US5974222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method using compressed codes for scheduling broadcast information recording
Assignee: Gemstar Development LLC
•
Filing: 1997-04-28
•
Granted: 1999-10-26
•
Expires: 2017-04-28
Abstract
Abstract Digital compressed codes, associated with advertisements enable a user to selectively record additional information, which would be broadcast on a television channel at a later time. The advertisement could be print advertisement or broadcast advertisement on television or radio. The user enters the digital code (I code) associated with an advertisement into a unit with a decoding means which automatically converts the code into CTL (channel, time and length). The unit within a twenty four hour period activates a VCR to record information on the television channel at the right time for the proper length of time. The decoded channel, time and length information can be communicated directly to a VCR and used by the VCR directly to automatically activate the VCR to record a given television information broadcast corresponding to the communicated channel, time and length. Alternately, the channel, time and length information can be decoded directly in a remote control unit and only start record, stop record and channel selection commands sent to the VCR at the appropriate times. Algorithms for decoding the I codes can be a function of time to ensure security of the decoding method. A method is included for use of the I codes with cable channels.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry C. Yuen
- 👤 Daniel S. Kwoh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:42
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/02; G11B15/026; H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/78; H04N5/782; G11B15/023; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/47; H04N21/472; H04N21/47214; H04N5/765; H04N5/775
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A page containing an advertisement for use in automatic recording of an information broadcast for future viewing comprising: a page; an advertising section on the page; and an additional unique coded indication, representative of a proper subset of the channel, date, time-of-day and length for said information broadcast, visibly placed in said advertising section, wherein the unique coded indication comprises a number having at least one digit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
67 words
A page containing an advertisement for use in automatic recording of an information broadcast for future viewing comprising: a page; an advertising section on the page; and an additional unique coded indication, representative of a proper subset of the channel, date, time-of-day and length for said information broadcast, visibly placed in said advertising section, wherein the unique coded indication comprises a number having at least one digit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The page of claim 1 wherein the unique code indication comprises a leading digit with a predetermined value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The page of claim 2 wherein the sum of the number of digits of the unique coded indication is less than the sum of the number of characters in the channel, time-of-day and length for the information broadcast.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of creating a page containing an advertisement for use in automatic recording of information broadcasts for future viewing, comprising the steps of: creating an advertising section on a page; creating an unique coded indication representing a proper subset of the set of the channel, date, the time-of-day, and the length of time for an information broadcast associated with said advertisement; and visibly placing in said advertising section, the unique coded indication for said information broadcast.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of creating a page containing an advertisement for use in automatic recording of information broadcasts for future viewing, comprising the steps of: creating an advertising section on a page; creating an unique coded indication representing a proper subset of the set of the channel, date, the time-of-day, and the length of time for an information broadcast associated with said advertisement; and visibly placing in said advertising section, the unique coded indication for said information broadcast.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of creating a unique coded indication for said information broadcast comprises the step of: creating the unique coded indication wherein the sum of the number of digits of the unique coded indication is less than the sum of the number of characters in the channel, time-of-day and length for the information broadcast.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of creating the unique coded indication comprises the step of encoding at minimizes the number of digits in said unique coded indication for information broadcasts most likely to be selected for recording for future viewing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of creating the unique coded indication comprises the step of: encoding the unique coded indication based on probabilities assigned to the channel, time-of-day and length of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of creating a unique coded indication comprises the steps of: creating a representation for each of a channel, time of day and length for any information broadcast; using said representation to derive a priority number for said channel, time and length representations; converting the priority numbers into a binary number for each of said channel, time and length commands; reordering the bits of said binary numbers to obtain a compressed code of binary bits; and converting the compressed code of binary bits into one said unique coded indication.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of reordering comprises the step of performing said reordering as a function of a bit hierarchy key.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of converting comprises the step of performing said converting as a function of the output of a clock.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of reordering comprises the step of performing said reordering as a function of the output of a clock.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the step of using said representation to derive a priority number comprises the step of performing said derivation as a function of the output of a clock.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of creating a unique coded indication comprises the steps of: creating a representation for each of a channel, time of day and length for any information broadcast; using said representation to derive a priority number for said channel, time and length representations; converting the priority numbers into a generalized base number for each of said channel, time and length commands; reordering the bits of said generalized base numbers to obtain a compressed code of generalized base bits; and converting the compressed code of generalized base bits into one said unique coded indication.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
An electronic display device that displays an advertisement for use in automatic recording of information broadcasts for future viewing comprising: an electronic display device; an advertising section displayed on the electronic display device; and a unique coded indication, representative of a proper subset of the set of the channel, date, time-of-day and length for said information broadcast positioned visibly on the electronic display device in said advertising section, wherein the unique coded indication comprises a number having at least one digit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
81 words
An electronic display device that displays an advertisement for use in automatic recording of information broadcasts for future viewing comprising: an electronic display device; an advertising section displayed on the electronic display device; and a unique coded indication, representative of a proper subset of the set of the channel, date, time-of-day and length for said information broadcast positioned visibly on the electronic display device in said advertising section, wherein the unique coded indication comprises a number having at least one digit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electronic display device of claim 14 wherein the unique code indication comprises a leading digit with a predetermined value.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The electronic display device of claim 15 wherein the sum of the number of digits of the unique coded indication is less than the sum of the number of digits in all of the individual representations of channel, time-of-day and length.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of creating an advertisement on an electronic display device for selection of information broadcasts for future viewing on a television apparatus and/or recording on a VCR apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: creating on the electronic display device an advertising section; creating on the electronic display device a unique coded indication representing a proper subset of the set of the channel, date time-of-day, and length of time for an information broadcast associated with said advertisement and comprising at least one digit; and visibly placing in said advertising section, the unique coded indication for said information broadcast.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of creating an advertisement on an electronic display device for selection of information broadcasts for future viewing on a television apparatus and/or recording on a VCR apparatus, the method comprising the steps of: creating on the electronic display device an advertising section; creating on the electronic display device a unique coded indication representing a proper subset of the set of the channel, date time-of-day, and length of time for an information broadcast associated with said advertisement and comprising at least one digit; and visibly placing in said advertising section, the unique coded indication for said information broadcast.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the step of creating on a electronic display device a unique coded indication for said advertisement comprises the step of: creating the unique coded indication wherein the sum of the number of digits of the unique coded indication is less than the sum of the number of digits in all of the individual representations of channel, time-of-day and length.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the step of creating the unique coded indication to have less digits comprises the step of: encoding the unique coded indication based on probabilities assigned to the channel, time-of-day and length of time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 17, in which the apparatus has an electronic controller to select a program on the calendar, the method additionally comprising the steps of: keying into the controller the coded indication on the calendar corresponding to the selected program; and decoding the coded indication keyed into the controller to generate electrical signals representing the channel, day, start time, and length of the selected program.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 20, additionally comprising the step of using the signals representing the day and start time to turn the apparatus on at the beginning of the selected program.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 21, in which the apparatus also has a tuner, the method additionally comprising the step of using the signal representing the channel to set the tuner to the channel of the selected program.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 22, additionally comprising the step of using the signal representing the length to turn the apparatus off at the end of the selected program.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 23, in which the apparatus is a TV, the method additionally comprising the step of displaying the selected program.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 23, in which the apparatus is a VCR, the method additionally comprising the step of recording the selected program.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
78 words
A page containing an advertisement for use in automatic recording of an information broadcast for future viewing made using the method comprising the steps of: creating an advertising section on a page; creating a unique coded indication representing a proper subset of the set of the channel date, the time-of-day, and the length of time for an information broadcast associated with the advertisement; and visibly placing in the advertising section, the unique coded indication for the information broadcast.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
78 words
A page containing an advertisement for use in automatic recording of an information broadcast for future viewing made using the method comprising the steps of: creating an advertising section on a page; creating a unique coded indication representing a proper subset of the set of the channel date, the time-of-day, and the length of time for an information broadcast associated with the advertisement; and visibly placing in the advertising section, the unique coded indication for the information broadcast.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
67 words
The page of claim 26 wherein the step of creating a unique coded indication for the information broadcast for future viewing made using the method comprising the steps of: creating the unique coded indication wherein the sum of the number of digits of the unique coded indication is less than the sum of the number of characters in the channel, time-of-day and length for the information broadcast.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
The page of claim 26 wherein the step of creating the unique coded indication comprises the step of encoding that minimizes the number of digits in the unique coded indication for information broadcasts most likely to be selected for recording for future viewing.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The page of claim 26 wherein the step of creating the unique coded indication comprises the step of: encoding the unique coded indication based on probabilities assigned to the channel, time-of-day and length of time.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
94 words
The page of claim 26 wherein the step of creating a unique coded indication comprises the steps of: creating a representation for each of a channel, time-of-day and length for any information broadcast; using the representation to derive a priority number for the channel, time and length representations; converting the priority numbers into a binary number for each of the channel, time and length commands; reordering the bits of the binary numbers to obtain a compressed code of binary bits; and converting the compressed code of binary bits into one the unique coded indication.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The page of claim 30 wherein the step of reordering comprises the step of performing the reordering as a function of a bit hierarchy key.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
The page of claim 30 wherein the step of converting comprises the step of performing the converting as a function of the output of a clock.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The page of claim 30 wherein the step of reordering comprises the step of performing the reordering as a function of the output of a clock.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
33 words
The page of claim 30 wherein the step of using the representation to derive a priority number comprises the step of performing the derivation as a function of the output of a clock.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
98 words
The page of claim 26 wherein the step of creating a unique coded indication comprises the steps of: creating a representation for each of a channel, time-of-day and length for any information broadcast; using the representation to derive a priority number for the channel, time and length representations; converting the priority numbers into a generalized base number for each of the channel, time and length commands; reordering the bits of the generalized base numbers to obtain a compressed code of generalized base bits; and converting the compressed code of generalized base bits into one the unique coded indication.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB212600A
Cited
DE2333116A1
Cited
DE2445520A1
Cited
US4079419A
Cited
DE2612260A1
Cited
US4081754A
Cited
US4334242A
Cited
US4206483A
Cited
US4267563A
Cited
US4435842A
Cited
US4193120A
Cited
US4310924A
Cited
US4329684A
Cited
US4598288A
Cited
US4325081A
Cited
US4390901A
Cited
US4475153A
Cited
US4488179A
Cited
US4381522A
Cited
US4519003A
Cited
US4621259A
Cited
US4593414A
Cited
US4605973A
Cited
US4449249A
Cited
US4635121A
Cited
EP0122626A2
Cited
US4625080A
Cited
US4638359A
Cited
EP0133985B1
Cited
US4641205A
Cited
US4623887A
Cited
US4755883A
Cited
US4718112A
Cited
US4631601A
Cited
US4751578A
Cited
US4703359A
Cited
US4706121A
Cited
US4706121B1
Cited
US4885579A
Cited
US4843482A
Cited
US4879611A
Cited
US4832373A
Cited
US4899370A
Cited
US4825200A
Cited
US4998292A
Cited
US4807031A
Cited
US4841368A
Cited
US4977455A
Cited
US4977455B1
Cited
US4866434A
Cited
WO1990007844A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-25 | 2003-04-26 | 2003-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-25 | 2007-04-26 | 2007-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-25 | 2011-04-26 | 2011-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |