Television – Receiver circuitry – Tuning
Utility Patent
1998-06-03
2001-01-02
Flynn, Nathan (Department: 2711)
Television
Receiver circuitry
Tuning
C348S014160, C348S460000, C455S161100
Utility Patent
active
06169586
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on a method for programming a television receiver according to the preamble of claim
1
.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Television viewers who operate their receivers from the broadband cable network are often confronted with the situation where the network operator has changed the cable allocation, that is to say the assignment of television programmes and cable channels. This measure is necessary for the network operator whenever he has to change his programme schedule for legal reasons or from the standpoint of media policy. Generally this means that television programmes are withdrawn or added, the current channel allocation having to be modified.
A consequence of this for the television viewer is that he must acquire information about the new channel allocation from daily newspapers or directly from the network operator and then perform renewed programming of his programme locations at the television receiver. This situation is often a source of annoyance for the television viewer since the latter generally learns of the change only when he can no longer find a specific transmitter under the programme location known to him on his remote control. Searching for the desired transmitter is a laborious and time-consuming exercise particularly for television viewers who are not familiar with the programming of memory locations.
The invention is based on the object of providing a simplified method for programming a television receiver.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventive method for programming a television receiver having a tuner, a programme location allocation memory, a transmitter identifier memory, a memory for storing the programmed data and a microprocessor is distinguished by the fact that a transmitter identifier is read out in the received channel, the programme locations are assigned once to the received channels, and in the event of a later change to this assignment, the microprocessor controls a search in order that the desired received channel is assigned anew to the programme location.
The method according to the invention has the advantage that a television receiver only has to be programmed once. If, as already mentioned, the network operator then changes the cable allocation, that is to say the assignment of television programmes and cable channels, renewed programming is not necessary. On the other hand, the fact that the system automatically performs the new programming is also very helpful in the case of satellite or terrestrial reception when the television receiver is transported from one place to the other for example due to a change in residence or a holiday.
The method is furthermore distinguished by the fact that the transmitter identifier is contained in the vertical blanking interval as VPS signal and/or teletext and/or packet code and is read out via the tuner with the aid of the microprocessor.
The transmitter identifier is preferably concomitantly transmitted in the vertical blanking interval since no interference is thus visible in the picture. It is nevertheless conceivable for the transmitter identifier also to be transmitted together with the picture.
The method is also distinguished by the fact that before the very first programming operation, the programme location allocation is defined and then during the search the received channels are assigned to the programme locations defined in this way.
Here there is the advantage that unlike what is customary at present, the search does not store one channel after the other in the television receiver and the user then has to perform reprogramming such that he assigns his desired order to the transmitters in the course of programme location allocation. In this case, it is possible firstly to specify at which programme location position the corresponding transmitter is desired and then to start the search. This is very advantageous since then the programming occurs from the beginning in the mind of the user.
In addition, it is possible in this way to perform presetting during production of the television set, with the result that a standard transmitter order is proposed to the user who consequently does not have to perform this work. It is furthermore conceivable to allocate a plurality of standard programme location options from which the user can then make a selection.
For example:
1
st programme location allocation:
programme location 1—ARD,
programme location 2—ZDF,
programme location 3—N3, etc.
2
nd programme location allocation:
programme location 1—Pro7,
programme location 2—RTL,
programme location 3—SAT1, etc.
3
rd programme location allocation:
programme location 1—Children's Channel
programme location 2—Cartoon Network,
programme location 3—SUPER RTL, etc. The user can then choose the range of programme location assignments which he likes best, e.g. according to the programmes offered.
Finally, the method is distinguished by the fact that if a received channel does not have a transmitter identifier, the user is requested to control the search manually.
It is advantageous here that it is noted that no transmitter identifier is present and the television then transfers manual control to the user.
An inventive television receiver having a tuner, a programme location allocation memory, a transmitter identifier memory, a memory for storing the programmed data and a microprocessor is distinguished by the fact that means are provided which read out the transmitter identifier of the received channel, which assign the programme location once to the received channel, and, in the event of a later change to this assignment, the microprocessor controls a search in order that the desired received channel can be assigned anew to the programme location.
The television receiver is also distinguished by the fact that the means are designed in such a way that they read out the transmitter identifier, which is contained in the vertical blanking interval as VPS signal and/or teletext and/or packet code, via the tuner with the aid of the microprocessor.
The television receiver is furthermore distinguished by the fact that the means are designed in such a way that they have stored the programme location allocation before the very first programming operation and then during the search assign the received channels to the programme locations defined in this way.
Finally, the television receiver is distinguished by the fact that if a received channel does not have a transmitter identifier, these means cause the user to be requested to control the search manually.
In the following explanations, a further method is described which always ensures the same programme location allocation even when there is a change in the received channels. An essential part of the idea is a periodic interrogation of the received channels from the television receiver. For this purpose, the tuner of the television receiver sweeps across the entire band with an automatic search and carries out a momentary demodulation of the signal for each received channel. The demodulated signal is thereupon forwarded to the microprocessor which, on the basis of the transmitter identifier contained in the transmitter, identifies the received channel, for example ARD, ZDF or RTL.
The microprocessor then knows the current assignment of programme location allocation and received channels and can store the data found in a memory. The microprocessor compares this table with a programme location allocation defined by the user and, consequently, can always assign the received channel to the specific programme location. The microprocessor then compares the programme location allocation with the currently received channel and sets the tuning frequency of the tuner to the relevant channel.
The search is intended expediently to be carried out in a phase in which the television receiver is in the standby mode. Furthermore, it should alternatively be possible to update the programme location allocation by pressing a button. This option may be expedient particularly for portable television receivers since the latter are
Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
Flynn Nathan
Shedd Robert D.
Shoneman David T.
Tripoli Joseph S.
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