TH40905A - Methods for collecting channel data for consumer electronic devices. - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (11/11/42) In consumer electronic devices, for example, in the case of television receivers, it is familiar to have a button on the remote control that allows the user to switch to a previously selected channel. However, a drawback of such a simple solution is that whenever the user makes a switch from one channel to the next, called erasing, the television only remembers the last channel in the erasing sequence as the last channel in each case. The invention is based on the objective of providing an improved method for channel information storage. The method according to the points of the invention for storing channel information in consumer electronic devices that allows switching between different channels is achieved by distinguishing the reception duration of the channel at that moment, and by which, whenever the reception duration exceeds a predetermined ZE time, the channel is stored as the channel of interest. In consumer electronic devices, for example, in the case of television receivers, it is familiar to have a button on the remote control that allows the user to switch. The television goes to the previously selected channel. However, a drawback of such a simple solution is that whenever the user makes a switch from one channel to the next, called deletion, the television only remembers the last channel in the deletion sequence as the last channel in each case. The invention is based on the objective of providing an improved method for channel information storage. The method in question of the invention is for storing channel information in consumer electronics that allows switching between different channels through differentiation by considering the current reception duration of the channel, and by which, when the reception duration exceeds a predetermined ZE time, the channel is stored as the channel of interest.

Claims (21)

1. A method for storing signal data in consumer electronic devices that allows switching between different channels, making it a special feature. It considers and determines the signal reception duration of the channel at that moment. In this case, when the signal reception duration exceeds a predetermined ZE (Zero Time) period, the channel is stored as the channel of interest. 2. The method under claim 1 is unique in that the reception period of the signal channel at that time is considered to be permanently determined. 3. The method under claim 1 is unique in that the reception period of the channel at that time is determined only at the end of that period. 4. The method under claim 1 is made unique by considering the reception duration when switching from one current channel to another. 5. The method under claim 1 is made unique by having the time period adjusted by the manufacturer and/or user. 6. The method under Claim 1 is made unique by adjusting the time period in several ways. 7. The method under claim 6 is unique in that it provides for a short time slot, a medium time slot, a third time slot, by this approach in order to consider and determine the channels of interest differently. 8. The method under claim 1 is made special by considering and determining the reception duration of the signal channel at that moment, and by considering and determining the reception duration of the other signal channel when switching from that signal channel to another signal channel, and by storing the signal channel with the longest reception duration as a period. 9. The method under claim 1 is unique in that all channels exceeding the time period are retained as channels of interest. 10. The method under claim 9 is made unique in that the timing and/or duration of each signal reception size is also preserved for all channels of interest. 11. The method under claim 10 is unique in that data is stored and/or retrieved sequentially according to time and/or on the basis of reception duration. 12. The method under claim 1 is characterized by the switching to the channel of interest being accomplished by operating the control component. 13. The method under claim 1 is unique in that switching to the last but only channel of interest is accomplished by reactivating the control component. 14. The method under claim number 7 or 9 is made unique by providing a number of control components for different channels of interest. 15. The method under claim 1 is unique in that it stores images relating to the signal of interest as image signal information in frame memory. 16. The method under claim 15 is unique in that, when the operational control component is made, the video signal information and/or channel information is overlaid. 17. The method under claim 15 is unique in that it enables a number of images to be displayed on the screen by operating the control component and can be selected via the control component. 18. The method under claim 1 is made unique by calling the channel of interest with a voice input signal. 19. The method under Claim 1 is made unique by retaining channel specifications such as channel name and/or transmitter frequency and/or channel details and/or Show view information and/or telegraphic information as well. 20. A method for determining the signal reception duration in consumer electronic devices that allows switching between different channels, by considering the reception duration of each channel at that moment. When the reception duration falls below a predetermined time, the channel is assigned as an uninterested channel. 21. A circuit for determining the signal channel of interest in a consumer electronic device that has a control unit, memory, program signals, and control components. This makes it unique, where when using control components (BE, IR) for switching, the control unit (SE) detects how long each channel has been stimulated. When the signal reception time falls below a previously set time, this channel is stored as the signal channel of interest in memory (SP).