EP1197078A1 - Procede et appareil de programmation automatique d'un poste recepteur de television - Google Patents

Procede et appareil de programmation automatique d'un poste recepteur de television

Info

Publication number
EP1197078A1
EP1197078A1 EP00945367A EP00945367A EP1197078A1 EP 1197078 A1 EP1197078 A1 EP 1197078A1 EP 00945367 A EP00945367 A EP 00945367A EP 00945367 A EP00945367 A EP 00945367A EP 1197078 A1 EP1197078 A1 EP 1197078A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
signal
digital
analog
channel
channels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP00945367A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Gene Harlow Johnson
Matthew Thomas Mayer
Aaron Reel Bouillet
Original Assignee
Thomson Licensing SAS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thomson Licensing SAS filed Critical Thomson Licensing SAS
Publication of EP1197078A1 publication Critical patent/EP1197078A1/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/44—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards
    • H04N5/46—Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards for receiving on more than one standard at will
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/41—Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
    • H04N21/426—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof
    • H04N21/42607—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof for processing the incoming bitstream
    • H04N21/4263—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof for processing the incoming bitstream involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
    • H04N21/42638—Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof for processing the incoming bitstream involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners involving a hybrid front-end, e.g. analog and digital tuners
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
    • H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
    • H04N21/44209—Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network

Definitions

  • the invention generally relates to television systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for autoprogramming analog and digital television signal information associated with broadcast and cable channels.
  • the channels may comprise broadcast or air channels for transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals to the receiver via an antenna.
  • the channels may comprise cable channels for transmitting RF signals to the receiver via a cable network.
  • the apparatus comprises a tuner, a digital signal converter, an analog signal converter, a video processor, a microprocessor and a memory unit.
  • the tuner converts a radio frequency (RF) signal into an intermediate frequency (IF) signal.
  • the analog signal converter demodulates the IF signal from the tuner into a baseband analog signal and generates tuning and video synchronization signals.
  • the digital signal converter downconverts the IF signal into a near baseband signal, demodulates the near baseband signal into a baseband digital signal, and generates synchronization and error correction signals.
  • the video processor further processes video and audio components of the respective baseband analog and digital signals for display on an output device.
  • the memory unit stores the autoprogramming algorithm and information associated with the analog and digital television channels.
  • the microprocessor executes the autoprogramming algorithm or program that is stored in the memory unit.
  • the microprocessor controls the tuner, receives signals from the analog and digital signal converters, determines the type of channel based on the received signals, stores the result in the memory unit and repeats the procedure for each available channel until all channels are processed.
  • a method for processing a plurality of television channels comprises the steps of selecting a channel from a plurality of channels, receiving a signal associated with the selected channel, and determining whether the selected channel is digital or analog, storing information associated with the selected channel into a memory unit. These steps are repeated for each of the plurality of channels.
  • a computer readable medium that stores a software program is provided. This program, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the method embodied in the invention.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a television receiver capable of receiving analog and digital signals
  • FIG. 2 depicts a flow chart of a method for scanning various channels
  • FIG. 3 depicts a flow chart of a method for detecting whether a channel is analog, digital or neither;
  • FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart of a method for detecting a whether a channel is digital.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of a television receiver 1 00 capable of receiving analog and digital television signals.
  • the receiver 1 00 comprises a tuner 1 02, a digital demodulator 1 04, a forward error correction (FEC) module 106, a digital signal processor 1 08, an analog demodulator 1 1 0, an analog signal processor 1 1 2, a microprocessor 1 1 4, a memory unit 1 1 6 and a video processor 1 1 8. Additionally, the receiver 1 00 interfaces with a signal interface 1 20, an input device 1 22 and an output device 1 24.
  • FEC forward error correction
  • the tuner 1 02 receives modulated radio frequency (RF) signals via a signal interface 1 20.
  • RF radio frequency
  • Different signal interfaces 1 20 are required depending on whether the received RF signals are associated with air channels (also known as broadcast channels) or cable channels. If the tuner 1 02 receives television signals from air channels, then the signal interface 1 20 comprises an antenna. If the tuner 1 02 receives television signals from cable channels, then the signal interface 1 20 comprises a cable network connection.
  • the signal interface 1 20 may receive various signal types from various sources.
  • the RF signals associated with air and cable channels are analog and digital television signals.
  • the analog television signal may comprise a conventional National Television Standard Committee (NTSC) modulated signal within the United States.
  • the digital television signal may comprise a Vestigial Sideband (VSB) modulated signal in compliance with the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) standard A/53.
  • the tuner 1 02 converts or heterodynes the received RF signal into an intermediate frequency (IF) signal.
  • IF intermediate frequency
  • the microprocessor 1 1 4 initiates a search of the active channels. For each channel, the microprocessor 1 1 4 sends a voltage signal to the tuner 1 02 that corresponds to the required local oscillator (LO) frequency.
  • LO local oscillator
  • the tuner 1 02 After the microprocessor 1 1 4 determines the appropriate LO frequency for a selected channel, the tuner 1 02 converts the RF signal into an IF signal. In the United States, the IF of the video carrier is 45.75 MHz for the analog television signal and 44 MHz for the digital television signal. After the tuner 1 02 converts the received television signal into an IF signal, the television receiver 1 00 processes the digital and analog IF television signals. Specifically, the television receiver comprises a digital signal converter 1 26 to process the IF digital television signal and an analog signal converter 1 28 to process the IF analog television signal.
  • the digital signal converter 1 26 comprises the digital demodulator 104, forward error correction module 1 06 and the digital signal processor 1 08.
  • the analog signal converter comprises an analog demodulator 1 1 0 and the analog signal processor 1 1 2.
  • the video processor 1 1 8 further processes the video and audio components of the respective analog and digital television signals into a suitable format for display on the output device 1 24.
  • the digital demodulator 1 04 downconverts the IF digital television signal into a near baseband (NBB) signal, performs carrier lock on the NBB signal to convert the NBB signal to a baseband digital symbol stream, and performs symbol timing on this symbol stream.
  • the digital demodulator 104 includes a frequency downconverting stage, a carrier recovery loop and a symbol timing recovery loop.
  • the frequency downcoverting stage receives the IF signal, centered at 44 MHz, from the tuner 1 02 and downconverts the IF signal frequency to a NBB frequency, e.g., 5.38 MHz (or half the symbol rate of the digital data stream).
  • the carrier recovery loop generates a local oscillator (LO) signal that is matched or phase-locked to the carrier in the NBB signal. Once phase lock occurs, this loop generates a Carrier Lock signal to the microprocessor 1 1 4. The carrier recovery loop then mixes the LO signal with the NBB signal for removing the carrier in the NBB signal and converting the NBB signal to a baseband data stream.
  • LO local oscillator
  • the symbol timing recovery loop After sending the Carrier Lock signal, the symbol timing recovery loop matches or phase-locks the baseband data stream for recovering a data symbol stream from the baseband data stream.
  • the data stream comprises a sequence of data fields. Each data field includes one field synchronization (sync) segment and 31 2 data segments. Each data segment includes 4 segment sync symbols and 828 symbols for payload and error check. These 4 segment sync symbols represents a segment sync word. If the digital television signal is an 8-VSB signal, then the payload symbols include a 1 88-byte MPEG-2 data packet and the error check symbols include 20 parity bytes.
  • the segment sync words are periodic within the data stream, illustratively, at 1 0.76 Msymbols/sec.
  • the segment sync word includes a reference pattern of 1 , - 1 , - 1 , 1 .
  • the FEC module 1 06 comprises an adaptive equalizer for removing the channel distortions or performing channel equalization.
  • the adaptive equalizer may introduce a variable delay to the data stream. As such, the data stream from the equalizer may no longer be aligned with the segment synchronization signals.
  • the FEC module 1 06 must realign the data stream to the segment sync signals for enabling forward error correction of the data streams. When this occurs, the FEC module 1 06 provides a FEC Lock signal to the microprocessor 1 1 4.
  • the FEC module 1 06 comprises an error correction module such as a Reed Solomon decoder.
  • the Reed Solomon decoder uses the 20 parity bytes in each segment for correcting the 1 87 data bytes in each data packet.
  • the Reed Solomon decoder may correct up to 1 0 erroneous bytes per packet. As such, the packet contains uncorrectable errors if the packet contains more than 1 0 erroneous bytes. The number of uncorrectable packet errors per second is the Reed
  • the FEC module 1 06 sends a Reed Solomon Error Rate signal to the microprocessor 1 14. However, if this error rate is too high, then the digital signal processor 1 08 may not properly decode the associated video and audio information in the data stream.
  • the digital signal processor 1 08 separates the baseband digital signal or data stream into video and audio component signals.
  • the video processor 1 1 8 further processes the component signals into a suitable format for display on the output device 1 24.
  • the output device 1 24 is television monitor or some other display device.
  • the analog demodulator 1 1 0 demodulates the analog IF modulated signal into a baseband signal comprising video and audio components. Additionally, the analog demodulator 1 10 comprises an automatic fine tuning (AFT) circuit for determining whether the video component of the IF signal deviates from the nominal IF frequency of 45.75 MHz. If the frequency of the video component is above 45.75 MHz, then the AFT circuit decides that the video component frequency is too high and provides a "00" value to the microprocessor 1 1 4. If the frequency of the video component is below 45.75 MHz, the AFT circuit decides that the video component frequency value is too low and provides a " 1 1 " value to the microprocessor 1 1 4. Other possible values of the AFT circuit are also contemplated within the scope of the invention.
  • AFT automatic fine tuning
  • the analog signal processor 1 1 2 separates the baseband analog television signal into video and audio component signals. As with the corresponding video and audio signals of the digital television signal, the video processor 1 1 8 further processes the component analog television audio and video signals for display on the output device 1 24. Additionally, the analog signal processor 1 1 2 derives a composite synchronization ("SYNC") signal from the video signal. Such a composite SYNC signal typically comprises horizontal and vertical video synchronization signals. The composite SYNC signal is coupled to the microprocessor 1 1 4.
  • SYNC composite synchronization
  • the microprocessor 1 1 4 coordinates the channel detection and autoprogramming functions associated with the television receiver 1 00. Initially, the microprocessor 1 1 4 receives an autoprogramming command from the input device 1 22 such as a remote control, keyboard or other devices for entering data. For example, the input device 1 22 may direct the microprocessor 1 1 4 to search all of the active air and/or cable channels. As the air and cable channels are used for transmitting analog and digital television signals, the microprocessor 1 1 4 detects the type of television signal for each channel searched. Once the microprocessor 1 1 4 detects the type of television signal transmitted over each air and/or cable channel, the microprocessor 1 1 4 stores or loads the channel information in the memory unit 1 1 6. The microprocessor 1 1 4 indicates whether a given air or cable channel is analog or digital depending on the type of television signal detected. The channel information is retrieved from the memory unit 1 1 6 and shown on the output device 1 24 or display.
  • the input device 1 22 such as a remote control, keyboard or other devices for entering data.
  • the microprocessor 1 1 4 executes software programs to properly detect whether the channels associated with television signals are analog, or digital.
  • the software programs are stored in the memory unit 1 1 6 such as a read only memory (ROM).
  • ROM read only memory
  • the microprocessor 1 1 4 utilizes signals from the digital demodulator 1 04, the FEC module 1 06, the analog demodulator 1 1 0 and the analog signal processor 1 1 2. These signals include Carrier Lock and Segment Lock signals from the digital demodulator 1 04 , and FEC Lock and Reed Solomon Error Rate signals from the FEC module 1 06.
  • the microprocessor 1 1 4 initially scans the channels as depicted in FIG. 2. For each channel that is receivable, the associated television signal is determined as being either analog or digital as further depicted in FIG. 3. Specifically, as depicted in FIG. 4, if the television signal is not digital, then the AFT signal from the analog demodulator 1 1 0 and the composite SYNC signal from the analog signal processor 1 1 2 are used to determine whether the television signal and corresponding channel is analog. Each channel is marked as either analog or digital depending on the type of television signal. Finally, the channel information is automatically programmed into the memory unit 1 1 6, e.g., a random access memory (RAM) or an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) .
  • RAM random access memory
  • EEPROM electrically erasable programmable read only memory
  • the channel information is displayed on the output device 1 24 as a channel scanning list.
  • the television receiver 1 00 does not need to determine whether the user selected channel is analog or digital. As such, once a channel is selected, the time required for tuning that channel is reduced.
  • the present invention may also be implemented as a program product for use with a computer system, e.g., a television system.
  • the program(s) of the program product defines functions that can be contained on a variety of signal/bearing media, which include, but are not limited to, (i) information permanently stored on non-writable storage media, (e.g., read-only memory devices within a computer such as CD-ROM disks readable by a CD-ROM drive); (ii) alterable information stored on writable storage media (e.g., floppy disks within a diskette drive or hard-disk drive); or (iii) information conveyed to a computer by a communications medium, such as through a computer or telephone network, including wireless communications.
  • Such signal-bearing media when carrying computer-readable instructions that direct the functions of the present invention, represent additional embodiments of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 depicts a flow chart of a method 200 for detecting a plurality of channels.
  • the microprocessor 1 1 4 executes a software program (that embodies this method 200) to scan or select channels. After detecting all of the selected channels, the microprocessor 1 1 4 stores or loads the information associated with the channels into the memory unit 1 1 6.
  • the method 200 initially selects an initial channel at step 202.
  • the method 200 proceeds to at step 203, for determining whether the present channel is a digital channel.
  • Step 203 is embodied in a method 400 as further described in FIG. 4 below. If the channel is digital, the method 200 proceeds to step 204, where the present channel is marked as a digital channel. If the channel is not digital, then the method 200 proceeds to step 206 for determining whether the present channel is an analog channel. If the selected channel is analog, then the method 200 proceeds to step 208, where the present channel is marked as an analog channel. Otherwise, the method 200 proceeds to step 21 0, where the present channel is marked as neither a digital channel nor an analog channel.
  • the combination of steps 203 and 206 is embodied in a method 300 as further described in FIG. 3 below. As such, method 300 determines whether the present channel is digital or analog. After the method 200 marks the channel in respective steps 204, 208 and
  • the method 200 proceeds to determine whether all the channels have been selected or searched at step 31 2. If all the channels have been selected, the method 200 proceeds to step 21 4 and stops. If there are additional channels to select, the method 200 proceeds to select the next available channel at step 21 6 and repeats itself (method 200) until all channels have been selected.
  • FIG. 3 depicts a flow chart of a method 300 for detecting whether the channel is analog, digital, or neither analog nor digital.
  • the method 300 processes analog and digital signals associated with the selected air and cable channels.
  • the method 300 is implemented each time a new channel is selected or scanned.
  • the channel detection method 300 starts at step 302.
  • the method 300 proceeds to step 304, where the LO frequency is selected such that the tuner 1 02 converts the incoming RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) equivalent to a nominal frequency value, i.e., 44 MHz for a digital television signal.
  • IF intermediate frequency
  • the method 300 presumes that the television receiver 100 receives a digital television signal.
  • the method 300 proceeds to step 307 to determine whether the selected or scanned channel is digital. Step 307 is embodied in the method 400 of FIG. 4. If the channel is digital, then the method 300 proceeds to step 204, where the channel is detected and marked as a digital channel. If the channel is not digital, then the method 300 proceeds to step 308, where the method 300 presumes that the television receiver 1 00 receives an analog television signal.
  • the method 300 proceeds to step 31 0, where the frequency of the LO is set such that the tuner 1 02 converts the incoming RF signal to an IF that is 0.1 875 MHz above the nominal IF frequency.
  • the nominal IF is 45.75 MHz for the video carrier portion of the analog television signal in the United States.
  • the 0.1 875 MHz deviation represents three 62.5 kHz steps, where each 62.5 kHz step or increment represents the resolution of the phase lock loop (PLL) integrated circuit (IC) in the tuner 1 02.
  • This 0.1 875 MHz deviation represents a far enough deviation from the nominal IF frequency, such that the AFT circuit may determine whether the converted IF frequency is too high or too low.
  • the method 300 determines whether the automatic fine tuning (AFT) value is 00.
  • step 31 4 the frequency of the LO is set such that the tuner 1 02 converts the incoming RF signal to an IF that is 0.1 875 MHz below the nominal frequency.
  • step 31 8 the frequency of the LO is set such that the tuner 1 02 converts the incoming RF signal to an IF that is 0.1 875 MHz below the nominal frequency.
  • the method 300 proceeds to step 31 8 for determining whether the AFT value equals 1 1 . If the AFT equals 1 1 , then the method 300 proceeds to step 320. In this case, the video component of the IF analog television signal is properly centered about the nominal IF of 45.75 MHz. If the AFT does not equal 1 1 , then the method 300 proceeds to step 31 6.
  • the method 300 determines whether the microprocessor 1 1 4 detects the SYNC (synchronization) signal from the analog processor 1 1 2. If the microprocessor 1 1 4 detects the SYNC signal, then the method 300 proceeds to step 322. If the microprocessor 1 1 4 fails to detect the SYNC signal, then the method 300 proceeds to step 31 6.
  • method 300 determines that the received television signal is analog.
  • the method 300 proceeds to step 208, where the microprocessor 1 1 4 marks the detected channel as an analog channel and stores the result in the memory unit 1 1 6.
  • the method 300 determines whether the detected channel is a cable channel or an air (broadcast) channel. If the detected channel is an air channel, then the method 300 proceeds to step 21 0, where the microprocessor 1 1 4 marks the channel as neither an active analog or digital channel. This result is stored in the memory unit 1 1 6. If the detected channel is a cable channel, the method 300 proceeds to step 324. At step 324, the method 300 presumes that the television receiver 1 00 receives a digital television signal.
  • the signals associated with cable channels may have a harmonically related carrier (HRC) or an incrementally related carrier (IRC) .
  • the method 300 proceeds step 326, where the frequency of the LO is set such that the tuner 1 02 converts the incoming RF signal to an IF associated with the HRC frequency.
  • the method 300 then proceeds to step 327 for determining whether the cable channel is digital. As with step 307, step 327 is embodied in method 400 of FIG. 4. If the cable channel is digital, then the method 300 proceeds to step 204, where the cable channel is detected and marked as a digital channel. If the cable channel is not digital, then the method 300 proceeds to step 328, where the method 300 presumes that the television receiver 1 00 receives an analog television signal associated with cable channels.
  • HRC harmonically related carrier
  • IRC incrementally related carrier
  • the frequency of the LO is set such that the tuner 1 02 converts the incoming RF signal to an IF that is 0.1 875 MHz above the HRC frequency.
  • the method 300 proceeds to step 332, where the microprocessor 1 1 4 determines whether the automatic fine tuning (AFT) value equals 00.
  • the AFT value is coupled to the microprocessor through the analog demodulator 1 1 0. If the AFT value equals 00, then the method 300 proceeds to step 334. If the AFT value is not 00, then the method 300 proceeds to step 336.
  • the frequency of the LO is set such that the tuner 1 02 converts the incoming RF signal to an IF that is 0.1 875 MHz below the HRC frequency.
  • the method 300 proceeds to step 338, where the microprocessor 1 1 4 determines whether the AFT signal equals 1 1 . If the AFT signal equals 1 1 , then the method proceeds to step 340, where the method 300 determines whether the microprocessor 1 14 detects the SYNC (synchronization) signal from the analog processor 1 1 2. If the microprocessor 1 1 4 detects the SYNC signal, then the method 300 proceeds to step 322 and then to step 208 for detecting the cable channel as analog. If the microprocessor 1 1 4 fails to detect the SYNC signal, then the method 300 proceeds to step 21 0, where the cable channel is detected as neither an analog or digital channel.
  • the microprocessor 1 1 4 determines whether the selected cable channel is either channel 5 or 6. As the HRC and IRC frequencies are the same for all cable channels except cable channels 5 and 6, the method 300 determines whether a cable signal is located at IRC frequency for cable channels 5 or 6. If the selected cable channel is channel 5 or 6, then the method 300 proceeds to step 342. Otherwise, there is no need to locate any additional signals and the method 300 proceeds to step 21 0, where the cable channel is detected as neither an active analog nor digital channel.
  • the method 300 presumes that the television receiver 1 00 receives a digital television signal.
  • the method 300 proceeds step 344, where the frequency of the LO is set such that the tuner 1 02 converts the incoming RF signal to an IF associated with the IRC frequency.
  • the method 300 then proceeds to step 345 for determining whether the cable channel is digital. As with steps 307 and 327, step 345 is embodied in method 400 of FIG. 4. If the cable channel is digital, then the method 300 proceeds to step 204, where the cable channel is detected and marked as a digital channel. If the cable channel is not digital, then the method 300 proceeds to step 346, where the method 300 presumes that the television receiver 1 00 receives an analog television signal associated with cable channels.
  • the method 300 proceeds to step 348, where the local oscillator frequency is set such that the tuner 102 converts the incoming RF signal to an IF that is 0.1 875 MHz above the IRC frequency.
  • the microprocessor 1 14 determines whether the automatic fine tuning (AFT) value equals 00. If the AFT value equals 00, then the method 300 proceeds to step 352. If the AFT value is not 00, then the method 300 proceeds to step 328.
  • AFT automatic fine tuning
  • the frequency of the LO is set such that the tuner 1 02 converts the incoming RF signal to an IF that is 0.1 875 MHz below the IRC frequency.
  • the method 300 proceeds to step 354, where the microprocessor 1 1 4 determines whether the AFT signal equals 1 1 . If the AFT signal equals 1 1 , then the method 300 proceeds to step 340, where the method 300 determines whether the microprocessor 1 1 4 detects the SYNC (synchronization) or video synchronization signal from the analog processor 1 1 2. If the microprocessor 1 14 detects the SYNC signal, then the method 300 proceeds to step 322 and then to step 208 for detecting the cable channel an active analog channel. If the microprocessor 1 1 4 fails to detect the SYNC signal, then the method 300 proceeds to step 21 0, where the cable channel is detected as neither an active analog or digital channel.
  • FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart of a method 400 for detecting a digital channel.
  • the method 400 determines whether a channel, associated with a digital signal, is a digital channel.
  • the method 400 initializes a failure timer for two seconds. As such, the method 400 must detect the selected digital channel before the timer times out in two seconds. The timer minimizes the delay introduced by the digital channel detection method 400.
  • the method 400 proceeds to step 404, where the LO frequency is selected such that the tuner 1 02 converts the incoming RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) equivalent to a nominal frequency value, 44 MHz for a digital television signal.
  • the method 400 determines whether the microprocessor 1 1 4 received the Carrier Lock signal from the digital demodulator 1 1 4. If the microprocessor 1 1 4 received the Carrier Lock signal, the method 400 proceeds to step 408. If the microprocessor 1 1 4 fails to receive the Carrier Lock signal, the method 400 proceeds to step 41 0.
  • the LO frequency is selected such that the tuner 1 02 converts the RF signal to an IF equal to 62.5 kHz above the nominal frequency.
  • the 62.5 kHz increment represents the resolution of the phase lock loop (PLL) integrated circuit (IC) in the tuner 1 02.
  • the method 400 proceeds to step 41 2, where the method 400 determines whether the microprocessor 1 1 4 received the Carrier Lock signal after changing the LO frequency. If the microprocessor 1 14 receives the Carrier Lock signal, then the method 400 proceeds to step 408. Otherwise, the method 400 proceeds to step 41 4, where the microprocessor 1 14 marks the detected channel as not digital (or not an active digital channel). At this point, the method 400 concludes and reenters the method 300.
  • the method 400 initializes symbol timing of the digital baseband signal.
  • the method 400 proceeds to step 41 6, where the method 400 determines whether the microprocessor 1 1 4 receives a Segment Lock signal from the digital demodulator 104. If the microprocessor 1 1 4 receives the Segment Lock signal, then the method 400 proceeds to step 41 8. If the microprocessor 1 1 4 fails to receive the Segment Lock signal, the method proceeds to step 41 4. As such, the channel is not an active digital channel if the microprocessor 1 1 4 fails to receive either a Carrier Lock or Segment Lock signal.
  • the method 400 determines whether the microprocessor 1 1 4 receives the FEC Lock signal from the forward error correction (FEC) module 106. If the microprocessor 1 14 receives the FEC Lock signal, then the method 400 proceeds to step 420. If the microprocessor 1 1 4 fails to receive the FEC Lock signal, the method 400 proceeds to step 422.
  • FEC forward error correction
  • the method 400 determines whether the microprocessor 1 1 4 receives the Reed Solomon Error Rate signal from the FEC module 1 06. If the microprocessor 1 1 4 receives the Reed Solomon Error Rate signal, then the method proceeds to step 424. In this case, the microprocessor 1 1 4 detects the selected channel as digital and stores the result in the memory unit 1 1 6. As such, the channel is detected as an active digital channel if there is a carrier lock, a segment lock, a FEC lock and a sufficiently low Reed Solomon error rate before the timer expires. If the microprocessor 1 1 4 fails to receive the Reed Solomon Error Rate signal, the method 400 proceeds to step 422.
  • the method 400 determines whether the timer, illustratively two seconds, is expired. If the timer is expired, then the method 400 proceeds to step 41 4, where the channel is not detected as digital. The method 400 then proceeds back to method 300. If the time is still active, then the method 400 proceeds to step 424.
  • the method 400 rechecks whether the microprocessor 1 1 4 receives a Carrier Lock signal. If the Carrier Lock is present, then the method 400 proceeds to step 408, where symbol timing is reinitialized. If the Carrier Lock is not present, then the method 400 proceeds to step 404 for effectively reevaluating the digital signal.
  • the methods described herein are not limited to the values or signals illustratively shown. Although various embodiments which incorporate the teachings of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate these teachings.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
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  • Circuits Of Receivers In General (AREA)
  • Superheterodyne Receivers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil de programmation automatique d'informations associées à plusieurs canaux de télévision par antenne ou par câble. Dès réception d'un signal de programmation automatique, l'appareil détecte des signaux de télévision analogiques et numériques provenant de chaque canal pour déterminer si le canal par antenne ou par câble associé est numérique ou analogique. L'appareil mémorise les informations associées à chaque canal dans une unité mémoire. Les résultats de tous les canaux sont affichés sous forme de liste de balayage de canaux sur un dispositif ou un écran de sortie. L'invention concerne également un procédé de traitement de plusieurs canaux de télévision par antenne ou par câble. Le procédé consiste à sélectionner un canal, à recevoir un signal analogique ou numérique associé au canal sélectionné, à déterminer si le canal est analogique ou numérique, à mémoriser le résultat et à répéter les phases jusqu'à ce que tous les canaux aient été sélectionnés. L'invention concerne en outre, un support lisible par ordinateur qui mémorise un programme logiciel. Lorsque ce programme est exécuté par ordinateur, l'ordinateur applique le procédé selon l'invention.
EP00945367A 1999-07-16 2000-07-13 Procede et appareil de programmation automatique d'un poste recepteur de television Ceased EP1197078A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US14433699P 1999-07-16 1999-07-16
US144336P 1999-07-16
PCT/US2000/019059 WO2001006775A1 (fr) 1999-07-16 2000-07-13 Procede et appareil de programmation automatique d'un poste recepteur de television

Publications (1)

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EP1197078A1 true EP1197078A1 (fr) 2002-04-17

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EP00945367A Ceased EP1197078A1 (fr) 1999-07-16 2000-07-13 Procede et appareil de programmation automatique d'un poste recepteur de television

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1197078A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2003505949A (fr)
KR (1) KR100766366B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN1361983A (fr)
AU (1) AU5932400A (fr)
MX (1) MXPA02000554A (fr)
TW (1) TW493344B (fr)
WO (1) WO2001006775A1 (fr)

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US6924834B2 (en) 2002-04-16 2005-08-02 Tektronix, Inc. Analog or serial digital video input with automatic video switch
KR100441546B1 (ko) * 2002-09-16 2004-07-23 삼성전자주식회사 셋톱박스의 튜닝장치 및 그 튜닝방법
WO2005076610A2 (fr) * 2003-12-22 2005-08-18 Thomson Licensing Procede et appareil pour effectuer une recherche de canal selectionnable
CN100361516C (zh) * 2005-03-31 2008-01-09 四川长虹电器股份有限公司 双处理器电视控制方法
BRPI0618248A2 (pt) * 2005-11-04 2011-08-23 Thomson Licensing aparelho e método para perceber um sinal atsc em proporção de sinal para ruìdo baixa
CN1960449B (zh) * 2006-09-15 2010-05-12 四川长虹电器股份有限公司 数/模兼容电视机节目编号及转换方法

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US5745856A (en) * 1993-10-14 1998-04-28 Telefoanktiebolaget Lm Ericsson Radio receiver for demodulating both wideband and narrowband modulated signals

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JP3241098B2 (ja) * 1992-06-12 2001-12-25 株式会社東芝 多方式対応の受信装置
FR2717026B1 (fr) * 1994-03-01 1996-03-29 Thomson Consumer Electronics Procédé de programmation de tuner et dispositif de mise en Óoeuvre.
KR100213048B1 (ko) * 1995-09-29 1999-08-02 윤종용 아날로그와 디지탈 비디오 모드를 갖는 수신기와 그 수신방법
KR100242881B1 (ko) * 1997-05-30 2000-02-01 전주범 방송용 복합 수신 시스템에서의 채널 전환 방법
KR100222994B1 (ko) * 1997-10-23 1999-10-01 윤종용 디지털 방송 수신기의 아날로그 방송 수신방법 및 장치

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US5745856A (en) * 1993-10-14 1998-04-28 Telefoanktiebolaget Lm Ericsson Radio receiver for demodulating both wideband and narrowband modulated signals

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Title
See also references of WO0106775A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR100766366B1 (ko) 2007-10-11
TW493344B (en) 2002-07-01
JP2003505949A (ja) 2003-02-12
CN1361983A (zh) 2002-07-31
KR20020023410A (ko) 2002-03-28
AU5932400A (en) 2001-02-05
WO2001006775A1 (fr) 2001-01-25
MXPA02000554A (es) 2003-07-21
WO2001006775A9 (fr) 2002-08-08

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