Previous channel feature in a television receiver having multiple RF inputs

• US 5,161,023 A
• Filed: 09/24/1990
• Issued: 11/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Consumer Electronics Incorporated (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Keenan, Douglas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Murrell, Jeffrey S.
• Application Number:
  US07/589,831
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 358/191.1, 358/194.9, 358/193.1, 455/150, 455/151, 455/160, 455/161, 455/179, 455/185, 455/186, 455/140, 455/166, 455/168, 455/176
• US Class Current: 348/732
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0091 provided with means for scanning over a band of frequencies H03J1/0058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

In a television receiver including a plurality of RF input terminals, each of which having a respective scan list, and each scan list having an associated Last Tuned Channel register, and having a common Current Channel register, there is provided a Previous Channel and RF Input register. The Previous Channel and RF Input register and the Current Channel register both hold tuning information and RF input terminal information which allow retuning of a formerly tuned channel regardless of which RF input provides the signal for that channel. In one embodiment of the invention, the scan lists are linked providing an easy way to scan through the channels of all scan lists, and an easy return to a previously tuned channel from any RF input via operation of a Previous Channel (PC) key.

Claims

1. A television receiver, comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal input terminals, each of which receives a group of RF signals from respective RF signal sources;

RF switch means having a plurality of inputs, each of which is connected to a respective one of said RF input terminals, said RF switch means having an output at which is developed one of said groups of RF signals selected from said groups of RF signals at said inputs, said RF switch means having a control input for receiving a first control signal for selecting said selected group of RF signals;

tuner means coupled to said RF switch means for receiving said selected group of RF signal, said tuner means selecting a particular RF signal from said selected group of RF signals in response to a second control signal, and converting said particular RF signal to a signal at an intermediate frequency (IF);

control means for generating said first and second control signals for causing said RF switch means to select said selected group of RF signals and for causing said tuner means to select said particular RF signal;

means, coupled to said control means, for entering data in response to operation by a user;

first means for storing data related to the tuning of a currently tuned one of said RF signals, and related to a currently selected one of said RF input terminals;

second means for storing data related to the tuning of that one of said RF signals which was most previously tuned, and related to that one of said RF input terminals which was most previously selected;

wherein said means for entering data comprises keys for selecting individual ones of said RF input terminals and a key (PC) for causing the selection of said most previously tuned RF signal, and operation of said PC key causes the tuning of said most previously selected RF signal and the selection of said most previously selected RF input terminal.

2. A television receiver, comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal input terminals, each of which receives a group of RF signals from respective RF signal sources;

RF switch means having a plurality of inputs, each of which is connected to a respective one of said RF input terminals, said RF switch means having an output at which is developed one of said groups of RF signals selected from said RF signals at said inputs, said RF switch means having a control input for receiving a first control signal for selecting said selected group of RF signals;

tuner means coupled to said RF switch means for receiving said selected group of RF signals, said tuner means selecting a particular RF signal from said group of RF signals in response to a second control signal, and converting said particular RF signal to a signal at an intermediate frequency (IF);

control means for generating said first and second control signals for causing said RF switch means and said tuner means to select said particular RF signal;

means, coupled to said control means, for entering data in response to operation by a user;

first means for storing data related to the tuning of the currently tuned one of said RF signals, and related to the currently selected one of said RF input terminals;

second means for storing data related to the tuning of the previously tuned one of said RF signals, and related to the previously selected one of said RF input terminals;

wherein in response to said data entered by said user, said control means retrieves said tuning data and said RF input terminal data from said second means for tuning said previously tuned RF signal by generating said second control signal and for selecting said previously selected RF input terminal by generating said first control signal, said control means interchanging said data in said first and second means for storing data; and

wherein said means for entering data comprises a remote control unit, said remote control unit including keys for selecting individual ones of said RF input terminals and a key (PC) for causing the selection of said previously selected RF signal, wherein operation of said PC key causes the tuning of said previously selected RF signal and the selection of said previously selected RF input terminal.

3. The television receiver of claim 2, further including third, fourth, and fifth means for storing data, each of which stores data relating to the last channel tuned from a respective one of said RF input terminals, wherein operation of one of said keys for selecting individual ones of said RF input terminals causes the tuning of an RF signal in accordance with data contained in a respective one of said third, fourth, and fifth means for storing data.

4. The television receiver of claim 3 wherein operation of said PC key causes the tuning of the last RF signal tuned, regardless of which RF input terminal provided said last RF signal, and regardless of the RF input terminal selected when said PC key is operated.

5. A television receiver, comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal input terminals, each of which receives a group of RF signals from respective RF signal sources;

RF switch means having a plurality of inputs, each of which is connected to a respective one of said RF input terminals, said RF switch means having an output at which is developed one of said groups of RF signals selected from said groups of RF signals at said inputs, said RF switch means having a control input for receiving a first control signal for selecting said selected group of RF signals;

tuner means coupled to said RF switch means for receiving said selected group of RF signals, said tuner means selecting a particular RF signal from said group of RF signals in response to a second control signal, and converting said particular RF signal to a signal at an intermediate frequency (IF);

control means for generating said first and second control signals for causing said RF switch means to select said selected group of RF signals, and for causing said tuner means to select said particular RF signal;

means, coupled to said control means, for entering data in response to operation by a user, said data entry means including a Channel Up key, a Channel Down key and a Previous Channel (PC) key;

first means for storing data related to the tuning of a currently tuned one of said RF signals, and related to a currently selected one of said RF input terminals;

second means for storing data related to the tuning of the most previously tuned one of said RF signals, and related to the most previously selected one of said RF input terminals;

memory means having a plurality of areas for storing data related to the tuning of ones of said RF signals which are preferred by a user, each of said areas storing tuning information specific to the RF signals of a respective one of said groups of RF signals received at one of said RF input terminals, each of said areas including a plurality of memory locations between first and second limits;

wherein in response to one of a Channel Up and a Channel Down command entered by said user, said control means sequentially retrieves said tuning data from said memory means in one of a linked mode in which said control means automatically retrieves said tuning data beginning at said first limit of a second one of said areas after having retrieved said tuning data from said memory location at said second limit of said first area, and an unlinked mode in which said control means automatically begins the sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said memory location at said first limit of said first area upon retrieving said tuning data from said memory location at said second limit of said first area, said control means automatically generating said first control signal for selecting the respective one of said RF input terminals which is related to the memory area from which said tuning data is to be retrieved;

wherein in response to operation of said PC key by said user, said control means retrieves said tuning data and said RF input terminal data from said second means for tuning said most previously tuned RF signal by generating said second control signal and for selecting said most previously selected RF input terminal by generating said first control signal; and

wherein operation of said PC key causes the tuning of the last RF signal tuned, regardless of which RF input terminal provided said last RF signal, and regardless of the RF input terminal selected when said PC key is operated.

6. The television receiver of claim 5, wherein operation of said one of said Channel Up key and said Channel Down key of said means for entering data causes sequential tuning of said RF signals in accordance with said data stored in said memory means, said one of said Channel Up key and said Channel Down key causing the tuning of RF signals sequentially and repetitively when operated and until released, said data being stored in said second means for storing data related to the tuning of said most previously tuned one of said RF signals, and related to said most previously selected one of said RF input terminals when said one of said Channel Up key and said Channel Down key is released.

7. A television receiver, comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal input terminals, each of which receives a group of RF signals from respective RF signal sources;

RF switch means having a plurality of inputs, each of which is connected to a respective one of said RF input terminals, said RF switch means having an output at which is developed one of said groups of RF signals selected from said groups of RF signals at said inputs, said RF switch means having a control input for receiving a first control signal for selecting said selected group of RF signals;

tuner means coupled to said RF switch means for receiving said selected group of RF signals, said tuner means selecting a particular RF signal from said group of RF signals in response to a second control signal, and converting said particular RF signal to a signal at an intermediate frequency (IF);

control means for generating said first and second control signals for causing said RF switch means to select said selected group of RF signals and causing said tuner means to select said particular RF signal;

means, coupled to said control means, for entering data in response to operation by a user;

first means for storing data related to the tuning of a currently tuned one of said RF signals, and related to a currently selected one of said RF input terminals;

second means for storing data related to the tuning of the most previously tuned one of said RF signals, and related to the most previously selected one of said RF input terminals;

memory means having a plurality of areas for storing data related to the tuning of ones of said RF signals which are preferred by a user, each of said areas storing tuning information specific to the RF signals of a respective one of said groups of RF signals received at one of said RF input terminals, each of said area including a plurality of memory locations between first and second limits;

wherein in response to said data entered by said user, said control means sequentially retrieves said tuning data from said memory means in one of a linked mode in which said control means automatically retrieves said tuning data beginning at said first limit of a second one of said areas after having retrieved said tuning data from said memory location at said second limit of said first area, and an unlinked mode in which said control means automatically begins the sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said memory location at said first limit of said first area upon retrieving said tuning data from said memory location at said second limit of said first area, said control means automatically generating said first control signal for selecting the respective one of said RF input terminals which is related to the memory area from which said tuning data is to be retrieved; and

wherein in response to said data entered by said user, said control means retrieves said tuning data and said RF input terminal data from said second means for tuning said most previously tuned RF signal by generating said second control signal and for selecting said most previously selected RF input terminal by generating said first control signal, said control means interchanging said data in said first and second means for storing data;

wherein said means for entering data comprises a keyboard including a key for sequentially tuning said RF signals in accordance with said data stored in said memory means, said key for sequentially tuning said RF signals causing the tuning of RF signals sequentially and repetitively when operated and until released, said data being stored in said second means for storing data related to the tuning of the previously tuned one of said RF signals, and related to the previously selected one of said RF input terminals when said key for sequentially tuning said RF signals is released; and

wherein said means for entering data comprises a remote control unit, said remote control unit including keys for selecting individual ones of said RF input terminals and a key (PC) for causing the selection of said previously selected RF signal, wherein operation of said PC key causes the tuning of said previously selected RF signal and the selection of said previously selected RF input terminal.

8. The television receiver of claim 7, further including third, fourth, and fifth means for storing data, each of which stores data relating to the last channel tuned from a respective one of said RF input terminals, wherein operation of one of said keys for selecting individual ones of said RF input terminals causes the tuning of an RF signal in accordance with data contained in a respective one of said third, fourth, and fifth means for storing data.

9. The television receiver of claim 8 wherein operation of said PC key causes the tuning of the last RF signal tuned, regardless of which RF input terminal provided said last RF signal, and regardless of the RF input terminal selected when said PC key is operated.

10. A television receiver, comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal input terminals, each of which receives a group of RF signals from respective RF signal sources;

RF switch means having a plurality of inputs, each of which is connected to a respective one of said RF input terminals, said RF switch means having an output at which is developed a selected one of said groups of RF signals, said RF switch means having a control input for receiving a first control signal for selecting said selected one of said groups of RF signals;

tuner means coupled to said RF switch means for receiving said selected group of RF signals, said tuner means selecting a particular RF signal from said group of RF signals in response to a second control signal;

control means for generating said first and second control signals for causing said RF switch means to select an appropriate one of said groups of said RF signals and for causing said tuner means to select said particular RF signal;

means, coupled to said control means, for entering data in response to operation by a user;

memory means having a plurality of areas for storing data related to the tuning of ones of said RF signals which are preferred by a user, each of said areas storing tuning information specific to the RF signals of a respective one of said groups of RF signals received at one of said RF input terminals, said memory means being coupled to said control means;

current channel data storage means for storing data related to the tuning of a currently tuned one of said RF signals, and related to a currently selected one of said RF input terminals, said current channel data storage means being coupled to said control means;

previous channel data storage means for storing data related to the tuning of that one of said RF signals which was most previously tuned, and related to that one of said RF input terminals which was most previously selected, said previous channel data storage means being coupled to said control means;

third and fourth means for storing data, each of which stores data relating to the last channel tuned from a respective one of said RF input terminals, wherein operation of one of said keys for selecting individual ones of said RF input terminals causes the tuning of an RF signal in accordance with data contained in a respective one of said third, and fourth means for storing data, said third and fourth means for storing data being coupled to said control means;

wherein in response to said data entered by said user, said control means sequentially retrieves said tuning data from said memory means in one of a linked mode in which said control means automatically retrieves said tuning data from a second one of said areas after having completed the sequential retrieval of said tuning data from a first area, and an unlinked mode in which said control means automatically begins the sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said first area upon completion of said sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said first area;

said control means automatically generating said first control signal for selecting the respective one of said RF input terminals which is related to the memory area from which said tuning data is to be retrieved;

said control means selecting said linked and unlinked modes in response to data entered by said user; and

said means for entering data comprises keys for selecting individual ones of said RF input terminals and a key (PC) for causing the selection of said most previously tuned RF signal, wherein in said linked mode operation of said PC key causes the tuning of said most previously selected RF signal and the selection of said most previously selected RF input terminal, and wherein in said unlinked mode operation of said PC key causes the tuning of said most previously selected RF signal from data stored in the one of said third and fourth memory areas associated with said currently selected RF input terminal.

11. A television receiver, comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal input terminals, each of which receives a group of RF signals from respective RF signal sources;

RF switch means having a plurality of inputs, each of which is connected to a respective one of said RF input terminals, said RF switch means having an output at which is developed a selected one of said groups of RF signals, said RF switch means having a control input for receiving a first control signal for selecting said selected one of said groups of RF signals;

tuner means coupled to said RF switch means for receiving said selected group of RF signals, said tuner means selecting a particular RF signal from said group of RF signals in response to a second control signal;

control means for generating said first and second control signals for causing said RF switch means to select an appropriate one of said groups of said RF signals and for causing said tuner means to select said particular RF signal;

means, coupled to said control means, for entering data in response to operation by a user;

memory means having a plurality of areas for storing data related to the tuning of ones of said RF signals which are preferred by a user, each of said areas storing tuning information specific to the RF signals of a respective one of said groups of RF signals received at one of said RF input terminals, each of said areas including a plurality of memory locations between first and second limits, said memory means being coupled to said control means;

wherein in response to said data entered by said user, said control means sequentially retrieves said tuning data from said memory means in one of a linked mode in which said control means automatically and sequentially retrieves said tuning data beginning at said first limit of a second one of said areas after having retrieved said tuning data from said memory location at said second limit of a first area, and an unlinked mode in which said control means automatically begins the sequential retrieval of said tuning data from said memory location at said first limit of said first area upon retrieving said tuning data from said memory location at said second limit of said first area, said control means automatically generating said first control signal for selecting the respective one of said RF input terminals which is related to the memory area from which said tuning data is to be retrieved;

said control means selecting said linked and unlinked modes in response to data entered by said user;

current channel data storage means for storing data related to the tuning of a currently tuned one of said RF signals, and data related to a currently selected one of said RF input terminals, said current channel data storage means being coupled to said control means;

previous channel data storage means for storing data related to the tuning of that one of said RF signals which was most previously tuned, and data related to that one of said RF input terminals which was most previously selected, said previous channel data storage means being coupled to said control means;

third and fourth means for storing data, each of which stores data relating to the last channel tuned from a respective one of said RF input terminals, wherein operation of one of said keys for selecting individual ones of said RF input terminals causes the tuning of an RF signal in accordance with data contained in a respective one of said third, and fourth means for storing data, said third and fourth means for storing data being coupled to said control means; and

wherein said means for entering data comprises keys for selecting individual ones of said RF input terminals and a key (PC) for causing the selection of said most previously tuned RF signal, wherein in said linked mode operation of said PC key causes the tuning of said most previously selected RF signal and the selection of said most previously selected RF input terminal, and wherein in said unlinked mode operation of said PC key causes the tuning of said most previously selected RF signal from data stored in the one of said third and fourth memory areas associated with said currently selected RF input terminal.