Multi-source switching in a television system

US 8,266,655 B2
Filed: 08/20/2007
Issued: 09/11/2012
Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1995
Status: Expired due to Fees

First Claim

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1. A method for providing channel guide information listings, the method comprising:

receiving, using processing circuitry, channel guide information listings, the received listings include channel guide information corresponding to at least two program sources, each program source operative to transmit a plurality of television channels;

storing, using processing circuitry, a channel guide having program listings for the plurality of television channels, the channel guide includes the channel guide information corresponding to the at least two program sources, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to receive;

a first program corresponding to a first one of the program listings, that corresponds to a first of the at least two sources, from the first source, anda second program corresponding to a second one of the program listings, that corresponds to a second of the at least two sources, from the second source; and

simultaneously displaying, on a display device, at least some of the listings and a representation of each of the at least two program sources.

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Abstract

The present invention provides a tuning scheme for coordinating schedule information and programs received from multiple sources (26, 28, 30 and 34). In the preferred embodiment, an identifier associated with the program'"'"'s channel (52) is used to identify a source device (26, 28, 30 or 34). When a user selects a program (60 or 62) listed in displayed schedule information (50), the system (10) reads the source identifier attached to the program'"'"'s channel (52). The system (10) then carries out an automatic switching/tuning such that the required source device (26, 28, 30 or 34) is input to the destination device (22), and a tuner is then tuned to the selected program'"'"'s channel (52).

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36 Claims

1. A method for providing channel guide information listings, the method comprising:
- receiving, using processing circuitry, channel guide information listings, the received listings include channel guide information corresponding to at least two program sources, each program source operative to transmit a plurality of television channels;
  
  storing, using processing circuitry, a channel guide having program listings for the plurality of television channels, the channel guide includes the channel guide information corresponding to the at least two program sources, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to receive;
  
  a first program corresponding to a first one of the program listings, that corresponds to a first of the at least two sources, from the first source, anda second program corresponding to a second one of the program listings, that corresponds to a second of the at least two sources, from the second source; and
  
  simultaneously displaying, on a display device, at least some of the listings and a representation of each of the at least two program sources.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- - 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the channel guide information listings are received from a single data source.
  - 3. The method of claim 1 wherein:
    - the channel guide information listings corresponding to a first program source of the at least two program sources are received from the first program source; and
      
      the channel guide information listings corresponding to a second program source of the at least two program sources are received from the second program source.
  - 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
    - merging the channel guide information to form the channel guide which includes the channel guide information corresponding to the least two sources.
  - 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
    - mixing and sorting the channel guide information received from the at least two sources in a desired order; and
      
      generating a display with the channel guide information presented in the desired order.
  - 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said storing further comprises:
    - automatically deleting duplicate listings from the channel guide.
  - 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
    - storing a signal source identifier for each program listing, each identifier identifying the transmission scheme of one of the at least two sources.
  - 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
    - receiving from a user a program selection from the displayed listing;
      
      retrieving a signal source identifier that corresponds to source of the program selection; and
      
      coupling the input of a user equipment device to a television signal from the source that corresponds to the retrieved source identifier.
  - 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sources are selected from the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, an antenna source, a terrestrial source, a satellite source, and a direct broadcast satellite source.
  - 10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
    - identifying the source of a displayed listing.
  - 11. The method of claim 10 wherein identifying the source includes a source identifier in a first color that corresponds to a listing associated with a first of the at least two sources, and a source identifier in a second color that corresponds to a listing associated with a second of the at least two sources.
  - 12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
    - displaying at least some of the listings that correspond to a first of the at least two program sources; and
      
      displaying, in response to a user input, at least some of the listings that correspond to a second of the at least two sources.
  - 13. The method of claim 1, wherein a transmission scheme of the source is terrestrial or satellite.
  - 14. The method of claim 1 further comprising simultaneously displaying listings from the at least two sources.

15. A system for use in providing channel guide information listings, the system comprising:
- processing circuitry configured to;
  
  receive channel guide information listings, the received listings include channel guide information corresponding to at least two program sources, each program source operative to transmit a plurality of television channels;
  
  store a channel guide having program listings for the plurality of television channels, the channel guide includes the channel guide information corresponding to the at least two program sources; and
  
  receive;
  
  a first program corresponding to a first one of the program listings, that corresponds to a first of the at least two sources, from the first source, anda second program corresponding to a second one of the program listings, that corresponds to a second of the at least two sources, from the second source; and
  
  a display configured to simultaneously display at least some of the listings and a representation of each of the at least two program sources.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- - 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the channel guide information listings are received from a single data source.
  - 17. The system of claim 15 wherein:
    - the channel guide information listings corresponding to a first program source of the at least two program sources are received from the first program source; and
      
      the channel guide information listings corresponding to a second program source of the at least two program sources are received from the second program source.
  - 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
    - merge the channel guide information to form the channel guide which includes the channel guide information corresponding to the least two sources.
  - 19. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
    - mix and sort the channel guide information received from the at least two sources in a desired order; and
      
      generate a display with the channel guide information presented in the desired order.
  - 20. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
    - automatically delete duplicate listings from the channel guide.
  - 21. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
    - store a signal source identifier for each program listing, each identifier identifying the transmission scheme of one of the at least two sources.
  - 22. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
    - receive from a user a program selection from the displayed listing;
      
      retrieve a signal source identifier that corresponds to source of the program selection; and
      
      couple the input of a user equipment device to a television signal from the source that corresponds to the retrieved source identifier.
  - 23. The system of claim 15, wherein the sources are selected from the group consisting of a cable, a broadcast source, an antenna source, a terrestrial source, a satellite source, and a direct broadcast satellite source.
  - 24. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
    - identify the source of a displayed listing.
  - 25. The system of claim 24 wherein identifying the source includes a source identifier in a first color that corresponds to a listing associated with a first of the at least two sources, and a source identifier in a second color that corresponds to a listing associated with a second of the at least two sources.
  - 26. The system of claim 15, wherein the display is further configured to:
    - display at least some of the listings that correspond to a first of the at least two program sources; and
      
      display, in response to a user input, at least some of the listings that correspond to a second of the at least two sources.
  - 27. The system of claim 15, wherein a transmission scheme of the source is terrestrial or satellite.
  - 28. The system of claim 15, wherein the display is further configured to:
    - simultaneously display listings from the at least two sources.

29. A method for providing program guide information listings, the method comprising:
- receiving, using processing circuitry, program guide information listings, wherein the received listings include program guide information corresponding to at least two program sources, wherein each program source is operative to simultaneously transmit a plurality of programs;
  
  storing, using processing circuitry, a program guide having program listings for the plurality of programs, wherein the program guide includes the program guide information corresponding to the at least two program sources, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to receive;
  
  a first program corresponding to a first one of the program listings, that corresponds to a first of the at least two sources, from the first source, anda second program corresponding to a second one of the program listings, that corresponds to a second of the at least two sources, from the second source; and
  
  simultaneously displaying, on a display device, at least some of the listings and a representation of each of the at least two program sources.
- View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
- - 30. The method of claim 29, wherein:
    - the program guide information listings corresponding to a first program source of the at least two program sources are received from the first program source; and
      
      the program guide information listings corresponding to a second program source of the at least two program sources are received from the second program source.
  - 31. The method of claim 29, further comprising:
    - merging the program guide information to form the program guide which includes the program guide information corresponding to the least two sources.
  - 32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:
    - displaying at least some of the listings that correspond to a first of the at least two program sources; and
      
      displaying, in response to a user input, at least some of the listings that correspond to a second of the at least two sources.

33. A system for use in providing program guide information listings, the system comprising:
- processing circuitry configured to;
  
  receive program guide information listings, wherein the received listings include program guide information corresponding to at least two program sources, wherein each program source is operative to simultaneously transmit a plurality of programs;
  
  store a program guide having program listings for the plurality of programs, wherein the program guide includes the program guide information corresponding to the at least two program sources; and
  
  receive;
  
  a first program corresponding to a first one of the program listings, that corresponds to a first of the at least two sources, from the first source, anda second program corresponding to a second one of the program listings, that corresponds to a second of the at least two sources, from the second source; and
  
  a display configured to simultaneously display at least some of the listings and a representation of each of the at least two program sources.
- View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
- - 34. The system of claim 33, wherein:
    - the program guide information listings corresponding to a first program source of the at least two program sources are received from the first program source; and
      
      the program guide information listings corresponding to a second program source of the at least two program sources are received from the second program source.
  - 35. The system of claim 33, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
    - merge the program guide information to form the program guide which includes the program guide information corresponding to the least two sources.
  - 36. The system of claim 33, wherein the display is further configured to:
    - display at least some of the listings that correspond to a first of the at least two program sources; and
      
      display, in response to a user input, at least some of the listings that correspond to a second of the at least two sources.

Specification

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
Rovi Guides, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
Original Assignee
Starsight Telecast Incorporated (Adeia Inc.)
Inventors
Klosterman, Brian Lee
Primary Examiner(s)
Kumar, Pankaj
Assistant Examiner(s)
BAIG, SAHAR A

Application Number

US11/841,520
Publication Number

US 20080134242A1
Time in Patent Office

1,849 Days
Field of Search

725/39, 725/48, 725/51
US Class Current

725/48
CPC Class Codes

H04N 21/4345   Extraction or processing of...

H04N 21/4622   Retrieving content or addit...

H04N 21/47   End-user applications

H04N 21/47214   for content reservation or ...

H04N 21/482   End-user interface for prog...

H04N 21/4821   using a grid, e.g. sorted o...

H04N 21/485   End-user interface for clie...

H04N 21/84   Generation or processing of...

H04N 5/505   Invisible or silent tuning

H04N 7/163   by receiver means only

Multi-source switching in a television system

First Claim

8 Assignments

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Abstract

50 Citations

36 Claims

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Multi-source switching in a television system

First Claim

8 Assignments

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0 Petitions

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Reexamination

Accused Products

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Abstract

50 Citations

36 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

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