Apparatus and method using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming

We claim:

1. A system for programming and automatically recording programs transmitted using video signals, by a video recorder, under control of sets of channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands, the system comprising:

an input for receiving compressed coded indications into said system, each compressed coded indication incorporating the data represented in a set of individual channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands, wherein each of one or more of said compressed coded indications has a length that is less than the length of the concatenation of said incorporated individual channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands; and

a decoder for decoding and expanding each of one or more of said compressed coded indications into said set of individual channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands for control of the video recorder.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising the video recorder, which includes said decoder.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said video recorder further includes said input.

4. The system of claim 1 comprising a remote transmitter which includes said input.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising the video recorder which includes said decoder.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said video recorder comprises

a second input for receiving compressed coded indications, each representative of, and compressed in length from, a set of individual channel, date, time-of-day and length commands.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein said remote transmitter further comprises means for transmitting said compressed coded indications to said decoder.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein said remote transmitter further includes said input.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said remote transmitter further comprises means for transmitting said individual channel, date, time-of-day and length commands to said video recorder.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said remote transmitter further comprises

means for generating, from each of said sets of individual channel, date, time-of-day and length commands, a set of control commands comprising control commands for:

selection of a channel of video signals for recording,

starting recording of a selected channel of video signals, and

stopping recording of a selected channel of video signals.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said remote transmitter further comprises

means for generating, from each of said sets of individual channel, date, time-of-day and length commands, a set of control commands comprising control commands for:

selection of a channel of video signals for recording according to such individual channel commands,

starting recording of a selected channel of video signals according to such date and time-of-day commands, and

stopping recording of a selected channel of video signals according to such time-of-day and length commands.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said remote transmitter further comprises

means for transmitting said control commands generated by said means for generating control commands.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising

a channel selector for selecting a channel of video signals operative responsive to said control commands for selection of a channel comprising

a receiver which receives said control commands for selection of a channel, transmitted by said means for transmitting.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said channel selector comprises a cable box.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said video recorder comprises:

means for recording video signals operative responsive to said control commands for starting recording and said control commands for stopping recording; and

a second receiver which receives said control commands for starting recording and said control commands for stopping recording transmitted by said means for transmitting.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said channel selector comprises a cable box.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein said video recorder comprises:

means for recording video signals operative responsive to control commands for starting recording and said control commands for stopping recordings; and

a receiver which receives said control commands for starting recording and said control commands for stopping recording transmitted by said means for transmitting.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said video recorder further comprises:

a channel selector for selecting a channel of video signals operative responsive to said control commands for selection of a channel; and

wherein said receiver receives said control commands for selection of a channel transmitted by said means for transmitting.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein said remote transmitter comprises a universal remote controller.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said universal remote controller is capable of learning protocols of transmit commands of different remote controllers with which said universal remote controller interfaces.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein said universal remote controller comprises:

means for storing a plurality of protocol sets of transmit signals for said control commands; and

means for selecting protocol sets of transmit signals for particular sets of said control commands.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein said universal remote controller further comprises:

means for transmitting simultaneously in at least two of the forward, backward, left, right, upward and downward directions.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein said decoder comprises:

means for transforming each of said compressed coded indication into a binary number comprising a plurality of bits;

means for reordering said bits according to a bit hierarchy key that specifies the reordering of said binary number to obtain a reordered binary compressed code;

means for separating said reordered binary compressed code into channel, date, time-of-day and program length priority indices; and

means for deriving channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands from said channel, date, time-of-day and program length priority indices.

24. The system of claim 23 further comprising:

a clock with an output; and

wherein said means for reordering further comprise means for reordering said bits according to the output of said clock and a bit hierarchy key that specifies the reordering of said binary number to obtain a reordered binary compressed code.

25. The system of claim 1 wherein said decoder comprises:

means for transforming each of said compressed coded indication into a mixed radix number comprising a plurality of bits;

means for reordering said bits according to a bit hierarchy key that specifies the reordering of said mixed radix number to obtain a reordered mixed radix compressed code;

means for separating said reordered mixed radix compressed code into channel, date, time-of-day and program length priority indices; and

means for deriving channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands from said channel, date, time-of-day and program length priority indices.

26. The system of claim 25 further comprising:

a clock with an output; and

wherein said means for reordering further comprise means for reordering said bits according to the output of said clock and a bit hierarchy key that specifies the reordering of said mixed radix number to obtain a reordered mixed radix compressed code.

27. The system of claims 23 or 25 further comprising:

a clock with an output; and

wherein said means for deriving further comprise means for deriving channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands according to the output of said clock and from said channel, date, time-of-day and program length priority indices.

28. The system of claim 1 which further comprises:

means for selection of daily use of at least one of said sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands decoded from said compressed code; and

means for daily use of such at least one of said sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands decoded from said compressed code starting on a date according to the date specified in such set of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands.

29. The system of claim 1 which further comprises:

means for selection of weekly use of at least one of said sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands decoded from said compressed code; and

means for weekly use of such at least one of said sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands decoded from said compressed code starting on date according to the date specified in such set of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands.

30. The system of claim 1 which further comprises:

selecting a periodicity for repeating the step of recording on a channel corresponding to said channel command at a time-of-day corresponding to said time-of-day command and for a length corresponding to said length command.

31. The system of claim 1 that further comprises:

a stack of memory coupled to said decoder for storing a plurality of programs consisting of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands for timer preprogramming in temporal order according to said date and time-of-day commands so that the temporally earliest program is at predetermined location of the stack; and

a clock with an output coupled to said decoder; and

wherein said decoder further comprises a means for periodically comparing said date and time-of-day commands for the program at the predetermined location of said stack memory and transmitting said channel, date, time-of-day and length commands for a program to said means for recording when said date and time-of-day commands have a predetermined relation with the output of said clock.

32. The system of claim 1 which further comprises means for increasing said time-of-day command by a predetermined length of time.

33. The system of claims 1 which further comprises means for decreasing said time-of-day command by a predetermined length of time.

34. The system of claims 32 or 33 wherein said predetermined length of time is three hours.

35. The system of claim 1 which further comprises:

means for substituting a local channel number for a channel number in said channel command.

36. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a clock with an output; and

means for warning a user that the output of said clock will compare within a preset time to said date and time-of-day commands.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein said step of decoding and expanding comprises performing said step of decoding and expanding in said video recorder.

38. A method of programming and automatically recording transmitted using video signals, by a video recorder, under control of sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving compressed coded indications into a video recorder controller, each compressed coded indication incorporating the data represented in a set of individual channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands, wherein each of one or more of said compressed coded indications has a length that is less than the length of the concatenation of said incorporated individual channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands; and

decoding and expanding each of one or more of said compressed coded indications into said incorporated individual channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands for control of the video recorder.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said step of decoding and expanding comprises performing said step of decoding and expanding in said video recorder.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein said step of receiving compressed coded indications comprises the step of receiving such coded indications in said video recorder.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein said step of receiving compressed coded indications comprises the step of receiving the coded indications in a remote transmitter.

42. The method of claim 38:

wherein said step of decoding and expanding comprises performing said step of decoding and expanding in a video recorder; and

wherein said step of receiving compressed coded indications comprises the step of receiving compressed coded indications in either a remote transmitter or said video recorder.

43. The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of transmitting said compressed coded indications by said remote transmitter.

44. The method of claim 41:

wherein said step of receiving compressed coded indications comprises the step of receiving compressed coded indications in a remote transmitter; and

wherein said step of decoding and expanding comprises performing said step of decoding and expanding in a remote transmitter.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of transmitting said individual channel, date, time-of-day and length commands by said remote transmitter to said video recorder.

46. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of:

generating, from each of said sets of individual channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands, a set of control commands comprising control commands for:

selection of a channel of video signals for recording,

starting recording of a selected channel of video signals, and

stopping recording of a selected channel of video signals.

47. The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of

generating, from each of said sets of individual channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands, a set of control commands comprising control commands for:

selection of a channel of video signals for recording according to such individual channel commands,

starting recording of a selected channel of video signals according to such date and time-of-day commands, and

stopping recording of a selected channel of video signals according to such time-of-day and program length commands.

48. The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of transmitting, by said remote transmitter, said control commands.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said step of transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said control commands for selection of a channel of video signals to a channel selector.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said step of transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said control commands for starting recording and said control commands for stopping recording to said video recorder.

51. The method of claim 48 wherein said step of transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said control commands for selection of a channel of video signals to a cable box.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said step of transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said control commands for starting recording and said control commands stopping recording to said video recorder.

53. The method of claim 48 wherein said step of transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said control commands for starting recording and said control commands stopping recording to said video recorder.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said step of transmitting further comprises:

transmitting said control commands for selection of a channel of video signals to said video recorder.

55. The method of claim 46 further comprising the steps of:

learning protocols of different remote controllers with which said remote transmitter interfaces; and

wherein said step of transmitting includes transmitting using the protocol of the devices to which it is transmitting.

56. The method of claim 46 further comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of protocol sets of transmit signals for said control commands into said remote transmitter; and

selecting protocol sets of transmit signals for particular sets of said control commands; and

wherein the step of transmitting further comprises transmitting each control command according to said selected protocol set of transmit signals.

57. The method of claims 55 or 56 wherein said step of transmitting further comprises:

transmitted simultaneously in at least two of the forward, backward, left, right, upward and downward directions.

58. The method of claim 38 wherein said step of decoding further comprises the steps of:

transforming each of said compressed coded indication into a binary number comprising a plurality of bits;

reordering said bits according to a bit hierarchy key that specifies the reordering of said binary number to obtain a reordered binary compressed code;

separating said reordered binary compressed code into channel, date, time-of-day and program length priority indices; and

deriving channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands from said channel, date, time-of-day and program length priority indices.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein said step of reordering comprises the step of reordering said bits according to the output of a clock and a bit hierarchy key that specifies the reordering of said binary number to obtain a reordered binary compressed code.

60. The method of claim 38 wherein said step of decoding comprises the steps of:

transforming each of said compressed coded indication into a mixed radix number comprising a plurality of bits;

reordering said bits according to a bit hierarchy key that specifies the reordering of said mixed radix number to obtain a reordered mixed radix compressed code;

separating said reordered mixed radix compressed code into channel, date, time-of-day and program length priority indices; and

deriving channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands from said channel, date, time-of-day and program length priority indices.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein said step of reordering comprises the step of reordering said bits according to the output of a clock and a bit hierarchy key that specifies the reordering of said mixed radix number to obtain a reordered mixed radix compressed code.

62. The method of claims 58 or 60 wherein said step of deriving comprises the step of deriving channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands according to the output of a clock and from said channel, date, time-of-day and program length priority indices.

63. The methods of claim 46 or 47 which further comprise the steps of:

selecting daily use of at least one of said sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands; and

wherein said step of generating comprises daily using said at least one of said sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands to generate said control commands beginning on the date specified in said at least one of said sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands.

64. The methods of claim 46 or 47 which further comprise the steps of:

selecting weekly use of at least one of said sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands; and

wherein said step of generating comprises weekly using said at least one of said sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands to generate said control commands beginning on the date specified in said at least one of said sets of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands.

65. The system of claim 38 that further comprises the steps of:

storing a plurality of programs consisting of channel, date, time-of-day and length commands for timer preprogramming in temporal order into a stack memory according to said date and time-of-day commands so that the temporally earliest program is at predetermined location of the stack; and

periodically comparing said date and time-of-day commands for the program at the predetermined location of said stack memory to the output of a clock and transmitting said channel, date, time-of-day and length commands for a program to said means for recording when said date and time-of-day commands have a predetermined relation with the output of said clock.

66. The method of claim 38 which further comprises the step of increasing said time-of-day command by a predetermined length of time.

67. The method of claims 38 which further comprises the step of decreasing said time-of-day command by a predetermined length of time.

68. The method of claims 66 or 67 wherein said predetermined length of time is three hours.

69. The method of claim 38 which further comprises the step of substituting a local channel number for a channel number in said channel command.

70. The method of claim 38 further comprising the step of warning a user that a clock output will compare within a preset time to said date and time-of-day commands of one of sets of channel, date, time-of-day and program length commands.

Description Submit all comments and votes

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to video cassette recorder systems and particularly to the timer preprogramming feature of video cassette recorders (VCRs) and to an apparatus and method for using encoded information to shorten the time required to perform timer preprogramming.

2. Prior Art

The video cassette recorder (VCR) has a number of uses, including playing back of tapes filmed by a video camera, playing back of prerecorded tapes, and recording and playing back of broadcast and cable television programs.

To record a television program in advance of viewing it, a two-step process is often used: (1) obtain the correct channel, date, time and length (CDTL) information from a television program guide, and (2) program this CDTL information into the VCR. Depending on the model, year and type of the VCR, the CDTL information can be programmed in various ways including: (i) pushing an appropriate sequence of keys in the console according to instructions contained in the user's manual, (ii) pushing an appropriate sequence of keys in a remote hand-held control unit according to instructions contained in the user's manual (remote programming), and (iii) executing a series of keystrokes in the remote hand-held control unit in response to a menu displayed on the television screen (on-screen programming). Other techniques for timer preprogramming have been suggested including: (iv) reading in certain bar-code information using a light pen (light pen programming), and (v) entering instructions through a computer or telephone modem. These various methods differ only in the physical means of specifying the information while the contents, being CDTL and certain power/clock/timer on-off commands are generally common although the detailed protocol can vary with different model VCRs. Methods (i) and (ii) described above can require up to 100 keystrokes, which has inhibited the free use of the timer preprogramming feature of VCRs. To alleviate this, new VCR models have included an "On-Screen Programming" feature, which permits remote input of CDTL information in response to a menu displayed on the television screen. Generally, on screen programming of CDTL information requires an average of about 18 keystrokes, which is less than some of the prior methods but still rather substantial. Some of the other techniques such as (iv) above, require the use of special-equipment such as a bar code reader.

In general the present state of the art suffers from a number of drawbacks. First, the procedure for setting the VCR to record in advance can be quite complex and confusing and difficult to learn; in fact, because of this many VCR owners shun using the timer preprogramming record feature. Second, the transcription of the CDTL information to the VCR is hardly ever error-free; in fact, many users of VCR's timer preprogramming features express concern over the high incidence of programming errors. Third, even for experienced users, the process of entering a lengthy sequence of information on the channel, date, time and length of desired program can become tedious. Fourth, techniques such as reading in bar-code information or using a computer require special equipment. These drawbacks have created a serious impedance in the use of a VCR as a recording device for television programs. The effect is that time shifting of programs has not become as popular as it once was thought it would be. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a simpler system for effecting VCR timer preprogramming which will enable a user to take advantage of the recording feature of a VCR more fully and freely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved system for the selection and entering of channel, date, time and length (CDTL) information required for timer preprogramming of a VCR which is substantially simpler, faster and less error-prone than present techniques.

In accordance with the invention, to program the timer preprogramming feature of a video system, there is an apparatus and method for using encoded video recorder/player timer preprogramming information. The purpose is to significantly reduce the number of keystrokes required to set up the timer preprogramming feature on a VCR. In accordance with this invention it is only necessary for the user to enter a code with 1 to 7 digits or more into the VCR. This can be done either remotely or locally at the VCR. Built into either the remote controller or the VCR is a decoding means which automatically converts the code into the proper CDTL programming information and activates the VCR to record a given television program with the corresponding channel, date, time and length. Generally multiple codes can be entered at one time for multiple program selections. The code can be printed in a television program guide in advance and selected for use with a VCR or remote controller with the decoding means.

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. 1 is a schematic showing apparatus according to this invention with the code decoder means embedded in the video cassette recorder.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of the VCR embedded processors for command control and code decoding.

FIG. 3 is a schematic showing a preferred embodiment according to this invention with the code decoder means embedded in a remote controller.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of the processor embedded in the remote controller.

FIG. 5 is a schematic of a universal remote controller with the code decoder means embedded in the universal remote controller.

FIG. 6 is a flow graph of the-G-code decoding technique.

FIG. 7 is a flow graph of the G-code encoding technique.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of part of a television calendar according to this invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for decoding for cable channels.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for encoding for cable channels.

FIG. 11. is a flow graph of the G-code decoding for cable channels including conversion from assigned cable channel number to local cable carrier channel number.

FIG. 12 is a means for decoding including a stack memory.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for program entry into stack memory.

FIG. 14 is an operation flowchart for sending programs from remote control to main unit VCR.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 16 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 15 showing a forward facing light emitting diode.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 15 placed in a mounting stand.

FIG. 17A is a front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 15 placed in the mounting stand as shown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 18 is a detail of the LCD display of the apparatus of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a manner of placing the apparatus of FIG. 15 relative to a-cable box and a VCR.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a manner of placing the mounting stand with the apparatus of FIG. 15 mounted thereon near a cable box and VCR.

FIG. 21 is a schematic showing apparatus for using compressed codes for recorder preprogramming according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 22 is a detailed schematic showing a preferred embodiment of apparatus implementing the schematic of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a flow graph for program entry into the apparatus of FIG. 15.

FIG. 24 is a flow graph for review and program cancellation of programs entered into the apparatus of FIG. 15.

FIG. 25 is a flow graph for executing recorder preprogramming using compressed codes according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 26 is a flow graph for encoding program channel, date, time and length information into decimal compressed codes.

FIG. 27 is a flow graph for decoding decimal compressed codes into program channel, date, time and length information.

FIG. 28 is an embodiment of an assigned channel number/local channel number table.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly, to FIG. 1, there is shown an apparatus for using encoded video recorder/player timer preprogramming information 10 according to this invention. The primary components include a remote controller 12 and a video cassette recorder/player with G-code decoder 14, which can be controlled by remote controller 12 via a command signal 16. The remote controller 12 can have a number of keys, which include numerical keys 20, G-code switch 22, function keys 24, program key 26 and power key 27. There are means in the remote controller 12 that interpret each key as it is pressed and sends the proper command signal 16 to the VCR via an infrared light emitting diode 28. Except for the G-code switch 22 on the remote controller 12 in FIG. 1, the remote controller 12 is essentially the same as any other remote controller in function. The G-code switch 22 is provided just to allow the user to lock the remote controller 12 in the G-code mode while using a G-code, which is the name given to the compressed code which is the encoded CDTL information, to perform timer preprogramming.

A G-code consists of 1 to 7 digits, although more could be used, and is associated with a particular program. A user would lookup the G-code in a program guide and just enter the G-code on the remote controller 12, instead of the present state of the art, which requires that the user enter the actual channel, date, time and length (CDTL) commands.

In order to understand the advantages of using a G-code, it is helpful to describe the best of the current state of the art, which is "on screen programming" with direct numerical entry. This technique involves about 18 keystrokes and the user has to keep switching his view back and forth between the TV screen and the remote controller while entering the CDTL information. This situation may be akin to a user having to dial an 18 digit telephone number while reading it from a phone book. The number of keys involved and the switching back and forth of the eye tend to induce errors. A typical keying sequence for timer recording using on-screen CDTL programming is as follows:

The first program (PROG) key 26 enters the programming mode. Then a sequence of numerical keys 20 are pushed. The 2 means it is timer recording rather than time setting. The 1 means the user is now entering the settings for program 1. The 15 is the date. The 07 is starting hour. The 30 is a starting minute. The 2 means p.m. The next sequence 08 00 2 is the stopping time. The 04 is channel number. Finally, the PROG is hit again to exit the program mode.

By contrast, this command could have been "coded" and entered in a typical G-code sequence as follows: PROG 1138 PROG. To distinguish that the command is a coded G-code, the G-code switch 22 should be turned to the "ON" position. Instead of having a switch, a separate key "G" can be used. The G-code programming keystroke sequence would then be: G 1138 PROG.

The use of a G-code does not preclude "on-screen" confirmation of the program information that has been entered. When the keystrokes "PROG 1138 PROG" are entered with the G-code switch in the "ON" position, the G-code would be decoded and the television could display the following message:

______________________________________ PROGRAM DATE START TIME STOP TIME CHANNEL ______________________________________ 1138 15 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 4 ______________________________________

In order for the G-code to be useful it must be decoded and apparatus for that purpose must be provided. Referring to FIG. 1, a video cassette recorder/player with G-code decoder 14 is provided to be used in conjunction with remote controller 12. The command signal 16 sent from the remote controller 12 is sensed by the photodiode 32 and converted to electrical signals by command signal receiver 30. The electrical signals are sent to a command controller 36, which interprets the commands and determines how to respond to the commands. As shown in FIG. 1, it is also possible for the command controller 36 to receive commands from the manual controls 34 that are normally built into a VCR. If the command controller 36 determines that a G-code was received then the G-code will be sent to the G-code decoder 38 for decoding. The G-code decoder 38 converts the G-code into CDTL information, which is used by the command controller 36 to set the time/channel programming 40. Built into the VCR is a clock 42. This is normally provided in a VCR and is used to keep track of the date and time. The clock 42 is used primarily by the time/channel programming 40 and the G-code decoder 38 functions. The time/channel programming 40 function is set up with CDTL information by the command controller 36. When the proper date and time is read from clock 42, then the time/channel programming 40 function turns the record/playback 44 function "ON" to record. At the same time the tuner 46 is tuned to the proper channel in the television signal 18. Later the user can command the record/playback 44 function to a playback mode to watch the program via the television monitor 48.

An alternate way to control the recorder is to have the command controller 36 keep all the CDTL information instead of sending it to the time/channel programming 40. The command controller would also keep track of the time by periodically reading clock 42. The command controller would then send commands to the time/channel programming 40 to turn on and off the recorder and to tuner 46 to cause it to tune to the right channel at the right time according to the CDTL information.

The clock 42 is also an input to G-code decoder 38, which allows the G-code decoding to be a function of the clock, which lends a measure of security to the decoding technique and makes it harder to copy. Of course this requires that the encoding technique must also be a function of the clock.

A possible realization of the command controller 36 and the G-code decoder 38 is shown in FIG. 2. The command controller 36 function can be realized with a microprocessor 50, a random access memory 52 and a read only memory 54, which is used for program storage. The input/output 56 function is adapted to receive commands from the command signal receiver 30, the manual controls 34 and the clock 42, and to output signals to a display 35, the clock 42, and the time/channel programming 40 function. If the microprocessor 50 interprets that a G-code has been received, then the G-code is sent to microcontroller 60 for decoding. The microcontroller 60 has an embedded random access memory 62 and an embedded read only memory 64 for program and table storage. The clock 42 can be read by both microprocessor 50 and microcontroller 60.

An alternative to having microcontroller 60 perform the G-code decoding is to build the G-code decoding directly into the program stored in read only memory 54. This would eliminate the need for microcontroller 60. Of course, other hardware to perform the G-code decoding can also be used. The choice of which implementation to use is primarily an economic one.

The blocks in FIGS. 1 and 2 are well known in the prior art and are present in the following-patents: Fields, U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,412; Scholz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,519,003; and Brugliera, U.S.Pat. No. 4,631,601. For example, clock 42 is analogous to element 7 in Scholz and element 17 in Brugliera. Other analogous elements are: command signal receiver 30 and Scholz 14 and

Brugliera 12; tuner 46 and Scholz 6 and Brugliera 10; time/channel programming 40 and Scholz 8, 11 and Brugliera 16; record & playback 44 and Scholz 1, 2, 4; command controller 36 and Scholz 11, 10 and Brugliera 12; microprocessor 50 and Fields 27; RAM 52 and Fields 34; ROM 54 and Fields 33; manual controls 34 and Scholz 15, 16; and remote controller 12 and Scholz 26 and Brugliera 18.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate preferred embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 3 a remote controller with embedded G-code decoder 80 is provided. The remote controller with embedded G-code decoder 80 is very similar to remote controller 12, except for the addition of the G-code decoder 82. Note that it is also possible in any remote controller to provide a display 84. The remote controller with embedded G-code decoder 80 would be used in conjunction with a normal video cassette recorder/player 70, which would not be required to have an embedded G-code decoder. The numerals for the subelements of video cassette recorder/player 70 are the same as described above for the video cassette recorder/player with G-code decoder 14 and have the same function, except for the absence of G-code decoder 38. This preferred embodiment has the advantage that it can be used in conjunction with VCRs that are presently being used. These do not have a G-code decoding capability. Replacing their remote controllers with ones that have this capability built-in can vastly improve the capability to do timer preprogramming for a modest cost.

FIG. 4 illustrates a possible realization of the G-code decoder 82 built into the remote controller with embedded G-code decoder 80. A microcontroller 60 can be used as before to decode the G-code, as well as interface with the display 84, a clock 85, the keypad 88 and the light emitting diode 28. Alternately, other hardware implementations can be used to perform the G-code decoding. The clock 85 is provided in the remote controller 80 so that the G-code decoder 82 can be made to have the clock 85 as one of its inputs. This allows the G-code decoding to be a function of the clock 85, which lends a measure of security to the decoding technique and makes it harder to copy.

The remote controller with embedded G-code decoder as described above would send channel, date, time and length information to the video cassette recorder/player 70, which would use the CDTL information for tuning into the correct channel and starting and stopping the recording function. The remote controller may have to be unique for each different video cassette recorder/player, because each brand or model may have different infrared pulses for each type of information sent such as the channel number keys and start record and stop record keys. The particular infrared pulses used for each key type can be called the vocabulary of the particular remote controller. Each model may also have a different protocol or order of keys that need to be pushed to accomplish a function such as timer preprogramming. The protocol or order of keys to accomplish a function can be called sentence structure. If there is a unique remote controller built for each model type, then the proper vocabulary and sentence structure can be built directly into the remote controller.

An alternate to having the remote controller with embedded G-code decoder send channel, date, time and length information to the video cassette recorder/player 70, is to have the remote controller with embedded G-code decoder perform more operations to simplify the interfacing problem with existing video cassette recorder/players. In particular, if the remote controller not only performs the G-code decoding to CDTL, but also keeps track of time via clock 85, then it is possible for the remote controller to send just channel, start record and stop commands to the video cassette recorder/player. The channel, start and stop are usually basic one or two key commands, which means there is no complicated protocol or sentence structure involved. Thus, to communicate with a diverse set of video cassette recorder/player models it is only necessary to have memory within the remote controller, such as ROM 64 of FIG. 4, for storing the protocol for all the models or at least a large subset. The G-code would be entered on the remote controller as before and decoded into channel, date, time and length information, which would be stored in the remote controller. Via clock 85, the time would be checked and when the correct time arrives the remote controller would automatically send out commands to the VCR unit for tuning to the correct channel and for starting and stopping the recording. It is estimated that only two (2) bytes per key for about 15 keys need to be stored for the vocabulary for each video cassette recorder/player model. Thus, to cover 50 models would only require about 30*50=1500 bytes of memory in the remote controller. It would be necessary to position the remote controller properly with respect to the VCR unit so that the infrared signals sent by the remote controller are received by the unit.

Another preferred embodiment is to provide a universal remote controller 90 with an embedded G-code decoder. Universal remote controllers provide the capability to mimic a number of different remote controllers. This reduces the number of remote controllers that a user needs to have. This is accomplished by having a learn function key 94 function on the universal remote controller, as shown in FIG. 5. If the learn function key 94 is pushed in conjunction with another key, the unit will enter into the learn mode. Incoming infrared (IR) pulses from the remote controller to be learned are detected by the infra-red photodiode 96, filtered and wave-shaped into recognizable bit patterns before being recorded by a microcontroller into a battery-backed static RAM as the particular IR pulse pattern for that particular key. This is done for all the individual keys.

An example of more complex learning is the following. If the learn function key 94 in conjunction with the program key 26 are pushed when the G-code switch is "ON", the unit will recognize that it is about to record the keying sequence of a predetermined specific example of timer preprogramming of the particular VCR involved. The user will then enter the keying sequence from which the universal remote controller 90 can then deduce and record the protocol of the timer preprogramming sequence. This is necessary because different VCRs may have different timer preprogramming command formats.

If keys are pushed without the learn function key 94 involved, the microcontroller should recognize it is now in the execute mode. If the key is one of the direct command keys, the microcontroller will read back from its static RAM the stored pulse sequence and send out command words through the output parallel I/O to pulse the output light emitting diode 28. If the key is the PROG key and the G-code switch is "OFF", then the microcontroller should recognize the following keys up to the next PROG key as a timer preprogramming CDTL command and send it out through the light emitting diode 28. If the G-code switch 22 is set to "ON" and the program key 26 is pushed, the microcontroller should recognize the following keys up to the next PROG key as a G-code command for timer preprogramming. It will decode the G-code into channel, date, start time and length (CDTL) and the microcontroller will then look up in it's static RAM "dictionary" the associated infrared pulse patterns and concatenate them together before sending them off through the output parallel I/O to pulse the light emitting diode 28 to send the whole message in one continuous stream to the VCR.

FIG. 4 illustrates a possible realization of the G-code decoder 92 that could be built into the universal remote controller with embedded G-code decoder 90. A microcontroller 60 can be used as before to decode the G-code, as well as for interfacing with the input/output functions including the photodiode 96. Alternately, the G-code decoding can be performed with other hardware implementations.

The universal remote controller can also be used in another manner to simplify the interfacing problem with existing video cassette recorder/players. In particular, if the universal remote controller performs not only the G-code decoding to CDTL, but also keeps track of time via clock 85 in FIG. 4, then it is possible for the universal remote controller to send just channel, start record and stop commands to the video cassette recorder/player, which as explained before, are usually basic one key commands, which means there is no complicated protocol or sentence structure involved. Thus, to communicate with a diverse set of video cassette recorder/player models it is only necessary for the universal remote controller to "learn" each key of the remote controller it is replacing. The G-code would be entered on the universal remote controller as before and decoded into channel, date, time and length information, which would be stored in the universal remote controller. Via clock 85, the time would be checked and when the correct time arrives the universal remote controller would automatically send out commands to the VCR unit for tuning to the correct channel and for starting and stopping the recording. It would be necessary to position the universal remote controller properly with respect to the VCR unit so that the signals sent by the universal remote are received by the VCR unit.

There are a number of ways that the G-code decoding can be performed. The most obvious way is to just have a large look up table. The G-code would be the index. Unfortunately, this would be very inefficient and result in a very expensive decoder due to the memory involved. The total storage involved is a function of the number of total combinations. If we allow for 128 channels, 31 days in a month, 48 on the hour and on the half hour start times in a twenty-four hour day, and 16 length selections in half hour increments, then the total number of combinations is 128.times.31.times.48.times.16 =3,047,424. This number of combinations can be represented by a 7 digit number. The address to the table would be the 7 digit number. In the worse case, this requires a lookup table that has about 4,000,000 rows by 15 to 16 digital columns, depending on the particular protocol. These digital columns would correspond to the CDTL information required for "on screen programming". Each digit could be represented by a 4 bit binary number. Thus, the total storage number of bits required for the lookup table would be about 4,000,000.times.16.times.4=256,000,000. The present state of the art has about 1 million bits per chip. Thus, G-code decoding using a straightforward table lookup would require a prohibitively expensive number of chips.

Fortunately, there are much more clever ways of performing the G-code decoding. FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a preferred G-code decoding technique. To understand G-code decoding, it is easiest to first explain the G-code encoding technique, for which FIG. 7 is the flow chart. Then the G-code decoding technique, which is the reverse of the G-code encoding will be explained.

The encoding of the G-codes can be done on any computer and is done prior to preparation of any program guide that would include G-codes. For each program that will be printed in the guide, a channel, date, time and length (CDTL) code 144 is entered in step 142. Step 146 separately reads the priority for the channel, date, time and length in the priority vector storage 122, which can be stored in read only memory 64. The priority vector storage 122 contains four tables: a priority vector C table 124, a priority vector D table 126, a priority vector T table 128 and a priority vector L table 130.

The channel priority table is ordered so that the most frequently used channels have a low priority number. An example of the data that is in priority vector C table 124 follows.

______________________________________ channel 4 7 2 3 5 6 11 13 . . . priority 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 . . . ______________________________________

Generally the dates of a month all have an equal priority, so the low number days in a month and the low number priorities would correspond in the priority vector D table as in the following example.

______________________________________ date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 . . . priority 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 . . ______________________________________ .

The priority of the start times would be arranged so that prime time would have a low priority number and programs in the dead of the night would have a high priority number. For example, the priority vector T table would contain:

______________________________________ time 6:30 pm 7:00 pm 8:00 pm 7:30 pm . . . priority 0 1 2 3 . . . ______________________________________

An example of the data that is in the priority vector L table 130 is the following:

______________________________________ length of program (hours) 0.5 1.0 2.0 1.5 3.0 . . . priority 0 1 2 3 4 . . . ______________________________________

Suppose the channel date time length (CDTL) 144 data is 5 10 19.00 1.5, which means channel 5, 10th