The present invention relates generally to selecting a TV channel by inputting a name or call sign of the channel instead of its channel number.
The present invention critically recognizes that it is easier for humans to remember the name of something instead of a number. For example, it is easy to remember the call letters “ABC” as a TV station name but not always what channel number it is associated with in the local channel lineup. This is especially true when visiting someone who lives in an area with a different channel lineup from one's own.
As understood herein, a TV or set-top box can provide an on-screen guide which the user can access to search for a particular channel. However, this is slower than being able to key in the call letters directly and tune right away.
A method includes receiving, at a TV, a signal from a wireless commander, and determining an alphabetic station identification from the signal. Metadata in incoming TV signals is accessed to determine a channel number associated with the station identification. Then, the TV is tuned to the channel number.
In some embodiments the metadata is accessed dynamically after receipt of the signal from the wireless commander. The wireless commander can be, e.g., a wireless telephone or a TV remote control. The station identification typically is alphanumeric in that it includes at least one letter, and the metadata that is accessed to correlate the station identification to a channel number can be program and system information protocol (PSIP) data.
In another aspect, a system includes a TV display and a processor associated with the TV display. A tuner is controllable by the processor to cause programming from a tuned-to channel number to be presented on the display. The processor receives user-generated signals and correlates the signals to a station call sign. The processor then correlates the call sign to a channel number using information received in TV programming.
In still another aspect, an apparatus for obviating the need for a viewer to remember a channel number of a desired station having an alphabetic identification includes a TV receiving a signal from a viewer-operated input device. The signal is input by manipulation of one or more number keys. A processor associated with the TV correlates the signal to a character string that typically includes one or more letters of an alphabet. The processor causes the TV to tune to a channel number understood by the processor to be the channel number of the desired station based on metadata contained in television programming.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
Referring initially to
The TV 12 typically includes a TV processor 20 accessing a tangible computer readable medium 22. The tangible computer readable medium 22 may be established by, without limitation, solid state storage, optical or hard disk storage, etc. The medium 22 may store software executable by the TV processor 20 to, e.g., control a display driver 24 that drives a TV visual display 26 in accordance with one or more settings such as brightness, contrast, and the like that may be stored in, e.g., the medium 22. The display 26 may be a flat panel matrix display, cathode ray tube, or other appropriate video display, and typically is associated with one or more audio speakers 27. The medium 22 may also contain additional code including backend software executable by the TV processor 20 for various non-limiting tasks. One or more of the processors described herein may execute the logic below, which may be stored as computer code on one or more the computer readable media described herein.
In the non-limiting embodiment shown in
Additionally, the TV 12 can communicate via a network such as the Internet with a server 32. To this end, the TV 12 preferably is Internet-enabled, although it is to be understood that the server 32 may be combined with the TV program source 18 when the source 18 is a remote entity accessible over a wide area network, in which case no modem need be provided, with the TV sending signals through a reverse link to the source 18/server 32.
In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the server 32 is separate from the source 18 and the TV 12 communicates with the server 32 through a set-back box (SBB) 34. In some implementations a set-top box (STB) may be used, and the SBB/STB may itself include the tuner 16 or otherwise communicate with the source 18.
In any case, the SBB 34 shown in
A wireless remote control 42 can be provided to input commands such as the below-described station commands into the system 10. The remote control 42 can be a conventional remote control or other portable hand-held device such as a wireless telephone upgraded with an IR transmitter for TVs to permit a viewer to tune to a TV channel in accordance with principles below.
For the embodiment shown, a “Mode” key 46 is also presented on the remote control 42. A viewer manipulates the mode key 46 to generate a signal indicating that the viewer is using the remote in a letter input mode, so that signals from the number keys 44 are interpreted by the TV to represent letters. The mode key 46 may be a special purpose key or it may be an existing key not normally used for TV input, e.g., a star key on a wireless telephone.
With this understanding in mind, attention is now drawn to
As understood herein, a viewer preferably has the option to input the channel number of a desired station directly or to input the call sign of a desired station, and to this end if the viewer wishes to alert the TV that the command is for the latter, the viewer first manipulates the “mode” key 46 shown in
Assuming the viewer has entered the call sign entry mode, at block 52 remote commands are received from the remote control 42. The received string of commands from the number keys 44 are correlated at block 54 to the associated call sign letters. The channel number associated with the call sign letters is then determined at block 56 and the TV tuned to the channel at block 58. As numbers are entered, a user interface is displayed to list a choice of matching channels in alphabetical order. The user at this point can select one of the choices using the cursor keys or continue entering additional numbers to narrow down the list until only one entry exists at which point the TV can automatically tune to that entry. If no channel numbers are correlated to the call sign, the viewer is so informed by, e.g., an error message or audio cue, and the TV remains tuned to the current channel.
In one implementation, a lookup table derived from, e.g., an electronic program guide (EPG) that associates station call signs with channel numbers can be accessed to undertake the function of block 56, but more preferably the association is undertaken dynamically after receiving the command representing the call sign input mode or even after receiving the desired station call sign. In one implementation metadata in the received televised stream is used to determine which station call sign is associated with which local channel number. For example, in digital TV signals, program and system information protocol (PSIP) data can be accessed, which indicates, for the stream on a given channel number, the call sign of the associated station.
While the particular CHANNEL SELECTION BY NAME is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.