Patent EP0508394A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0508394A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for controlling a recording device
Assignee: Vantiva SA
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Filing: 1992-04-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-04-08
Abstract
Abstract In order to record automatically a video program a VTR does need a timer and programming features. In case of scrambled TV programs a pay TV decoder has to be switched on when recording. New generation pay TV systems include the transmission of data identifying the kind of program. By providing an infra-red transmitting diode at the cabinet of the pay TV decoder this decoder can control the VTR via the infra-red link. The VTR does not need programming features and is switched on automatically at the event of a pre-selected program received by the pay TV decoder.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric Diehl
- 👤 Joel Hamon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:31
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/78; H04N5/782
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
25 words
Method for controlling a recording device, characterized in that program identification data of a pay TV system are used to command said recording device (VCR).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a pay TV decoder (10) evaluates said program identification data and commands said recording device (VCR).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said recording device (VCR) is commanded by sequences of different codes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said recording device (VCR) is commanded via an infra-red link.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
100 words
Method according to any of claims 2 to 4, comprising one or more of the following steps in conjunction with said program identification data: - switching said pay TV decoder (10) from one channel to an other until a service to be recorded is found; - switching said recording device (VCR) from stand-by mode to normal operation mode; - tuning said recording device to a RF modulator frequency of said pay TV decoder; - switching said recording device to a record mode; - switching said recording device to a stop mode; - switching said recording device to a stand-by mode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Method according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said pay TV decoder (10) stores said code sequences in a memory, especially in a compressed format.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Method according to any of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said pay TV decoder (10) emulates said infra-red link from a hand set which can be used to command said recording device (10).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
Method according to any of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that said pay TV decoder (10) can work in a learning mode, whereby said code sequences are received either from data transmitted together with the TV signal received from said pay TV decoder or from data generated in a computer device transmitted via a RS232 link or from a smart card or from an infra-red link, especially by using said hand set which can be used to command said recording device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Method according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said recording device (10) is a video cassette recorder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
185 words
Apparatus for a method according to any of claims 1 to 9, consisting of a microcontroller (CPU) which is connected to a tuner (3), to a de-scrambling stage (4), to an access control unit (5), to an user interface (1), to a memory (2) and to a current source (7), whereby said tuner receives TV RF signals and said microcontroller controls the frequency of said tuner (3) and whereby the scrambled and demodulated video and/or audio signals become de-scrambled in said de-scrambling stage (4) and the de-scrambled video and audio signals can be fed to respective inputs of said recording device (VCR) and whereby a user can select an authorized program through said user interface (1) and whereby code sequences can be stored in and read out from said memory (2) and whereby said access control unit (5) extracts the program information from the data stream which is send for de-scrambling and whereby said microcontroller (CPU) extracts said code sequences from said memory (2), translates them and sends the according waveform to said current source (7) which drives one or more infra-red transmitter diodes (8).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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