Switch for automatic selection of television signal sources for delivery of television guide data

Claims

What is claimed:

1. An apparatus for providing a television guide, the apparatus comprising:

means for detecting whether a television is off;

means for controlling television guide reception comprising:

means for comparing a current time with at least one stored time period;

means for determining whether television guide data is contained in one of a plurality of channels of a television signal when the current time is within the stored time period and the television is off;

means for sending a switching command when television guide data is not contained in any of the plurality of channels;

means for extracting the television guide data from one of the channels of the television signal when the television guide data is contained in one of the plurality of channels; and

means for storing the extracted television guide data; and

means for switching control of the television signal from a first television signal source having a first plurality of channels to a second television signal source having a second plurality of channels, upon command by the controlling means if television guide data is not contained in the television signal output from the first television signal source when the current time is within the stored time period, and the television is off, the switching control means comprising

means for receiving the switching command from the controlling means, the switching command comprising a bit pattern of data signals;

means coupled to the receiving means for detecting a predetermined bit pattern of data signals in the switching command corresponding to a selected one of the television signal sources; and

switching means coupled to the detecting means and the television signal sources for allowing transmission of the television signal output from the selected television signal source to the controlling means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for controlling a tuner to tune to a plurality of channels in the first television signal source, when the current time is within the stored time period and the television is off;

means for controlling a tuner to tune to a plurality of channels in the second television signal source, when the current time is within the stored time period and the television is off; and

means for locking the tuner on a channel containing television guide data in order to permit extraction of the television guide data from the channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for switching the television signal output from the second television signal source to the first television signal source after the television guide data is extracted and stored.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for switching control of the television signal output from a first television signal source to a second television signal source, if television guide data is not contained in the television signal output from the first television signal source when the current time is within the stored time period and the television is off comprises:

second means for switching control of the television signal output from the second television signal source to a third television signal source, if television guide data is not contained in the television signal output from the second television signal source when the current time is within the stored time period and the television is off.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:

the first television signal source comprises a television cable;

the second television signal source comprises an over the air antenna; and

the third television signal source comprises a satellite receiver.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for displaying the stored television guide data to allow a user to select programs for viewing or recording.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for extracting the television guide data from the television signal when the current time is within the stored time period comprises a means for decoding data in a vertical blanking interval of the television signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for extracting the television guide data from the television signal when the current time is within the stored time period comprises a means for decoding audio data in the television signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the stored television guide data comprises at least one compressed code having at least one digit and each representative of, and compressed in length from, the combination of the channel, day, time-of-day, and program length; and

the apparatus further comprises means for decoding a compressed code having at least one digit into channel, day, time-of-day, and program length.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving means comprises an infrared detector.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a battery to power the switching means.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for extracting power from a selected one of the television signal sources.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the selected television signal source is a cable and the extracting power means comprises a transformer coupled to the cable, a diode coupled to the transformer, and a capacitor coupled to the diode.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first television signal source comprises a selected one of an antenna, a cable or a satellite receiver.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second television signal source comprises a selected one of an antenna, a cable or a satellite receiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switching means comprises a FET switch.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the FET switch comprises a plurality of FET transistors gated by a plurality of signal lines coupled to the detecting means.

18. The switch of claim 16, further comprising a third television signal source, wherein the television signal sources comprises an antenna, a cable, and a satellite receiver and the FET switch comprises

a first FET transistor coupled to the detecting means;

a second FET transistor coupled to first FET transistor, the detecting means and the satellite receiver;

a third FET transistor coupled to the detecting means and the antenna; and

a fourth FET transistor coupled to the third FET transistor, the detecting means and the cable.

19. A system for receiving data embedded in a television signal from one of a plurality of television signal sources, each television signal from the plurality of television signal sources including a plurality of channels, comprising:

a detector for detecting when a television is turned off;

a controlling device to send a command comprising a bit pattern of data signals corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of television signal sources and to receive a selected television signal carried by the selected television signal source only when the detector indicates the television is turned off, the controlling device comprising

a television signal tuner to tune a selected one of the plurality of channels of the selected television signal;

decoding means coupled to the television signal tuner for decoding data embedded in one of the plurality of channels of the selected television signal when the television is turned off; and

a controller coupled to the television signal tuner and the decoding means to send the command and receive the decoded data; and

a switch to receive the command and to allow transmission of the selected television signal to the television signal tuner, the switch comprising

receiving means for receiving the command from the controlling device;

detecting means coupled to the receiving means for detecting a predetermined bit pattern of data signals in the received command corresponding to the selected television signal source; and

switching means coupled to the detecting means and the plurality of television signal sources for allowing transmission of the selected television signal from the selected television signal source to the television signal tuner.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the controlling device further comprises an infrared transmitter to send the command and the receiving means comprises an infrared receiver.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the controlling device is a video cassette recorder.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the controlling device is a television.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the embedded data is found in the vertical blanking interval of the selected television signal.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the controlling device sends commands to the switch changing the selected television signal source until the decoded data is television program guide information.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the controlling device further comprises a memory for storing the television program guide information.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the controlling device further comprises means for displaying the television program guide information.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the switch further comprises a battery to power the switch.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein the selected television signal source is a cable and the switch further comprises means for extracting power from a selected one of the television signal sources, the means for extracting power comprising a transformer coupled to the cable, a diode coupled to the transformer, and a capacitor coupled to the diode.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of television signal sources comprises any combination of antennas, cables, and satellite receivers.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein the switch comprises a FET switch.

31. The switch of claim 30, wherein the FET switch comprises a plurality of FET transistors gated by a plurality of signal lines coupled to the detecting means.

32. The switch of claim 30, wherein the plurality of television signal sources comprises an antenna, a cable, and a satellite receiver and the FET switch comprises

a first FET transistor coupled to the detecting means;

a second FET transistor coupled to first FET transistor, the detecting means and the satellite receiver;

a third FET transistor coupled to the detecting means and the antenna; and

a fourth FET transistor coupled to the third FET transistor, the detecting means and the cable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to electronic guides and particularly to television guides, such as television program schedule guides. This invention also relates to a television guide with video clips.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Program guides that can be used to select programs for viewing or recording are commonly available in newspapers. An on-screen television guide is desirable so that a viewer can access the guide directly without consulting another media. It is desirable that apparatus and methods be provided to ensure that guide data for an on-screen television guide is always available.

Previews of upcoming movies or television programs and infomercials are commonly shown to generate interest in them. One technique is to show clips of the video before or after the full presentation of another program. This is done both for television programs or movies to be shown on television. Increasingly common is the inclusion of video clips of other movies on a rented video cassette tape. The renter of the video cassette tape rents the tape to watch a particular movie, but also can watch the previews, which are put onto the otherwise unused tape in the video cassette. A problem with this conventional technique is that the viewer must watch the entire tape to ascertain which previews are present.

A more convenient means of providing video clips is needed. Also it is desirable to provide a method of linking the video clips to a television guide for programs to be broadcast.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a capability for extracting a television guide from a television signal. Another object of the invention is to allow the access of a television guide from a television signal even if the channel and television signal source are unknown.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a capability for searching various channels within a television signal source to find a channel containing television guide data. Another objection of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can be programmed to search for a television guide at only certain times. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that searches for television guide data in alternate television signal sources.

Another object of the invention is to search channels and/or television signal sources for a television guide, only if the television is OFF, in order to not interrupt television viewing.

According to the present invention, apparatus and methods are provided for a television guide. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a device for comparing a current time with at least one stored time period to determine if the current time is within the stored time period, a device for switching a signal output from a first television signal source to a second television signal source, if television guide data is not contained in the signal output from the first television signal source when the current time is within the stored time period, a device for extracting the television guide data from the signal output when the current time is within the stored time period, and a memory for storing the extracted television guide data.

In another embodiment the apparatus includes a device for controlling a tuner to tune to a plurality of channels in the first television signal source, when the current time is within the stored time period, a device for controlling a tuner to tune to a plurality of channels in the second television signal source, when the current timer is within the stored time period, and a device for locking the tuner on a channel containing television guide data in order to permit extraction of the television guide data from the channel, wherein the device for switching switches from the first television signal source to the second television signal source, if television guide data is not contained in the signal output from the plurality of channels in the first television signal source.

Other objects and many of the attendant features of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed descriptions and considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols designate like parts throughout the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic showing apparatus for a television guide according to the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of the transmission system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a flow graph of steps for initializing the apparatus for a television guide according to the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a design of the random access memory and the read only memory of the apparatus for a television guide according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a tape layout having a television guide with video clips according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow graph of steps for using the apparatus for a television guide with video clips according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow graph of steps for using the apparatus for a transmitted television guide with video clips according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a tape layout having a television guide with video clips according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow graph of steps for initializing a television guide with VISS marks during a transmission and recording of a television guide with video clips according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow graph of steps for initializing a tape after a transmission and recording of a television guide with video clips according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a drawing of a tape layout having a guide in the audio track according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flow graph of steps for using the apparatus for a television guide transmitted in the audio according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a another flow graph of steps for using the apparatus for a television guide transmitted in the audio according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a display of a television guide on a television monitor according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an interlaced raster scanning pattern of a conventional television;

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram of a television video and data transmission system;

FIG. 15 is a timing diagram showing the vertical blanking interval (VBI) lines of field 1 and field 2 of a interlaced raster scanning pattern of a conventional television and data in the VBI according to the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a timing diagram of the standard data format (1X) for transmitting data in the VBI;

FIG. 17 is a timing diagram of the accelerated data format (2X) for transmitting data in the VBI;

FIG. 18 is a drawing of a tape layout having a guide in the vertical blanking lines according to the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a flow graph of steps for using the apparatus for a television guide transmitted in the vertical blanking intervals lines according to the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of a system including a recorder having apparatus for extracting a television guide from a television signal and for controlling a switch for selecting among television signal sources according to the present invention;

FIG. 21A is a timing diagram showing video clips and audio transmitted along with guide data in the vertical blanking interval lines according to the present invention;

FIG. 21B is a timing diagram showing video clips transmitted along with guide data in