Claims
- 1. A method for acquiring data related to television programming comprising the steps of:
receiving from a first television signal source a television signal capable of incorporating embedded data relating to television programming; determining if data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the first source; if data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the first source, storing at least a portion of the embedded data in an electronic memory, the stored portion including a first guide identifier; receiving from a second signal source a television signal capable of incorporating embedded data relating to television programming; determining if data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the second source; if data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the second source, storing at least a portion of the embedded data in the electronic memory, the stored portion including a second guide identifier; compiling a list of one or more guides from the stored guide identifiers; displaying the list of the guides for viewer selection; selecting a guide for future reception; and storing the guide identifier for the selected guide.
- 2. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:
receiving from a third television signal source a television signal capable of incorporating embedded data relating to television programming; determining if data to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the third source; and if data related to television programming is embedded in the television signal from the second source, storing at least a portion of the embedded data in the electronic memory, the stored portion including a third guide identifier.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored portion of embedded data comprises a sample guide.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored portion of embedded data comprises a guide identifier and data relating to guide information reception and the method further comprises storing the reception data for the selected guide.
- 5. A method for acquiring data related to television programming comprising the steps of:
receiving from a first television signal source data related to a first television program schedule guide; storing at least a portion of the data related to the first television program schedule guide in memory, the stored portion including a first guide identifier; receiving from a second television signal source data related to a second television program schedule guide; storing at least a portion of the data related to the second television program schedule guide in memory, the stored portion including a second guide identifier; displaying the first and second guide identifiers on a display; receiving a viewer selection of one of the displayed guide identifiers; and storing reception information for the selected guide identifier, the reception information allowing future reception of an associated television program schedule guide.
- 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the stored portion of the data related to the first and second television program schedule guides includes a sample of the first and second television program schedule guides.
- 7. A television apparatus receiving television signals from a plurality of television signal sources comprising:
a first input receiving from a first television signal source data related to a first television program schedule guide; a second input receiving from second television signal source data related to a second television program schedule guide; a memory; a display; and a processor coupled to the memory and display, the processor including logic for:
storing at least a portion of the data related to the first television program schedule guide in the memory, the stored portion including a first guide identifier; storing at least a portion of the data related to the second television program schedule guide in the memory, the stored portion including a second guide identifier; displaying the first and second guide identifiers on the display; receiving a viewer selection of one of the displayed guide identifiers; and storing reception information for the selected guide identifier, the reception information allowing future reception of an associated television program schedule guide.
- 8. The television apparatus of claim 7, wherein the stored portion of the data related to the first and second television program schedule guides includes a sample of the first and second television program schedule guides.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of pending patent application Ser. No. 08/368,340, filed Dec. 30, 1994, which is a continuation-in-part of pending patent application Ser. No. 08/364,708 filed Dec. 28, 1994. The subject matter of all of the above referenced patent applications, continuation and continuation-in-part applications are incorporated herein by this reference, as though set forth in full.
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
09862199 |
May 2001 |
US |
Child |
09911127 |
Jul 2001 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08368340 |
Dec 1994 |
US |
Child |
09862199 |
May 2001 |
US |
Parent |
08364708 |
Dec 1994 |
US |
Child |
08368340 |
Dec 1994 |
US |