US5473442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
VCE control of a cable converter unit
Assignee: Technicolor USA Inc
•
Filing: 1995-02-01
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Granted: 1995-12-05
•
Expires: 2015-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A VCR includes circuitry for controlling a cable converter unit, circuitry for detecting the presence of a television signal, and control code transmission circuitry for remotely controlling a cable converter unit. Advantageously, because the VCR is coupled to the output of the cable converter unit, the VCR can monitor the television signals received from the cable converter unit to ensure that commands sent to the cable converter unit from the VCR are executed. It is herein recognized that a skip list programmed into a VCR may be used by the VCR to control a cable box. That is, in response to a channel up command received by the VCR, the VCR would not change channels itself, but rather controls the cable box to select the next preferred channel entered in the skip list of the VCR. In this mode of operation, the channel tuning keys (e.g., CHAN UP, CHAN DN) of the VCR remote control are used to control an external source of signals, while the VCR mechanism control keys (e.g., PLAY, STOP, RECORD, FAST FORWARD) control the operation of the VCR.
Inventors
- 👤 Sung J. Kim
- 👤 Alfred J. Schick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:55
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03J; H03J1/00; H03J1/0008; H03J1/0058; H03J1/0066; H03J1/0075; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/10; H03J1/0025; H03J5/00; H03J5/02; H03J5/0245; H03J5/029
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
414 words
A videocassette recorder having cable box control capability, comprising: an input terminal for coupling to a television signal output terminal of said cable box for receiving a television signal on a particular channel; a tuner for tuning said particular television channel of a number of channels in response to a control signal, said particular channel being the output channel of said cable box; a controller for generating said control signal for causing said tuner to select said particular television channel; a data input circuit, coupled to said controller, for entering data in response to operation by a user; a memory circuit coupled to said controller for storing channel data and data corresponding to said commands for controlling said cable box; and a remote control signal transmitter coupled to said controller for transmitting remote control signals for controlling said cable box, said cable box having a tuner for selecting one of a plurality of RF signals and converting said selected RF signal to said particular television channel for application to said videocassette recorder; said controller in response to data entered by said user generates said remote control signals and applies said remote control signals to said remote control signal transmitter; and a detector for detecting an active television signal, said detector being coupled to said tuner of said VCR for receiving a signal derived from said particular channel, and in response to the detection of a predetermined characteristic of a television signal on said predetermined channel generates a signal indicative of an active television signal and applies said indicative signal to said controller, said indicative signal exhibiting a variation when said tuner of said cable box is tuned from channel to channel; said controller causes transmission of said remote control signals to said cable box to cause said tuner of said cable box to select channels sequentially and said controller performs an autoprogramming function by monitoring said indicative signal for said variation as a feedback signal to determine which of said sequentially selected channels is an active television channel, and storing a list of said active television channels in said memory circuit of said VCR; said controller in response to a CHANNEL UP command or a CHANNEL DOWN command entered by a user, maintains said tuner of said videocassette recorder on said particular television channel and transmits a channel change command to said cable box, causing said cable box to tune to a next active channel of said list in a desired direction of change.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
414 words
A videocassette recorder having cable box control capability, comprising: an input terminal for coupling to a television signal output terminal of said cable box for receiving a television signal on a particular channel; a tuner for tuning said particular television channel of a number of channels in response to a control signal, said particular channel being the output channel of said cable box; a controller for generating said control signal for causing said tuner to select said particular television channel; a data input circuit, coupled to said controller, for entering data in response to operation by a user; a memory circuit coupled to said controller for storing channel data and data corresponding to said commands for controlling said cable box; and a remote control signal transmitter coupled to said controller for transmitting remote control signals for controlling said cable box, said cable box having a tuner for selecting one of a plurality of RF signals and converting said selected RF signal to said particular television channel for application to said videocassette recorder; said controller in response to data entered by said user generates said remote control signals and applies said remote control signals to said remote control signal transmitter; and a detector for detecting an active television signal, said detector being coupled to said tuner of said VCR for receiving a signal derived from said particular channel, and in response to the detection of a predetermined characteristic of a television signal on said predetermined channel generates a signal indicative of an active television signal and applies said indicative signal to said controller, said indicative signal exhibiting a variation when said tuner of said cable box is tuned from channel to channel; said controller causes transmission of said remote control signals to said cable box to cause said tuner of said cable box to select channels sequentially and said controller performs an autoprogramming function by monitoring said indicative signal for said variation as a feedback signal to determine which of said sequentially selected channels is an active television channel, and storing a list of said active television channels in said memory circuit of said VCR; said controller in response to a CHANNEL UP command or a CHANNEL DOWN command entered by a user, maintains said tuner of said videocassette recorder on said particular television channel and transmits a channel change command to said cable box, causing said cable box to tune to a next active channel of said list in a desired direction of change.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The videocassette recorder of claim 1, wherein said remote control signal transmitter is an IR LED assembly, and said remote control signals are IR signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The videocassette recorder of claim 1, wherein said detector is an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit, and said signal indicative of an active television signal is an AGC signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The videocassette recorder of claim 1, wherein said detector is a valid television synchronizing signal detection circuit, and said signal indicative of an active television synchronizing signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
334 words
A videocassette recorder for controlling a cable box, comprising: a baseband video signal input terminal, for receiving a baseband video signal from said cable box, said cable box having a tuner for selecting a particular channel from a plurality of channels and deriving said baseband signal therefrom; a controller for generating control signals; a data input circuit, coupled to said controller, for entering data in response to operation by a user; a memory circuit coupled to said controller for storing channel data and data corresponding to said commands for controlling said cable box; and a transmitter coupled to said controller for transmitting remote control signals for controlling said cable box said controller in response to data entered by said user generates said remote control signals and applies said remote control signals to said remote control signal transmitter; and a detector for detecting an active television signal, said detector being coupled to said baseband video signal input terminal for receiving said baseband video signal, and in response to the detection of a predetermined characteristic of said baseband video signal generates a signal indicative of an active television signal and applies said indicative signal to said controller, said indicative signal exhibiting a variation when said tuner of said cable box is tuned from channel to channel; said controller transmits said remote control signals to cause said cable box to select channels sequentially and said controller performs an autoprogramming function by monitoring said indicative signal for Said variation as a feedback signal to determine which of said sequentially selected channels is an active television channel and storing a list of said active television channels in said memory circuit of said VCR; said controller in response to a channel change command entered by a user, causes said video input terminal to continue to receive said baseband video signal and transmits a channel change command to said cable box causing said cable box to tune to a next active channel of said list in a desired direction of change.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
334 words
A videocassette recorder for controlling a cable box, comprising: a baseband video signal input terminal, for receiving a baseband video signal from said cable box, said cable box having a tuner for selecting a particular channel from a plurality of channels and deriving said baseband signal therefrom; a controller for generating control signals; a data input circuit, coupled to said controller, for entering data in response to operation by a user; a memory circuit coupled to said controller for storing channel data and data corresponding to said commands for controlling said cable box; and a transmitter coupled to said controller for transmitting remote control signals for controlling said cable box said controller in response to data entered by said user generates said remote control signals and applies said remote control signals to said remote control signal transmitter; and a detector for detecting an active television signal, said detector being coupled to said baseband video signal input terminal for receiving said baseband video signal, and in response to the detection of a predetermined characteristic of said baseband video signal generates a signal indicative of an active television signal and applies said indicative signal to said controller, said indicative signal exhibiting a variation when said tuner of said cable box is tuned from channel to channel; said controller transmits said remote control signals to cause said cable box to select channels sequentially and said controller performs an autoprogramming function by monitoring said indicative signal for Said variation as a feedback signal to determine which of said sequentially selected channels is an active television channel and storing a list of said active television channels in said memory circuit of said VCR; said controller in response to a channel change command entered by a user, causes said video input terminal to continue to receive said baseband video signal and transmits a channel change command to said cable box causing said cable box to tune to a next active channel of said list in a desired direction of change.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The videocassette recorder of claim 5, wherein said transmitter is an IR LED assembly, and said remote control signals are IR signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The videocassette recorder of claim 5, wherein said detector is a valid television synchronizing signal detection circuit, and said signal indicative of an valid television synchronizing signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-12-04 | 1999-06-05 | 1999-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-04 | 2003-06-05 | 2003-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-04 | 2007-06-05 | 2007-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |