U.S. patent application number 10/229324 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-17 for system and method of channel map correction in an epg guide.
This patent application is currently assigned to Index Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Hancock, Kenneth S., Macrae, Douglas B., Schoaff, Peter C., Shalkey, Eric T., Whitehead, Wensdy.
Application Number | 20030135856 10/229324 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22415116 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030135856 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hancock, Kenneth S. ; et
al. |
July 17, 2003 |
System and method of channel MAP correction in an EPG guide
Abstract
A channel map in an electronic television program guide system
that includes channel numbers and alphanumeric channel labels is
updated. The tuner in the system is tuned to a channel number of a
television channel that is included in the channel map. Data is
extracted from the television signal that includes an alphanumeric
label for the tuned television channel. The channel mapis revised
according to the alphanumeric label for the tuned television
channel if the alphanumeric label in the extracted data for the
tuned television channel does not correspond with the alphanumeric
channel label stored in the channel map for the tuned television
channel.
Inventors: |
Hancock, Kenneth S.;
(Nashua, NH) ; Schoaff, Peter C.; (Westford,
MA) ; Shalkey, Eric T.; (Methuen, MA) ;
Whitehead, Wensdy; (Bedford, MA) ; Macrae, Douglas
B.; (Weston, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE, LLP
P.O. BOX 7068
PASADENA
CA
91109-7068
US
|
Assignee: |
Index Systems, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
22415116 |
Appl. No.: |
10/229324 |
Filed: |
August 27, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10229324 |
Aug 27, 2002 |
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09526306 |
Mar 15, 2000 |
|
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6442757 |
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60124476 |
Mar 15, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/50 ;
348/E5.097; 348/E5.102; 348/E5.105; 725/38; 725/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/4823 20130101;
H04N 21/4622 20130101; H04N 21/84 20130101; H04N 5/44543 20130101;
H04N 5/44513 20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101; H04N 21/4348 20130101;
H04N 5/50 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/50 ; 725/54;
725/38 |
International
Class: |
G06F 003/00; H04N
005/445; G06F 013/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of updating a channel map in an electronic television
program guide system that includes channel numbers and alphanumeric
channel labels comprising: tuning to channel number of a television
channel that is included in the channel map; extracting data from
the television signal including an alphanumeric label for the tuned
television channel; revising the channel map according to the
alphanumeric label for the tuned television channel if the
alphanumeric label in the extracted data for the tuned television
channel does not correspond with the alphanumeric channel label
stored in the channel map for the tuned television channel.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/526,306, filed Mar. 15, 2000 which claims
priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/124,476,
filed on Mar. 15, 1999, the disclosures of which are incorporated
fully herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present system and method of channel map correction in
an EPG uses a television broadcast system as described in
International Application No. PCT/US96/17920, an electronic program
guide ("EPG") as described in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/120,488,
a method and apparatus for transmitting and downloading setup
information as described in International Application No.
PCT/US97/00739 which are incorporated into this application by
reference. Appendix A describes the method of using XDS call letter
data to correct channel maps. Appendix A are incorporated into this
application by reference.
[0003] In a television system capable of receiving television
programs from various programming sources, e.g. cable, antenna, or
satellite, two or more sources may carry an identical television
station (e.g. XNBC is carried by both cable and satellite). Thus,
in presenting program listings of all the sources in a single guide
format, it is desirable to delete duplicative stations to conserve
memory and avoid cluttering of the guide with duplicative program
information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to one aspect of the invention, a channel map in
an electronic television program guide system that includes channel
numbers and alphanumeric channel labels is updated. The tuner in
the system is tuned to a channel number of a television channel
that is included in the channel map. Data is extracted from the
television signal that includes an alphanumeric label for the tuned
television channel. The channel mapis revised according to the
alphanumeric label for the tuned television channel if the
alphanumeric label in the extracted data for the tuned television
channel does not correspond with the alphanumeric channel label
stored in the channel map for the tuned television channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The objects, advantages and features of this invention will
become more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed
description and the drawings in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a television receiver
for practicing the invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a typical EPG screen on a televison
monitor at the receiver of FIG. 1;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] International application Ser. No. PCT/US97/00739 discloses
a television system which receives television transmission from
either over-the-air ("OTA") broadcast, cable ready signals, or
cable box signals. It also describes a way to transmit and download
setup information for that television system. The system described
there automatically generates a channel map corresponding to the
source of the television transmission. A channel map relates
television station call letters to their respective channel
allocations.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the system and method disclosed
in International application Ser. No. PCT/US97/00739 is extended to
handle the situation where a single television system is capable of
tuning to multiple television sources, including satellite and
digital sources, and receives a channel map from each of the
sources. A single television guide is then created based on the
channel maps. This guide tells you how to find a channel,
regardless of its source. It is desirable to do this in a way that
eliminates redundant listings, and conserves memory.
[0010] A channel map will be generated for each program source.
Initially the viewer inputs the sources of programming available to
his television, such as a cable subscription and/or a DSS unit. The
user also inputs their zip code. Zip code allows transmission of
program line ups that are available in an area to be picked up by
the subscriber's receiver.
[0011] The user, through a remote control unit, issues a set up
command, which is transmitted to a main micro controller in the
television system which initiates a auto set up procedure telling
program stored in internal memory that will include declaring a
channel map.
[0012] The channel mapping program accesses an extended channel map
selection packet. A channel map ID based on the inputted zip code
is identified. A channel map corresponding to the identified
channel map ID is then downloaded into the system.
[0013] Each local host station provides channel mapping information
to the viewer. This is done by transmitting an extended channel map
("XCM") packet with television channel allocations (receiving
channel numbers) corresponding to Channel ID. The XCM packet also
transmits a "channel map type" field that identifies the multiple
programming sources. This field has several attributes: dual (A/B)
trunk, digital signal, and system type. If the dual trunk bit is
clear, the system is single trunk (or other feed such as OTA or
DSS). If the digital signal bit is clear, the signal is analog. The
system type attribute allows specification of the type of source
(e.g. OTA=0, cable=1, and satellite=2).
[0014] The channel ID is used to select the appropriate guide
channel(GCH)-to-call-letter mapping from the extended source map
("XSM") packet. Information in the XCM and XSM packets are then
merged to create a lineup. An example of a source map, a channel
map, and a finalized lineup is shown below.
1 SOURCE MAP Channel Call Letters Channel 2 WGBH Channel 3 Sports
Channel 4 WBZ . . . . . . Channel 25 HBO
[0015]
2 LINE UP Channel ID Receive Channel Channel 2 002 Channel 4 004
Channel 25 301
[0016]
3 FINALIZED LINE UP Channel ID Receive Channel Call Letters Channel
2 002 WGBH Channel 3 -- Sports Channel 4 004 WBZ . . . . . .
Channel 25 301 HBO
[0017] After channel maps of all the sources have been generated,
the system merges the channel maps into a single merged channel
map. However, channel maps frequently change. To facilitate these
changes network name (affiliation) and call letters (station ID)
from the channel information class of the XDS data corrects the
lineups automatically. An exemplary embodiment of the invention
consists of firmware that stores a list of channel names in its
source map. The firmware also stores a list of all receiver
channels on which the channels are received in the channel map. As
with the source map the channel map is an array, of which a channel
ID is an index. The algorithm for updating the channel map is given
in detail in Appendix A.
[0018] The first step is to initiate a search. This is done by
pointing the data tuner to a channel for which the XDS data is to
be examined. The XDS feed for a given station is examined for call
letters or network name. When these appear the Channel map stored
in the viewers location is queried. If the station on which the
channel is stored differs from the one on the XDS feed, a full
search is scheduled for a non download period.
[0019] The next step is to scan the channel map. This must be done
between downloads so that sufficient time for a search is
available.
[0020] The receiver channel from the channel map for any channels
in the source map whose call letters match those found in the XDS
data, is compared to the current channel. If they match, nothing is
done. If they do not match a check is later made to determine if
this is a split channel. If not a split channel the receiver
channel found in the channel map is checked for XDS data.
[0021] Data collected from the original channel can lead to 3 cases
which must be analyzed, as described in Appendix A. If this
original channel has the same data as the scan channel, no change
is made. If no data or different XDS data is present here, on the
original channel, the channel map will be corrected. However if it
is determined that the user has edited this channel a correction
will not be made.
[0022] In an alternate embodiment it may be desirable to collect
XDS data from all channels if the call letter data on the scan
channel does not match the channel map.
[0023] Additionally this embodiment is designed to support digital
television. In digital television, a television station can divide
its bandwidth so that multiple sub channels are available. For
example it is desirable to use the full bandwidth for movies or
other transmissions that need the highest image quality. For news
shows, for example, a high quality picture might not be necessary,
or desired. If this is the case the channel can be divided to show
several programs on sub channels. The number of sub channels can
expand and contract during the day. It is desirable to list these
sub channels in the guide.
* * * * *