box comprises a first set top box that is coupled to a second set top box and the processor within the first set top box receives a signal from a power detection module within the second set top box when a television coupled to the second set top box is in a standby mode.

25. The set top box of claim 24, wherein the signal indicates that the television coupled to the second set top box is in an operation mode.

26. The set top box of claim 24, wherein the first set top box is coupled to the second set top box via a cable connection.

27. The set top box of claim 26, wherein the cable connection is a coaxial cable connection.

28. The set top box of claim 25, wherein the first set top box further comprises a wireless transceiver.

29. The set top box of claim 28, wherein the wireless transceiver within the first set top box communicates with a wireless transceiver within the second set top box.

31. The set top box of claim 28, wherein the wireless transceiver is a radio frequency transceiver.

32. The set top box of claim 28, wherein the wireless transceiver is an ultra high frequency transceiver.

7. A device for detecting when a television is in a standby mode, the device comprising:

a housing;

a plug receptacle formed within a surface of the housing;

a plug extending from the housing;

an antenna extending from the housing; and

a power detection circuit within the housing, the power detection circuit detecting when the television is in the standby mode.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the wireless antenna transmits a signal that indicates that the television is in the standby mode.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the standby mode is a low power mode in which the television is not fully operational.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein an electrical cord from the television is inserted in the plug receptacle.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the plug extending from the housing is inserted into to a wall outlet.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the antenna is coupled to an 802.11 transmitter.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein the antenna is coupled to a radio frequency transmitter.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein the antenna is coupled to an ultra high frequency transmitter.

30. The set top box of claim 10, wherein the wireless transceiver is an 802.11 transceiver.

15. A home entertainment system comprising:

at least two television tuners comprising a first television tuner and a second television tuner;

a processor coupled to the first television tuner and the second television tuner;

a memory device accessible to the processor; and

a computer program embedded within the memory device, the computer program comprising;

instructions to determine whether a second television coupled to a second television tuner is in a standby mode when the first tuner cannot immediately tune to a requested channel at the first television.

16. The home entertainment system of claim 15, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions to detect when a channel request is received at a first television.

17. The home entertainment system of claim 16, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions to detect whether a recording is scheduled for a first television tuner coupled to the first television.

18. The home entertainment system of claim 17, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions to switch a scheduled recording to the second television tuner when the second television is in the standby mode.

19. The home entertainment system of claim 18, wherein the computer program further comprises instructions to change the first television tuner to a requested channel.

20. A set top box for receiving television content, the set top box comprising:

a housing;

a first television tuner within the housing;

a power detection module within the housing, the power detection module detecting when a television coupled to the set top box is in a standby mode in which the television is turned off.