GB2393053A

GB2393053A - An arrangement in which control information is downloaded from a remote device to a video apparatus such as a tv, VCR or set-top box

Info

Publication number: GB2393053A
Application number: GB0321562A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tim Dean-Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-13
Filing date: 2003-09-15
Publication date: 2004-03-17
Also published as: GB0321562D0

Abstract

A television control system comprises a signal receiving means capable of receiving and isolating a television signal from a plurality such signals, in which the signal receiving means includes a signal conversion means to produce an output signal, and also a memory capable of storing information corresponding to more than one television signal which allows that signal to be isolated. Changes are effected in the signal receiving means using a wire-less remote control transmitter 20 in order that a different television signal is separated from the other signals, the wire-less transmitter having a memory capable of storing information corresponding to one or more further television signals which allows those signals to be isolated, and of transmitting this information to the signal receiving means. The signal receiving means is capable of receiving the information corresponding to one or more further television signals transmitted by the wire-less transmitter, and amending its memory so that it can isolate these further television signals.

Description

2393053.

Digital Television The present invention related to digital television systems, in particular to their tuning, and more particularly, though not exclusively, to S the tuning of set-top boxes.

A digitally encoded television signal offers numerous advantages to televisions viewers, including a clearer picture, more channels in a given bandwidth, and the sending of information additional to the visual and audio 1 0 signals.

A very large number of analogue television sets are currently in use, and people are reluctant to discard these. A convenient way therefore of receiving a digital signal is to use a set-top box, which typically receives the 15 digitally encoded signal from a radio frequency aerial, decodes the signal, and converts it into an analogue encoded signal, which is then supplied to the aerial input of the analogue television set.

To receive a conventional analogue radio frequency signal, each 20 television channel is tuned to receive a particular frequency, this corresponding to a particular station. To view digital channels using a set-

top box, the set-top box produces an output signal at a particular frequency which is fed into the television aerial input, so that the analogue television may be tuned to that frequency and so pick up the digital channels.

As for the analogue signal, a digital television signal broadcaster is allocated one or more frequencies at which he can broadcast the television

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À ese À.. programs. A single digital broadcasting frequency band may transmit a single channel, or the frequency may be split into more than one channel.

The set-top box receives the signal from the aerial, where a tuned 5 circuit isolates the frequency band of interest to obtain the signal. The signal is then decoded and converted into an output signal showing the selected channel for the analogue television.

The tuning frequencies for a number of channels are installed in the 10 set-top box by the supplier, so that the set-top box is ready to use when connected to the user's aerial and analogue television.

If the user wishes to access further channels from other broadcasters, it is necessary to retune the set-top box so that the new or additional 15 frequencies may be received.

The object of the present invention is to provide a convenient method and apparatus for receiving channels, information on which may not have been originally included on the set-top box.

According to the present invention there is provided a television control system comprising, a signal receiving means capable of receiving and isolating a television 25 signal from a plurality of television signals, the signal receiving means including a signal conversion means to produce an output signal, and also a memory capable of storing information corresponding to more than one television signal which allows that signal to be isolated,

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À a display screen capable of accepting the output signal produced by the signal receiving means, and displaying an image corresponding to the signal, a wire-less transmitter for effecting a change in the signal receiving means in order that a different television signal is separated from the plurality of television signals, 10 the wire-less transmitter having a memory capable of storing information corresponding to one or more further television signals which allows those signals to be isolated, and of transmitting this information to the signal recelvmg means, 15 the signal receiving means being capable of receiving the information corresponding to one or more further television signals transmitted by the wire-less transmitter, and amending its memory so that it can isolate these further television signals.

20 The signal receiving means may include or be connected to a radio frequency aerial.

The amendment of the signal receiving means may additionally involve the entering of data manually by the user.

Preferably the wire-less transmitter transmits the information using an infra-red signal.

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According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of tuning a signal receiving means to receive a television signal comprising the steps of; 5 entering information corresponding to at least one television signal which allows that signal to be isolated into a memory of a portable wire-less transmitter, transmitting the information to the signal receiving means, the signal receiving means amending its memory to store the information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a receiver for a set-top box is provided, which receives channel transmission data for the 15 set-top box. This receiver may require an encryption code to operate. A transmitter may broadcast such data to several such receivers.

An digital television system will now be described, by way of example, with reference to figure 1, which shows a schematic representation 20 of an embodiment of the television control system.

Referring to figure 1, the system comprises a aerial 40, set-top box 10 and analogue television 30, and a remote channel controller 20. The aerial 40, and analogue television 30 are of conventional type.

When the use wishes to receive digital channels carried on a different radio frequency, the user uploads the new frequency into the remote channel controller 20. This may be achieved in a variety of ways; for example, the

; .: À user purchases a flash memory card, and inserts it into a card reader in the remote channel controller. Alternatively, the channel and frequency data is pre-installed in the ROM in the remote channel controller, and the user buys the appropriate remote channel controller for the channels or stations he 5 wishes to receive. It will be seen that there are several suitable ways of uploading the information, for example the necessary data could also be updated in some wire-less form, such as a short-range radio signal or infra-

red signal from another device.

10 In order to retune the set-top box 10 with the new frequency data, the user depresses a button 22 on the remote channel controller 20 marked modify tuning'. The remote channel controller notifies the set-top box 10 of the new frequency data by transmitting an infra-red signal 24 including the encoded data. The set-top box includes a receiver 18 which recognises 15 the signal as including new frequency data, and captures the data. The set-

top box then tunes to the channel corresponding to the frequency data which has been transmitted to it.

Alternatively, the set-top box can modify the channel frequency table 20 in its memory 16 to include the new frequencies. It may simply check that the frequencies are not already present and add them if they are not, or the data transmitted from the remote channel controller may include instructions to remove existing channel frequency data. The addition or removal of the channel frequency data could be controlled by the user by 25 operating other buttons on the remote channel controller. A representation of the state of the channel frequency data table and instructions of how to amend the information can be encoded and sent to the television to allow convenient editing.

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À À À After the channel frequency table has been so amended, the user may access the new channel simply by pressing the number or entering the name using the remote channel controller 20 that designates the new channel the 5 user wishes to access, whereupon the set-top box 10 identifies the corresponding frequency from the channel frequency table, and adjusts its tuning circuit 12 to this frequency to isolate the signal, which is then decoded and converted for the analogue television by a codec 14 in the manner previously described.

Other data associated with the new channels may be uploaded with the frequency data to the remote channel controller, such as the channel names or the channel provider, and any identification or security code data necessary to gain access to the chosen channels; it will be realised that any 15 reference to the channel frequency data can also include other such data associated with a channel.

The user may wish to use the remote channel controller to access a channel which is already listed on an Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) 20 receivable via the set-top box. if the channel details are present in the remote channel controller, the set-top box may be updated simply by the user entering the channel name or channel number into the remote channel controller, causing it to add the channel details to the set-top box, or causing the set-top box to tune to the selected channel, in the manner previously 25 described. Alternatively, the user may choose or enter a value for each parameters for the channel directly through the remote channel controller, entering the frequency using a numerical keypad along with other values such as vertical hold, horizontal hold, etc. (this method of manually entering

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the channel details may of course be carried out in the same way for non-

EPG programs). The relevant channel data may be provided by the EPG.

it will of course be realised that the remote channel controller could 5 operate using other wire-less communication techniques, for example using an acoustic (ultrasonic) signal or using the Bluetooth radio frequency standard. The process of updating the channel frequency data (and other 10 necessary data associated with the channel) may involve 'manual' steps where the user is required to make selections. For example, when the user wishes to add a new channel, initiating the addition on the remote channel controller (say by turning the controller from a 'use' mode to a 'program' mode) causes the remote channel controller to select the appropriate 15 satellite, and then supply the set-top box with the frequency, the polarisation of the signal, the symbol rate (i.e. the data transmission rate), and an FEC (forward error correction) value. A number of channels are available from that satellite, and the EPG will supply a list of these. Since these programs are subject to change, it may be difficult to supply the appropriate 20 information to the remote channel controller to enable it to select the channel that the user desires. Therefore, this step is not automated and the user selects the desired channel. The selected channel is then added to the channels present on the set-top box, and may be operated by the user by pressing the appropriately numbered button on the remote channel 25 controller. Alternatively, the selected channel could be added to the top of the user's choices. When the user turns on the television, the most recently added channel could be automatically selected. The remote channel controller could automatically select a channel from the EPG in cases where

. Be::: it is known where in the list supplied by the EPG the particular channel will come; automatic selection of a particular channel could be achieved if the set-top box were adapted for this purpose (for example, to search for a particular channel somewhere on a list).

The receiver of the set-top box could either be integrated with the settop box, or provided by a receiving unit attached to the set-top box (through a pre-existing input socket, for example). The EPG may be amended and updated, along with the tuning control data for additional 10 channels (which may or may not already be present in the set-top box) through the receiving unit, by the remote channel controller as described, or from some other transmitter.

The receiver of the set-top box, particularly if it is an external unit, 15 can include some secure feature, such as requiring a static or a dynamic decryption code to be entered before the set-top box allows any amendment of the EPG or the channel frequency data. This secure capability could be activated at the time of manufacture, or at a later date, either on a permanent or a semi-permanent basis. In addition to receiving the decryption code 20 through the receiving means (for example, being entered through the remote channel controller), the decryption code could be supplied by, for example, the insertion of smart card into a reader, or pressing a combination on a keypad. 25 A secure feature could be provided by an dedicated additional security unit attached to the receiver (whether internal or external), which could interpose itself between the set-top box and a transmitter, so that in order to upload the EPG and/or channel frequency data from the transmitter,

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some decryption code must be entered. Again, this secure capability could be activated at the time of manufacture, or at a later date, either on a permanent or a semi-permanent basis. In addition to receiving the decryption code through the receiving means, the decryption code could be 5 supplied by a smart card or a keypad. A transmitter may thus provide updating facilities to several set-top boxes, provided that the respective users' supply the correct decryption codes to their additional security units.

The technique disclosed herein may also be employed in order to lO tune, or to add or modify the channel frequency data stored in the memory of, a fully integral digital television such as high-definition television (HDTV), or to tune, or to add or modify the channel frequency data stored in the memory of, an analogue television; in such a case, the television includes the appropriate signal receiver to capture the data transmitted from 15 the remote channel controller, and processes the frequency data received in the manner described above for the set-top box.

It will be seen that the digital transmission may be received not only from radio waves (as described here), but equally through a datalink (such 20 as 'cable' television, or the internet) or other transmission media. Also, a personal computer could be configured (typically using an adapter card, though set-top functions could also be encoded completely by software) to receive digital television signals, typically over the internet.

Claims

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5 1. A television control system comprising, a signal receiving means capable of receiving and isolating a television signal from a plurality of television signals, the signal receiving means including a signal conversion means to produce an output signal, and also a 10 memory capable of storing information corresponding to more than one television signal which allows that signal to be isolated, a display screen capable of accepting the output signal produced by the signal receiving means, and displaying an image corresponding to the 1 5 signal, at least one wire-less transmitter for effecting a change in the signal receiving means in order that a different television signal is separated from the plurality of television signals, the wire-less transmitter having a memory capable of storing information corresponding to one or more further television signals which allows those signals to be isolated, and of transmitting this information to the signal . receiving means, the signal receiving means being capable of receiving the information corresponding to one or more further television signals transmitted by the

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wire-less transmitter, and amending its memory so that it can isolate these further television signals.
2. A system according to claim l wherein the at least one wire-less 5 transmitter is a portable device.
3. A system according to claim l wherein the at least one wire-less transmitter is capable of transmitting to more than one a signal receiving means simultaneuously.
4. A system according to any previous claim wherein there is included a security means coupled to the signal receiving means which requires a authorization code before allowing the memory of the signal receiving means to amended with the information corresponding to the one or more 15 further television signals.
5. A system according to any previous claim wherein the signal receiving means includes or is connected to a radio frequency aerial.

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6. A system according to any previous claim wherein the wire-less transmitter transmits the information using an infra-red signal.
7. A system according to any previous claim wherein the signal receiving means is capable of receiving a digitally encoded signal and 25 converting it to an analogue signal, and the display screen accepts an analogue signal.
8. A wire-less transmitter according to any previous claim.

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9. A system receiving means according to any previous claim.
10. A method of tuning a signal receiving means to receive a television 5 signal comprising the steps of; entering information corresponding to at least one television signal which allows that signal to be isolated into a memory of a portable wire-less transmitter, transmitting the information to the signal receiving means, the signal receiving means amending its memory to store the information.

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11. A method according to claim 7 wherein the wire-less transmitter also allows instructions to be transmitted to the signal receiving means such that a particular television signal may be selected to be isolated.
12. A television control system as herein described an illustrated.
13. A method of tuning a television as herein described an illustrated.
14. Any novel and inventive feature or combination of features specifically disclosed herein within the meaning of Article 4H of the 25 International Convention (Paris Convention).