System for television receiver's and cassette videorecorder's activity and control integrating

The present invention relates to a system for integrating the operation and control of a television set and a cassette video recorder.

With the advent of cassette VCRs, a problem has arisen for consumers as they take advantage of the many features they bring, such as the automatic recording of television programs. Surveys have shown that most people who own a VCR do not know how to use these features properly and, as a result, do not record the programs they would like to record. The problem is that the process of setting the timer function of the VCR is very complicated and must be repeated each time it is desired to record a program.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for integrating the operation and control of a television set and a cassette video recorder, the use of which is simplified.

This object is achieved by a system for integrating and controlling a television set and a cassette video recorder, said television being able to receive and display various television channels as well as other video signals, and said cassette video recorder being able to record programs from at least said broadcast channels and reproduce programs previously recorded on tapes and output these programs as video signals, the essence of which is, that it includes means for allowing the user to control the system and thereby control the television and / or cassette video holes, and to enter information relating to the user's favorite programs and various specific broadcast programs into the system, this information including program name, broadcast channel, start time , length, repeat combination in case of favorite broadcast programs and whether the user wants to record the program, first memory means for storing information about a favorite broadcast program and information about various specific broadcast programs, second memory means for storing program information on a tape continuously inserted in a cassette video recorder, third memory means for storing program information on other tapes of said user, means connected to said cassette video recorder for controlling its recording and reproducing functions in response to said information stored in said first and second subject means, and in an enabling environment, output means connected to said first, second and third memory means for selectively supplying said television receiver output of said system containing said Favorite Broadcast Program information, program information of said conventional tape and program information of said second tapes and means connected to said television for selectively switching a television to receive said broadcast channels, output from said cassette video recorder and said system output.

This solution provides a system that promptly communicates to a user programs contained on a tape inserted in the VCR and allows the user to mark some of these programs for deletion without the user having to know the distribution of the programs on a particular tape. The invention further allows the user to identify their favorite programs only once. Furthermore, the system according to the invention informs the user which of his favorite programs will be broadcast when in the near future and optionally provides him with an automatic reminder, the system further activating the video recorder to record the program if necessary and informs the user that it is used tape available space for recording.

The invention is explained in more detail in the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to the invention connected for use with a television set and cassette video recorder with built-in channel selector; with a video monitor, a cassette video recorder and two channel selectors, all of which are arranged as a single integrated unit, FIG.

view of a remote control transmitter for system control, Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of a coral ring with additional channels according to the invention, Fig. 5 is a flow chart for realizing the channel ring of Fig. 4, Fig. 6a and 6b are typical pages with a favorite program menu and a description favorite program, Fig.7 flow diagram for the implementation of system recording options, Fig.8a to 8d page with menus for future programs and a page with a description of a particular program, indicating that there is enough space on the tape to record the specified program, Fig. 9a to 9e are flowcharts for executing future programs, Fig. 1 Ca to 1 From the menu page for a regular tape, an individual program page on a regular tape and a menu page for other tapes , Figs. 11a and 11b the inscriptions projected over the image of the program being recorded at the same time, and Fig. 11c shows the page with the program after the program has been recorded, Figures 12a and 12b show a program page during the setting of a certain broadcast program for future recording; Figures 13a to 13f are flowcharts in which the system automatically brings the tape to the beginning of its unrecorded area; Figures 14 and 14b show various additional channels in PIP projection; .15 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of a system in which a single concurrent circuit is used.

The system shown in Fig. 1 includes a television receiver 10 and a cassette video recorder 20 each having a built-in channel selector. The television 10 has a video input for receiving a video signal. The television 10 further includes a control input 18 for receiving signals for remotely controlling its functions.

The cassette video recorder 2C has an input 22 for receiving video signals from a source A (antenna or cable) and an output 24 for transmitting video signals to the video input 12 of the television set 10.

In the signal line to the video input 12, a concurrency circuit 40 is inserted for inserting text into the video signals, connected to the output 34 of the microcomputer 34. The microcomputer 30 is associated with three memory parts 36A to 36C with user access to store various program information.

Each of said components receives control signals from a controller J50, which is itself controlled by the remote control transmitter 52.

While Fig. 1 shows the invention used with a separate television set and a separate cassette video recorder, a preferred embodiment of this system is shown in Fig. 2, where both components are combined into one integrated unit. In particular, the system includes a microcomputer 3C, a controller 50, and a concurrency circuit 40 along with a second concurrency circuit 42. Instead of the television receiver 10 and the cassette video recorder 20, the system of FIG. 2 includes a television monitor 100, a magnetoscope 120 for recording and playback, and a pair of television channel selectors 140 and 142. The television channel selectors 140 and 142 have inputs connected to receive broadcast program video signals. from the video signal source A. The outputs of the channel selectors 140,142 and the cassette video recorder with player (hereinafter referred to as magnetoscope) 120 are connected by a first controllable video switch 130 to the input of the concurrency circuit 40, and a second controllable video switch 132 to the input of the second concurrency circuit 42. The system further includes a projection circuit 110. picture to picture, into which the outputs of the concurrency circuits 40 and 42 are fed, and which leads the output video signal to the television moniotr 100. The picture-to-picture (PIP) circuit 110 selectively displays video signals from the concurrency circuit 40 or 42 as displaying an image lying over a portion of the main picture displayed on the television monitor 100. Microcomputer 30, television monitor 100, PIP circuit 100 , the video recorder 120, the video switches 130 and 132, and the channel selectors 140 and 142 each have a control input for receiving control signals from the controller 5C.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the need for the user to have to manipulate each of the individual devices. In using the invention, the user only needs to work in interaction with one device, i.e. the controller 5C, which controls the individual channel selectors 140, 142, switches 130 and 132 and the magnetoscope 120, and further provides the appropriate response for the user. To this end, the remote control transmitter 52 shown in Fig. 3, although including most of the standard control buttons for controlling both the television set and the magnetoscope, includes several buttons specifically designed to allow the user to use the system more easily.

The way in which the user gets the advantages of this system is the possibility of continuous scanning of channels in the channel circle.

Typically, pressing the channel backward / or channel forward / button on the remote control device will cause the television to subsequently tune to each of the channels in its channel list in ascending / or descending / order. When the end / or beginning / of the list is reached, the TV automatically switches to the beginning / or end / of the channel list and resumes scanning the channel list one by one until the channel backward or channel forward button is released. This procedure of possible channels is known as a channel circle. The subject of the invention improves this channel circle by inserting additional channels.

As shown in Fig. 4, these additional channels are in the form of pages or menus and program description pages generated by the microcomputer 30 when controlled by the controller 50. Specifically, the additional channel A indicates a menu page indicating programs on this tape, i.e. a list of programs on the tape. commonly inserted into the magnetoscope 120. Information regarding the contents of each tape in the user's tape library is stored in the fingertip portion 36c of the microcomputer 30, and information regarding the contents of a particular tape inserted into the agnetoscope 120, as indicated by a unique code, such as a bar code read by a sensor 60 coupled to then passed from the memory portion 36C to the memory portion 36B. Additional channels B and C show each program description page for each of the programs recorded in additional channel A. Additional channel D shows the future program page with a menu of future programs (eg sit), chronologically possible in the near future. This information is obtained from the memory portion 36A of the microcomputer 30, which stores information regarding the listener's favorite broadcast programs and information regarding special broadcast programs that the user has determined to be watched or recorded. Additional channels E and F show program description pages for programs recorded in additional channel D. Additional channel G shows the favorite program menu page, while additional channel H shows the program menu page on other tapes in the user's tape library. Additional channel I shows a menu page of other functions for accessing other system functions, for example for initial system settings, system clock settings, etc. Additional channel J shows the content menu page, which can be used to directly access the above-mentioned additional channel menu pages. The content menu page can provide direct access by pressing the content button 52.1 on the remote control transmitter 52. Additional channel K finally shows the menu with a list of the available broadcast channels. The channel ring is then closed to the first of the transmission channels. It should be noted that although each of the additional channels is shown as a single menu page, they may each consist of several pages in order to show their full content.

Fig. 5 shows a flow chart showing how the system creates an extended channel circle. In block 502, the microcomputer 30 generates a list, namely a list e, of all broadcast programs that are available and a list 2 of all additional channels. In decision block 504, the microcomputer 30 determines whether the user has pressed the channel backward or channel forward button. If the channel backward button has been pressed, the microcomputer 30 determines in decision block 506 whether the displayed channel is a live channel or an additional channel. In the case of a live channel, the microcomputer 30 determines in decision block 508 whether this channel is at the end of the list £. If not, the microcomputer 30 increments the list 6 in block 30, thereby causing the next broadcast channel to be displayed, and then, feedback to decision block 504. In the event that a given channel is last in list J, microcomputer 30 in block 512 switches to list 2 and the first of the additional channels is displayed. Microcomputer 30 then issues a feedback to decision block 504.

If there is an additional channel in block 506, the microcomputer 30 in decision block 514 determines if the common channel is at the end of list 2. If not, microcomputer 30 in block 516 increments list 2 and causes another additional channel to be displayed, and then issues a feedback to decision block 504. If the common channel is the last additional channel, the microcomputer 30 in block 518 switches to list J, thereby displaying the first of the transmitted channels and issues a feedback to decision block 504. A similar procedure (block 520-530) as described above occurs when it is determined in decision block 504 that the channel forward button has been pressed, except that in blocks 522 and 528 it searches for a microcomputer. 30 the first channel in the respective list, in blocks 526 and 532 the microcomputer 30 goes to the end of the respective list and in blocks 524 and 530 the microcomputer 30 decrements the respective list.

With respect to the additional channel J, the menu selection according to Fig. 4 allows the user to access the additional channel G with the favorite program menu page, as shown in Fig. 6a.

This menu page can in this case consist of several pages and includes, for example, the names of each of the favorite broadcast programs, their start times and the place or channel where they appear. By accessing each of the programs, e.g. No. 6, a descriptive program page is displayed, providing detailed information about the respective program, e.g., see Fig. 6b. Information for each program can be entered through a keyboard (not shown) or by means of a sensor 60, as many television list selections contain bar codes for each of the programs. As an aid to identifying a particular program, the program description page may include a stopped PIP image depicting a scene from the particular program, which is encoded and stored in memory along with other information describing the program. The center of the program description page for each of the programs contains the desired recording option to be recorded, not scheduled for recording, and to be recorded if not watched, these options being toggled by repeatedly pressing 52.2 · Cange A on the remote control transmitter 52. The recording option to be recorded, if not watched, requires the microcomputer 30 to ask at the beginning of the program if the system is operating and what program material is loaded on the television monitor 100 as the main video signal. If the system is switched off / ie is in standby mode, or if a particular program is not fed as the main video signal, the microcomputer 30 then allows the controller 50 to tune the channel selector 142 to the desired channel at an appropriate time and put the signal into the magnetoscope 120 to begin recording.

Fig. 7 shows a flowchart showing the work process following the recording options. At the appropriate time, the microcomputer 30 determines in block 702 what the recording option flag is.

.If there is no request to record the program, it outputs standard output. If a program is desired to record, the microcomputer 30 proceeds to block 704 and instructs the controller 50 to initiate recording in the video tuner 120. If the recording option to be recorded if not watched is selected, the microcomputer 30 checks in decision block 706 whether the television monitor 100 is operating. If not, the microcomputer 30 proceeds directly to block 704. When the television monitor 100 is operating, the microcomputer 30 checks in block 708 the corresponding channel selector 140 or 142 to determine if the television monitor 100 displays the channel on which the respective program is to be broadcast. If so, microcomputer 30 outputs standard output. If not, microcomputer 30 proceeds to block 704.

The bottom of the program description page contains, for each program, seasonal or off-season scheduling options, which are switched by repeatedly pressing the 52.3 Change B ”button on the remote control transmitter 52. Specifically, this means that while a program may appear as scheduled during a television season, it may be suspended and reappear only after the start of next season. To make work easier and not have to cancel this favorite program and then have to re-enter the information, by selecting the off-season the user will ensure that this program is canceled on the menu page of future programs and its subsequent automatic tuning and / or recording, but the system still keeps this program information in the favorite program list. At any future time, this option can be changed back to in season, so the program is again scheduled to watch and / or record at that time.

As can be seen in Fig. 5A, the additional channel with future programs shows a page with a menu of the next, for example seven favorite and special broadcast programs, which are chronologically scheduled to be broadcast from the present time. As time progresses around the start times of each program, the menu page is updated to include the next seven programs. ABC Kevzs is scheduled for recording under number 4. The detailed menu page for this program /fig.8b/ shows that this program should be recorded if it is not watched and that there is enough space on the tape to record per gram. If there is not enough space on the tape, a suitable message will appear on the detail page with the menu /fig.8c/ and the recording indication on the additional channel with future programs /figure SD/ will light up. It should be noted that button 52.2. Change A ”toggles the recording request, while the Change button 52.3 toggles between whether a reminder is requested and what kind of audible or visible reminder is to be broadcast, for example five minutes before the start time of the program. This reminder can be an audible signal or a visible message (typically as a FIP display). At the specified time, the? IF projection can then show pulling, eg 10 seconds of the program.

Fig .?a shows a flow chart for working with the system and in particular a standard step for generating a list of future programs in the additional channel and corresponding pages with a description of the program. Figures 9b to Qe show details of parts of the flowchart of Figure 7. In FIG. B, the microcomputer 30 with the memory section 3 <5A selects the favorite broadcast programs and special broadcast programs in block 900 and loads them. as inputs. In block 902, microcomputer 30 processes a list of the next seven programs. In decision block C4, the microcomputer 30 compares the running time with the start time of the first program on the list. If they are the same, the microcomputer 30 performs in block 906 the appropriate functions associated with starting the first program and then passes to decision block 908. If in decision block 904^:the times are not the same, the microcomputer 30 goes directly to decision block 908. In decision block 908, the microcomputer compares the running time with the scheduled completion time of the first program. If they are not the same, the microcomputer 30 reconnects to the decision block. If they are the same, the microcomputer 30 performs the corresponding functions associated with the end of the first program in block 910. Then, in block 912, the microcomputer 30 removes the processed first program from the list and renumbers the remaining six programs. In block 914, the microcomputer 30 determines the next seventh program and follows this program to the end of the list, the microcomputer rejoins decision block 904.

Fig. 9b shows a subroutine for creating the list of block 902. In particular, the microcomputer 30 first sets the time t to the current time and the list to clear it in block 920. In block 922, the microcomputer 30 examines the programs in the list and determines the nearest program after time _t. In block 924, the microcomputer 30 sets the time t for the end time of this program. Finally, in block 926, the microcomputer 30 adds this program to the list and proceeds to block 922. After seven programs have been recorded in the list, the microcomputer 30 issues a subroutine.

With respect to favorite broadcast programs, FIG. 9c shows a subroutine for determining the nearest program after the divine time for block 922. In this regard, in block 930, microcomputer 30 determines the start time for the next episode for each of the favorite programs after the current time. In block 932, the microcomputer 30 selects the episodes with the earliest start time. Finally, in block 934, the microcomputer 30 creates a data structure for the next start-time episode. Then a subroutine is issued.

To determine the start time of the next episode of a given favorite broadcast program, the microcomputer 30 in block 940 of Fig. 9d sets the running time as the time of the day of the week as well as the hour and minute, with information on each favorite program containing the days of the week and the hour and minute of its broadcasting. In decision block 942, the microcomputer 30 determines whether the day of the week of running time coincides with cne £.^r8appropriate broadcast program. If not, the microcomputer 30 increments in block 944 the running day of the week. If so, the microcomputer 3C in decision block 966 determines whether the running time in hours and minutes is less than or equal to the time of the respective favorite broadcast program. If not, the microcomputer 30 returns to block 944. If so, the microcomputer goes to block 948 and returns the day of the week, hour, and minute of the respective favorite broadcast program. After block 944, the microcomputer 30 determines in decision block 950 whether the running day of the week coincides with the day for the respective broadcast program. If so, microcomputer 30 goes to block 948. If not, microcomputer 30 goes back to block 944 »

Fig. 9e finally shows, with reference to block 914 of Fig. 9a, a subroutine for filling in the list. Specifically, the micro16 computer 30 in block 960 sets time t as the end time of the sixth program, with the list containing programs 1 through 6. In block 962, the microcomputer 30 determines the earliest episode after time t using the subroutine of Fig. 9c. Finally, in block 964, the microcomputer connects the found program to the list.

Fig. 10a shows an additional channel for programs on this tape, while Fig. 10b shows a program description page for program No. 2. To watch this program, the user presses the button 52.4 View '' on the transmitter 52 of the remote control, and at this point the program description page shown in Fig. 10c is displayed, indicating the length of time until the beginning of the program. By pressing the button 52.5 Stop, the monitoring selection ends and the user is returned to the page with the description of the program from Fig.1Ob. Although it is usually desirable to watch a program from the beginning, pressing the 52.5 Change A button toggles between other watch options - start, pause, 5 minutes after the interrupt and 5 minutes before the end. Button 52.3 Change B selects whether the program should be retained or deleted / to create space for another recording request sometime in the future /.

Fig. 1From the additional channel Tape archive is shown as a page with a menu indicating the list of programs on. other tapes in the user's library. This program list is selected from the list stored in the memory section.

To record a program that is being broadcast at the same time, the user presses the 52.6 P.ecord New '' button on the remote control transmitter 52, and for about 10 seconds, the recording is displayed on the television screen appears, the program being recorded as shown in FIG. 11 a. Once the recording has started, its description will appear on the additional channel for Programs on this tape / see Fig.11b /. It should be noted that the system automatically sets the recording end time to the maximum time available on the tape. However, the user can change this end time by pressing button 52.2. Change A. Recording is stopped by pressing the 52.5 Stop button. Once the recording is finished, the program description page looks as shown in Fig.11c.

If settings for future recording are required, the 52.7 Pecord later button is pressed and the program description page shown in Fig. 12a appears. Once the various parameters have been set using the 52.2 Change A button and the 52.3 Change Β button, the request is saved by pressing the 52.4 View button. The resulting program description page /fig.12b/ is archived and the program names are now included in Future Programs in an additional channel for future programs.

It should be noted that during the delays, i.e. 5 minutes after the user stops playing, or immediately after the end of recording, the microcomputer 30 guides the magnetoscope 120 to the tape position at the beginning of the largest free block on the tape to enable the Becord nov function; . In addition, 10 minutes before the start of the scheduled recording, the microcomputer 30 causes the controller 50 to guide the tape to a position at the beginning of the free block that best suits the length of the program to be recorded.

Fig. 13a shows a flow chart for performing this process. Block 1300a indicates the insertion of a tape into the magnetoscope 120, block 1300b switches the archive / delete option for a previously recorded program, block 1300c indicates a change in the list of future programs, and 1300d indicates that a standard program may begin after recording. In block 1302, the microcomputer 30 connects adjacent spaces of the tape into free blocks. In block 1304, the microcomputer then sets the variable N to a number of programs in the list of future programs (e.g., 7). In block 1306, the microcomputer 30 allocates space to the first N programs in the list of future programs. If this is not possible, the microcomputer decrements N in block 1308 and then repeats block 1306. When the microcomputer 30 is able to successfully allocate space, it then bases the message on the tape on the corresponding program description pages. corresponding to the first N programs in the list of future programs and archives specific spatial determinations and assignments / block 1310 / »In block 1312, the microcomputer then inserts a message does not fit on the tape on the corresponding program description pages corresponding to the remaining programs in the list of future programs.

In order to improve their visibility, these messages, together with other messages on the program description pages, may be displayed in colors contrasting with the colors used in other parts of the program description pages.

Fig. 13b shows an illustration of a tape containing a sequence of occupied blocks (recorded programs to be stored), reusable blocks (recorded programs to be deleted) and empty blocks (empty tape), in which each of the blocks is in units of half an hour. . Fig. 13c shows the tape in Fig. 13b on which adjacent blocks available for recording are combined into free blocks.

Fig. 13d shows a flowchart detailing a program for block 1306. Specifically, in block 1320, the microcomputer 30 checks whether the total time required to record K programs is greater than the total time for all free blocks. If so, the microcomputer 30 sets an error flag in block 1322. If so, the microcomputer 30 allocates free blocks to the respective programs having a standing length in block 1324. Then, in block 1325, the microcomputer 30 attempts to differently allocate the remaining free blocks to the remaining programs. If the microcomputer 30 cannot complete the allocation in block 13-6, it proceeds to block 1322. Otherwise, the microcomputer 30 in block 1328 uses the experimental allocation in block 1328 as the final allocation.

Fig. 13e is a flowchart showing details of block 1326 of Fig. 13d. Specifically, in block 1330, the microcomputer 30 generates a first combination of programs and blocks. In block 1332, the microcomputer 30 then checks whether the total length of all the programs allocated to the block is not less than or equal to the length of the block. If so, the microcomputer 30 proceeds to block 1328 indicating that a successful combination has been found. If not, microcomputer 30 generates a new combination in block 1334 and then repeats block 1332. If all the combinations have been tried without success, the microcomputer 30 then proceeds to block 1322. Fig. 13f shows a diagram showing possible combinations for a particular list of programs and a particular tape. Here, programs 1 and 4 correspond directly to blocks 4 and 1. The remaining programs 2, 3 and 5 are then divided into blocks 2, 2 and 3, as shown.

Although until now the individual additional channels have been described as appearing in the form of a main display on a television monitor, it is clear that the additional channels can alternatively be called up as picture-in-picture / PIP projections lying over part of the main displayed picture. Since the PIP display is substantially smaller than the main picture, the visual information in the additional channels would be substantially unreadable if displayed in its entirety. Figures 14a and 14b show a display of PIP pages describing a program for a future program and a program in this trap, in which the textual material is abbreviated for visibility when displaying the PIP. If it is desired to display additional channels in the PIP projection, the controller 50 commands the PIP signal generator 110 to conduct the respective video signal as a PIP display, with the microcomputer 30 feeding the additional channel signals in the PIP projection to the respective concurrency circuit 40 or 42.

It should also be noted that the PIP projection can be used to display various comment messages. For example, at the beginning of a future program, if another program is being watched, the PIP display may show the initial 10 seconds of the future program, allowing the user to selectively switch to that program if necessary by swapping the PIP projection and main display. Alternatively, PIP projection can be used to signal the start of recording of a future program.

Fig. 15 shows a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the system. This embodiment is substantially similar to that shown in FIG. 2 except that a single concurrent circuit 40 is used, arranged in contrast to the solution by the PIP circuit 11C. In this case, the microcomputer 30 generates an additional channel in the PIP projection and the PIP circuit 101 then reduces this image and stores it on the television monitor 100, the microcomputer 30 instead directly generates inscriptions for the additional PIP channel (and any messages in the PIP projection) and adds them. to the video signal output from the PIP circuit 110 in such a way that they appear in the correct position on the television monitor.

Numerous variations of the structure described above will be offered to those skilled in the art. It should be noted, however, that the described embodiment is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention. All such modifications, which do not depart from the idea of ​​the invention, are intended to be included within the scope of the following definition.