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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A video recorder interactive control system for connection to a source
of television signals and a television display, the system comprising:
an electronically adjustable television channel tuner connected to the
source of television signals;
a video record/playback means having a input connected to said television
channel tuner and a video output, said video record/playback means
operating in a record mode for recording the television signal tuned by
said television channel tuner and in a playback mode for reproducing a
previously recorded television signal;
a character generator having an input for receiving digital signals
representative of a video display, said character generator being
operative to convert said digital signals into a video signal;
an interface means connected to the television display, said video
record/playback means and said character generator for displaying either
said video signal from said video record/playback means or said video
signal from said character generator via the television display;
a clock means for generating a real time clock signal indicative of the
current time;
a record program memory having stored therein the channel and the time of
occurrence of at least one instance of a future program which it is
desired to record;
a schedule memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals
representive of a schedule of television programming available for a
future period;
an operator controlled input means for entering a plurality of control
inputs for said video recorder interactive control system; and
a control means connected to said television channel tuner, said video
record/playback means, said character generator, said interface means,
said clock means, said message memory, said record program memory, said
schedule memory and said input means, said control means being operative
to
supply a channel input to said television channel tuner in accordance with
control inputs from said input means,
place said video record/playback means in either record mode or playback
mode in response to control inputs from said input means,
store the channel and the time of at least one instance of a desired future
recording program in said record program memory in response to control
inputs from said input means,
compare said real time clock signal with the time for the next instance of
a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,
supply said channel stored in said record program memory for an instance of
a desired future recording program to said television channel tuner,
recall digital signals representative of an appropriate portion of the
schedule of programming available for a future period from said schedule
memory,
supply said digital signals to said character generator, and
select said video signal from said character generator at said interface
means for display via the television display.
2. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 1,
further comprising:
a message memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals
representative of a plurality of prompting messages for an operator; and
said control means being further operative to
recall digital signals representative of appropriate prompting messages
from said message memory,
supply said digital signals to said character generator,
select said video signal from said character generator at said interface
means for display via the television display, and
store the channel and time of at least one instance of a desired future
recording program in said record program memory in accordance with an
interactive program adapted to receive control inputs from said input
means, said interactive program being operative to adaptively select said
prompting messages according to the previous control inputs from said
input means.
3. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 1,
wherein:
said schedule of television programming available for a future period
stored in said schedule memory includes the program available during each
scheduled period for each channel contained in said television signal.
4. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 3,
wherein:
said schedule of television programming available for a future period
stored in said schedule memory further includes text describing at least
one program.
5. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 3,
wherein:
said schedule of television programming available for a future period
stored in said schedule memory further includes digitally encoded graphic
information.
6. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 3,
wherein:
said schedule of television programming available for a future period
stored in said schedule memory further includes segments of at least one
program for display.
7. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 1,
wherein:
said schedule memory consists of a plug-in read only memory.
8. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 30,
wherein:
said schedule memory consists of a throw-away read only memory.
9. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 1,
wherein:
said schedule memory is loaded via the source of television signals.
10. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 9,
wherein:
said interface means includes means to simultaneously display said video
signal from said video record/playback means and said video signal from
said character generator via the television display by superposition of
said video signal from said character generator on said video signal from
said video record/playback means; and said control means is further
operative to
supply digital signals representative of a program title from a video tape
to said character generator, and select superposition of said video signal
from said video record/playback means at said interface means for display
via the television display when in said playback mode.
11. A program schedule display generator for use in connection with a
television receiver comprising:
a schedule memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals
representative of a schedule of programming available for a future period;
a character generator having an input for receiving digital signals
representative of a video display, said character generator being
operative to convert said digital signals into a video signal;
an interface means connected to the television receiver and said character
generator for displaying said video signal from said character generator
via the television receiver;
a control means connected to said schedule memory, said character generator
and said interface means, said control means being operative to reacall
digital signals representative of an appropriate portion of the schedule
of programming available for a future period from said schedule memory and
supply said digital signals to said character generator for display via
the television receiver.
12. The program schedule display generator as claimed in claim 11, wherein:
said schedule of programming available or a future period stored in said
schedule memory includes the program available during each scheduled
period for each channel.
13. The program schedule display generator as claimed in claim 12, wherein:
said schedule of programming available for a future period stored in said
schedule memory further includes text describing at least one program.
14. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 12,
wherein:
said schedule of programming available for a future period stored in said
schedule memory further includes digitally encoded graphic information.
15. The program schedule display generator as claimed in claim 12, wherein:
said schedule of programming available for a future period stored in said
schedule memory further includes segments of at least one program for
display.
16. The program schedule display generator as claimed in claim 11, wherein:
said schedule memory consists of a plug-in read only memory.
17. The program schedule display generator as claimed in claim 11, wherein:
said schedule memory consists of a throw-away read only memory.
18. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 11,
wherein:
said schedule memory is loaded via a source of RF signals at a particular
time.
19. A video recorder interactive control system for connection to a source
of television signals and to a television display, the system comprising:
a video recorder system housing;
an electronically adjustable television channel tuner disposed in said
video recorder system housing and connected to the source of television
signals;
a video record/playback means disposed in said video recorder system
housing and having a input connected to said television channel tuner and
having an output, said video record/playback means operating in a record
mode for recording the television signal tuned by said television channel
tuner and in a playback mode for reproducing a previously recorded video
signal on said output;
a character generator disposed in said video recorder system housing and
having an input for receiving digital signals representative of
alphanumeric characters, said character generator being operative to
convert said digital signals into video signals;
an interface means disposed in said video recorder system housing and
connected to the television display, to said video record/playback means
and to said character generator for displaying either said output signal
from said video record/playback means or said video signal from said
character generator via the television display;
a clock means disposed in said video recorder system housing for generating
a real time clock signal indicative of the current time;
a message memory disposed in said video recorder system housing and having
stored therein a plurality of digital signals representative of a
plurality of alphanumeric prompting messages for an operator;
a record program memory disposed in said video recorder system housing and
being operative to store the channel and the time of occurrence of a
plurality of future programs that are to be recorded;
a first operator controlled input means disposed remotely from said video
recorder system housing for entering a plurality of control inputs for
said video recorder interactive control system including the channel and
start time of future programs that are to be recorded in said record
program memory;
second operator controlled input means disposed on said video recorder
system housing not including means for entering the channel and start time
of future programs to be recorded; and
a control means disposed in said video recorder system housing and
connected to said television channel tuner, said video record/playback
means, said character generator, said interface means, said clock means,
said message memory, said record program memory and said first and second
input means, said control means being operative to
supply a channel input to said television channel tuner in accordance with
control inputs from said first or second input means,
place said video record/playback means in either record mode or playback
mode in response to control inputs from said first or second input means,
recall digital signals representative of appropriate prompting messages
from said message memory,
supply said digital signals to said character generator,
select said video signal from said character generator at said interface
means for display via the television display,
store the channel and start time of future programs that are to be recorded
in said record program memory in accordance with an interactive program
adapted to receive control inputs from said first input means, said
interactive program being operative to adaptively select said prompting
messages according to the previous control inputs from said input means,
compare said real time clock signal with the time for the next instance of
a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,
supply said channel stored in said record program memory to said television
channel tuner;
and place said video record/playback means in record mode when said real
time signal is included within a time stored in said record program memory
for the recording of a program;
whereby said first operator controlled input means disposed remotely from
said video recorder system housing replaces substantially all controls for
entering the channel and start time of future programs that are to be
recorded, which controls would otherwise be disposed on said video
recorder system housing.
20. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 19,
wherein:
said first operator controlled input means is connected to said control
means via a cable.
21. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 19,
wherein:
said first operator controlled input means is connected to said control
means via a telephone line.
22. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 19,
wherein:
said first operator controlled input means is connected to said control
means via an radio transmitter.
23. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 19,
wherein:
said first operator controlled input means is connected to said control
means via an infrared transmitter.
24. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 19,
wherein:
said first operator controlled input means includes a keypad having a set
of keys corresponding to decimal numbers and at least one mode selection
key.
25. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 24,
further including designation indica for said set of keys wherein:
said designation indicia are modified to designate symbols corresponding to
video record/playback means operation upon selection of a predetermined
one of said at least one mode selection key.
26. A video recorder interactive control system for connection to a source
of television signals and to a television display, the system comprising:
an electronically adjustable television channel tuner connected to the
source of television signals;
a video record/playback means having an input connected to said television
channel tuner and having an output, said video record/playback means
operating in a record mode for recording the television signal tuned by
said television channel tuner and in a playback mode for reproducing a
previously recorded video signal on said output;
a character generator having an input for receiving digital signals
representative of alphanumeric characters, said character generator being
operative to convert said digital signals into video signals;
an interface means connected to the television display, to said video
record/playback means and to said character generator for displaying
either said output signal from said video record/playback means or said
output signal from said character generator via the television display;
a clock means for generating a real time clock signal indicative of the
current time;
a message memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals
representative of a plurality of alphanumeric prompting messages for an
operator;
a record program memory being operative to store therein the channel and
the time of occurrence of a plurality of desired future programs that are
to be recorded;
a keypad having a set of keys corresponding to decimal numbers and at least
one mode selection key, said at least one mode selection key including a
record program mode selection key; and
a control means connected to said television channel tuner, said video
record/playback means, said character generator, said interface means,
said clock means, said message memory, said record program memory, said
schedule memory and said keypad, said control means being operative to
supply a channel input to said television channel tuner in accordance with
control inputs from said keypad,
place said video record/playback means in either record mode or playback
mode in response to control inputs from said keypad,
recall digital signals representative of appropriate prompting messages
from said message memory,
supply said digital signals to said character generator,
select said video signal from said character generator at said interface
means for display via the television display,
store the channel and the time of at least one instance of a desired future
recording program in said record program memory in accordance with an
interactive program adapted to receive input from said kaypad, said
interactive program being operative to
adaptively select said prompting messages corresponding to menu selections
according to the previous decimal key inputs from said keypad,
compare said real time clock signal with the time for the next instance of
a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,
supply said channel stored in said record program memory to said television
channel, and
place said video record/playback means in record mode when said real time
signal is included within the time for that instance of a desired future
recording program stored in said record program memory.
27. A video recorder interactive control system for connection to a source
of television signals and to a television display, the system comprising:
an electronically adjustable television channel tuner connected to the
source of television signals;
a video record/playback means having an input connected to said television
channel tuner and an output, said video record/playback means operating in
a record mode for recording the television signal tuned by said television
channel tuner and in a playback mode for reproducing a previously recorded
video signal on its output;
a character generator having an input for receiving digital signals
representative of a video display, said character generator being
operative to convert said digital signals into a video signal;
an interface means connected to the television display, said video
record/playback means and said character generator for displaying either
said video signal from said video record/playback means or said video
signal from said character generator via the television display;
a clock means for generating a real time clock signal indicative of the
current time;
a message memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals
representative of a plurality of prompting messages for an operator;
a record program memory having stored therein the channel and the time of
at least one instance of a future program which the operator desires to
record;
an operator controlled input means for entering a plurality of control
inputs for said video recorder interactive control system; and
a control means connected to said television channel tuner, said video
record/playback means, said character generator, said interface means,
said clock means, said message memory, said record program memory and said
input means, said control means being operative to
supply a channel input to said television channel tuner in accordance with
control inputs from said input means,
place said video record/playback means in either record mode or playback
mode in response to control inputs from said input means,
recall digital signals representative of appropriate prompting messages
from said message memory,
supply said digital signals to said character generator,
select said video signal from said character generator at said interface
means for display via the television display,
and store the channel and the time of at least one instance of a desired
future recording program in said record program memory in accordance with
an interactive program adapted to receive control inputs from said input
means, said interactive program being operative to
adaptively select said prompting messages according to the previous inputs
from said input means,
display the channel and the time of the present desired future recording
program for verification via said input means,
compare said real time clock signal with the time for the next instance of
a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,
supply said channel stored in said record program memory to said television
channel and
place said video record/playback means in record mode when said real time
signal is included within the time for that instance of a desired future
recording program stored in said record program memory.
28. A video recorder interactive control system for connection to a source
of television signals and a television receiver, the system comprising:
an electronically adjustable television channel tuner connected to the
source of television signals;
a video record/playback means having an input connected to said television
channel tuner and a video output, said video record/playback means
operating in a record mode for recording the television signal tuned by
said television channel tuner and in a playback mode for reproducing a
previously recorded video signal;
a character generator having an input for receiving digital signals
representative of a video display, said character generator being
operative to convert said digital signals into video signals;
a radio frequency modulator connected to the television receiver, said
video record/playback means and said character generator for controllably
modulating a radio frequency carrier with a selected one of either said
video signal from said video record/playback means or said video signal
from said character generator and supplying said modulated radio frequency
carrier to the television receiver;
a clock means for generating a real time clock signal indicative of the
current time;
a message memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals
representative of a plurality of prompting messages for an operator;
a record program memory having stored therein the channel and the time of
at least one instance of a desired future recording program;
an operator controlled input means for entering a plurality of control
inputs for said video recorder interactive control system and for the
television receiver; and
a control means connected to said television channel tuner, said video
record/playback means, said character generator, said interface means,
said clock means, said message memory, said record program memory and said
input means, said control means being operative to
supply a channel input to said television channel tuner in accordance with
control inputs from said input means,
place said video record/playback means in either record mode or playback
mode in response to control inputs from said input means,
recall digital signals representative of appropriate prompting messages
from said message memory,
supply said digital signals to said character generator,
select said video signal from said character generator for modulation by
said radio frequency modulator for supply to the television receiver, and
store the channel and time of at least one instance of a desired future
recording program in said record program memory in accordance with an
interactive program adapted to receive control inputs from said input
means, said interactive program being operative to
adaptively select said prompting messages according to the previous control
inputs from said input means,
compare said real time clock signal with the time for the next instance of
a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,
supply said channel stored in said record program memory to said television
channel
place said video record/playback means in record mode when said real time
signal is included within the time for that instance of a desired future
recording program stored in said record program memory, and
transmit control signals to the television receiver in response to control
inputs for the television receiver from said operator controlled input
means.
29. A video recorder interactive control system for connection to a source
of television signals and a television display, the system comprising:
an electronically adjustable television channel tuner connected to the
source of television signals;
a video record/playback means having an input connected to said television
channel tuner, a video output and being adapted to receive a video tape,
said video record/playback means operating in a record mode for recording
the television signal tuned by said television channel tuner and in a
playback mode for reproducing a video signal previously recorded on a
video tape;
a character generator having an input for receiving digital signals
representative of a video display, said character generator being
operative to convert said digital signals into a video signal;
an interface means connected to the television display, to said video
record/playback means and to said character generator for displaying
either said video signal from said video record/playback means or said
video signal from said character generator via the television display;
a clock means for generating a real time clock signal indicative of the
current time;
a message memory having stored therein a plurality of digital signals
representative of a plurality of prompting messages for an operator;
a record program memory having stored therein the channel and the time of
occurrence of at least one instance of a desired future recording program;
an operator controlled input means for entering a plurality of control
inputs for said video recorder interactive control system; and
a control means connected to said television channel tuner, said video
record/playback means, said character generator, said interface means,
said clock means, said message memory, said record program memory and said
input means, said control means being operative to
supply a channel input to said television channel tuner in accordance with
control inputs from said input means,
place said video record/playback means in either record mode or playback
mode in response to control inputs from said input means,
compare said real time clock signal with the time for the next instance of
a desired future recording program stored in said record program memory,
supply said channel stored in said record program memory to said television
channel,
place said video record/playback means in record mode when said real time
signal is included within the time for that instance of a desired future
recording program stored in said record program memory,
recall digital signals representative of appropriate prompting messages
from said message memory, supply said digital signals to said character
generator,
select said video signal from said character generator at said interface
means for display via the television display, and
store the channel and time of at least one instance of a desired future
recording program in said record program memory in accordance with an
interactive program adapted to receive control inputs from said input
means, said interactive program being operative to
adapatively select said prompting messages according to the previous
control inputs from said input means, and
place said video record/playback means in playback mode and transmitting
alphanumeric messages stored on a video tape to the television display via
said interface means.
30. The video recorder interactive control system as claimed in claim 29,
wherein:
said character generator is further connected to said video record/playback
means for receiving digital signals indicative of alphanumeric characters
from a video tape for display by the television display via said interface
means. |
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Claims |
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