WO2003105470A1 - Method and apparatus for creating electronic program guide without consolidated program guide information transmission - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for creating electronic program guide without consolidated program guide information transmission Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003105470A1
WO2003105470A1 PCT/US2001/024121 US0124121W WO03105470A1 WO 2003105470 A1 WO2003105470 A1 WO 2003105470A1 US 0124121 W US0124121 W US 0124121W WO 03105470 A1 WO03105470 A1 WO 03105470A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
programming information
incoming signal
television
television programming
program guide
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2001/024121
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Joseph Kuriacose
Original Assignee
Hughes Electronics Corporation
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 Hughes Electronics Corporation filed Critical Hughes Electronics Corporation
Priority to AU2001280957A priority Critical patent/AU2001280957A1/en
Priority to PCT/US2001/024121 priority patent/WO2003105470A1/en
Publication of WO2003105470A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003105470A1/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/08—Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division
    • H04N7/087—Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval only
    • H04N7/088—Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval only the inserted signal being digital
    • H04N7/0887—Systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal, e.g. additional information signals, the signals occupying wholly or partially the same frequency band, e.g. by time division with signal insertion during the vertical blanking interval only the inserted signal being digital for the transmission of programme or channel identifying signals
    • 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
    • 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
    • H04N21/434—Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
    • H04N21/4345—Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
    • 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
    • H04N21/438—Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving encoded video stream packets from an IP network
    • H04N21/4383—Accessing a communication channel
    • 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
    • H04N21/45—Management operations performed by the client for facilitating the reception of or the interaction with the content or administrating data related to the end-user or to the client device itself, e.g. learning user preferences for recommending movies, resolving scheduling conflicts
    • H04N21/462—Content or additional data management, e.g. creating a master electronic program guide from data received from the Internet and a Head-end, controlling the complexity of a video stream by scaling the resolution or bit-rate based on the client capabilities
    • H04N21/4622—Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet
    • 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
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • 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
    • H04N21/47—End-user applications
    • H04N21/482—End-user interface for program selection

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating a television program guide (sometimes referred to in the art as an "electronic program guide” or "EPG") that can be viewed on-screen.
  • EPG electronic program guide
  • the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for generating an electronic program guide when comprehensive (i.e., for multiple channels) television programming information is not available from a single source.
  • an on-screen electronic program guide includes information about television programming available on one or more channels.
  • an electronic program guide includes information about television programming available on one or more channels.
  • an electronic program guide is generated on, for example, a desktop computer as a graphical presentation.
  • the graphical presentation is then broadcast as video, like a regular television program.
  • the information that appears is static in that it is manually organized and formatted and cannot be interactively manipulated by the user.
  • the scrolling program guide available in, for example, an analog cable television system, is an example of this approach.
  • each transponder on a satellite carries comprehensive television program information including information about channels on a plurality of transponders carried by the satellite. Therefore, the information for building a comprehensive electronic program guide is available at a receiver from any given transponder being tuned to. The user is able to interact with such a program guide in a dynamic manner.
  • television program information is broadcast on a given transponder
  • comprehensive television program information about all channels/ transponders is not available from a single source.
  • no single channel in practice, carries programming information for other channels.
  • each channel on each carrier signal most likely carries programming information from an individual broadcaster (for example, in the vertical blanking interval), where the individual broadcaster is unlikely to carry television programming information for other broadcasters.
  • the present invention is generally directed to a method for generating an electronic program guide that includes extracting television programming information from one or more carrier frequencies (channels) in an incoming signal and accumulating the extracted television programming information to build an electronic program guide.
  • the method according to the present invention includes tuning to a first carrier frequency (channel) in an incoming signal, extracting television programming information from the first carrier frequency (channel), accumulating the extracted television programming information to build an electronic program guide, tuning to a second carrier frequency (channel) in the incoming signal, extracting television programming information from the second carrier frequency (channel), and accumulating the extracted television programming information from the second carrier frequency to further build the electronic program guide.
  • An apparatus includes, generally, at least one front end tuner subsystem for tuning to carrier frequencies (channels) in an incoming signal, and at least one signal processor constructed and arranged to extract television programming information from a respective carrier frequency (channel) in the incoming signal.
  • the apparatus according to the present invention includes a single signal processor constructed and arranged to extract data from the respective carrier frequencies (channels).
  • multiple front end tuner subsystems are provided, and the at least one signal processor is constructed and arranged to extract data from respective incoming signals associated with the respective front end tuner subsystems.
  • a single signal processor is provided, and the single signal processor is constructed and arranged to extract data from the respective incoming signals associated with the respective front end tuner subsystems.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary apparatus in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary method by which an electronic program guide is generated in background, while a television program can be viewed simultaneously;
  • Figure 3(a) illustrates an exemplary ATSC data packet structure used with the present invention
  • Figure 3(b) illustrates an exemplary structure of a data packet header for the ATSC data packet illustrated in Figure 3(a).
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a system constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • the present invention includes at least one front end tuner subsystem 100a.
  • the at least one front end tuner subsystem 100a is generally associated with a specific type of incoming signal (for example, without limitation, ATSC or NTSC signals).
  • Front end tuner subsystem 100a generally comprises an RF tuner and a demodulator and preferably converts an incoming signal into a digital bitstream that is fed to a bitstream signal processor 102.
  • the at least one front end tuner subsystem 100a is used to cycle through a plurality of available channels. See step 205 in Figure 2. Each time a channel is tuned to, television programming information corresponding to that channel is extracted and accumulated in a memory (not shown) to thereby build an electronic program guide. See step 207 in Figure 2. Thereafter, a next given channel is tuned to (step 208), and television programming information corresponding to that next channel is extracted an accumulated in the memory (step 210) . This process is repeated ("no" in step 212) until a plurality of desired channels have the television programming information corresponding thereto extracted and accumulated ("yes" in step 212). This results in an electronic program guide for that plurality of channels. It will be readily recognized that it is possible to cycle through all available channels in this manner, so as to provide a comprehensive electronic program guide covering all available channels.
  • the method according to the present invention may include other steps.
  • an initial electronic program guide in accordance with the present invention, for example, during a receiver or a set-top box bootup. See step 200.
  • step 214 it may be desirable to periodically update the accumulated electronic program guide, by, for example, regularly repeating the above-described process at fixed time intervals (see, for example, step 214).
  • extracted television programming information corresponding to a respective channel frequently only relates to programming for a certain time into the future (for example, a few hours) . Therefore, it is useful to update the electronic program guide obtained according to the present invention in order to maintain an up-to-date version of the electronic program guide.
  • the electronic program guide can be updated on demand, (for example, in accordance with a command input, such as from a remote control, provided by a user).
  • a command input such as from a remote control, provided by a user.
  • television programming is not viewable. It is therefore desirable (but not critical) according to the present invention to permit television programming to be viewed while an electronic program guide is generated in background.
  • another front end tuner subsystem 100b may be provided, as seen in Figure 1, in order to process an incoming signal to permit television programming to be viewed.
  • a user is therefore not inconvenienced by being unable to, view television programming while an electronic program guide is being generated and/ or updated in accordance with the present invention.
  • Front end tuner subsystem 100a may be associated with, for example, an ATSC signal while tuner subsystem 100b is associated, for example, with a DIRECTVTM incoming signal.
  • ATSC signals do not provide comprehensive television programming information (i.e., television programming for a plurality of channels, or all channels) in a single given channel, thereby necessitating a cycling through channels as discussed above.
  • a DIRECTVTM signal has comprehensive television programming information for a plurality of channels available on any given transponder being tuned to. It is, however, within the scope of the present invention to have both front end tuner subsystems 100a, 100b be associated with the same type of incoming signal, as discussed in more detail below.
  • signal processor 102 Although only one signal processor 102 is shown in Figure 1 , it is within the scope of the presently contemplated invention to provide a signal processor for each respective tuner subsystem. However, a single signal processor 102 may be preferable with respect to system simplicity and economy of manufacture.
  • the present invention relies, most generally, on recognizing which data packets in the bitstreams 101a, 101b contain television programming information and which contain audio and/ or video components of the television programming being viewed.
  • a signal processor may be provided for each front end tuner subsystem 100a, 100b.
  • This is a relatively simple (but not trivial) embodiment of the present invention, because no differentiation need be made between data packets containing television programming information and data packets containing audio and/or video components of television programming being viewed. That is, one signal processor acts only on television programming information in accordance with the present invention, while the other signal processor acts only on audio and/ or video components of a television program. It is within the scope of the presently contemplated invention to have each signal processor be multifunctional. That is, in one instance, a given signal processor may act on television programming information, as discussed above, but in another instance, that same signal processor may act on audio and/ or video components of a television program.
  • the single signal processor 102 When a single signal processor 102 is provided, as seen in Figure 1 , the single signal processor 102 must differentiate between data packets. An example of how the data packets are so differentiated is set forth below.
  • each data packet 300 comprises a header 302 and a payload 304.
  • the header 302 generally contains information that, in part, identifies or describes the information carried in the payload 304.
  • header 302 includes a field such as a packet identifier ("PID") field 305.
  • PID field 306 carries a value that can be used to determine whether the payload 304 contains, for example, either television programming information or audio and/ or video components of television programming.
  • PID field 306 carries a value that can be used to determine whether the payload 304 contains, for example, either television programming information or audio and/ or video components of television programming.
  • the structure of a DIRECTVTM data packet (not shown) is, broadly speaking, similar to that of ATSC data packet 300 in terms of comprising a header and a payload.
  • the DIRECTVTM data packet includes service channel ID ("SCID") in its header, instead of a PID field as in the ATSC data packet.
  • SCID service channel ID
  • DIRECTVTM data packets i.e., the information in the payloads thereof
  • the signal processor when a single signal processor 102 is used, the signal processor operates on both bitstrea s 101a, 101b simultaneously, and operates on data packets depending on what each data packet's PID or SCID indicates is contained in that data packet's payload.
  • the data packets containing audio and/ or video components of television programming being viewed are processed in a known manner by audio/video processing subsystem 104, so as to provide an audio/ video signal 106 that can be viewed (and/ or heard) (by, for example, a television or other video monitor) .
  • the present invention can be implemented in a variety of fashions.
  • the method and apparatus according to the present invention may be implemented in a stand-alone digital television receiver.
  • the method and apparatus according to the present invention may be implemented in a stand-alone television receiver that characteristically includes a plurality of front end tuner subsystems.
  • the method and apparatus according to the present invention may be provided in the form of a set-top box (sometimes referred to as an Integrated Receiver Decoder ("IRD”)) operably located between a satellite outdoor unit (“ODU”), including a receiving antenna subsystem, and a receiver/ monitor, or between an off-air antenna and a receiver/ monitor.
  • IRD Integrated Receiver Decoder
  • both front end tuner subsystems may be configured to act upon ATSC signals, where the signal acted on by one of the front end tuner subsystems can be used to create an electronic program guide while an ATSC program is viewed using the other front end tuner subsystem.
  • an electronic program guide for the ATSC channels may not be generated according to the present invention while the ATSC front end tuner subsystem is used to view an ATSC program. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a system including, for example, three front end tuner subsystems: one for DIRECTVTM, and two for ATSC. Therefore, an ATSC electronic program guide can be generated in background regardless of whether a DIRECTVTM program or an ATSC program is being viewed.
  • first and second satellite tuner subsystems such as the DIRECTVTM system. This may be desirable to build an electronic program guide from multiple satellite systems, especially where one system does not transmit the electronic program guide for the other satellite system(s).
  • any given satellite transponder being tuned to.
  • the information that is available might only cover a relatively near-term time period (for example, for the next 6 hours) .
  • an electronic program guide is desired for a relatively far in the future time period (for example, the following week), that information may only be available on certain transponders. Therefore, the use of a secondary satellite tuner subsystem permits generation of an electronic program guide using the specific transponder from which the future program information is available.
  • the present invention may also be applicable to digital cable
  • TV systems that are based on a quadrature amplitude modulation signaling approach, or to analog NTSC signals.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating an electronic program guide containing programming information about a plurality of channels, especially when such programming information about a plurality of channels is not available from a single source. The method includes tuning to a first available channel, extracting television programming information corresponding to the first available channel, accumulating the extracted television programming information to build an electronic program guide, tuning to a second available channel, extracting television programming information corresponding to the second available channel, and accumulating the extracted television programming information from the second available channel to further build the electronic program guide. Preferably, two or more front end tuner subsystems are provided so that a television program can be viewed while an electronic program guide is generated in background.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CREATING
ELECTRONIC PROGRAM GUIDE WITHOUT CONSOLIDATED
PROGRAM GUIDE INFORMATION TRANSMISSION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating a television program guide (sometimes referred to in the art as an "electronic program guide" or "EPG") that can be viewed on-screen. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for generating an electronic program guide when comprehensive (i.e., for multiple channels) television programming information is not available from a single source.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART In general, an on-screen electronic program guide includes information about television programming available on one or more channels. However, there are different conventional methods of generating such an electronic program guide.
In one approach, an electronic program guide is generated on, for example, a desktop computer as a graphical presentation. The graphical presentation is then broadcast as video, like a regular television program. However, the information that appears is static in that it is manually organized and formatted and cannot be interactively manipulated by the user. The scrolling program guide available in, for example, an analog cable television system, is an example of this approach.
In a conventional satellite television distribution system (for example, that known under the trademark DIRECTV™), each transponder on a satellite carries comprehensive television program information including information about channels on a plurality of transponders carried by the satellite. Therefore, the information for building a comprehensive electronic program guide is available at a receiver from any given transponder being tuned to. The user is able to interact with such a program guide in a dynamic manner.
In some systems, however, although television program information is broadcast on a given transponder, comprehensive television program information about all channels/ transponders is not available from a single source. For example,, in an ATSC or NTSC system, no single channel, in practice, carries programming information for other channels. Instead, each channel on each carrier signal most likely carries programming information from an individual broadcaster (for example, in the vertical blanking interval), where the individual broadcaster is unlikely to carry television programming information for other broadcasters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus for generating an electronic program guide using television programming information obtained from a plurality of available channels or broadcast sources. More particularly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus for generating a comprehensive electronic program guide, as discussed above, in background, so that a television program can be watched while the comprehensive electronic program guide is being generated.
Therefore, the present invention is generally directed to a method for generating an electronic program guide that includes extracting television programming information from one or more carrier frequencies (channels) in an incoming signal and accumulating the extracted television programming information to build an electronic program guide. In particular, the method according to the present invention includes tuning to a first carrier frequency (channel) in an incoming signal, extracting television programming information from the first carrier frequency (channel), accumulating the extracted television programming information to build an electronic program guide, tuning to a second carrier frequency (channel) in the incoming signal, extracting television programming information from the second carrier frequency (channel), and accumulating the extracted television programming information from the second carrier frequency to further build the electronic program guide.
An apparatus according to the present invention includes, generally, at least one front end tuner subsystem for tuning to carrier frequencies (channels) in an incoming signal, and at least one signal processor constructed and arranged to extract television programming information from a respective carrier frequency (channel) in the incoming signal. Preferably, but not necessarily, the apparatus according to the present invention includes a single signal processor constructed and arranged to extract data from the respective carrier frequencies (channels).
In one example of the present invention, multiple front end tuner subsystems are provided, and the at least one signal processor is constructed and arranged to extract data from respective incoming signals associated with the respective front end tuner subsystems. In a preferred arrangement of this example, a single signal processor is provided, and the single signal processor is constructed and arranged to extract data from the respective incoming signals associated with the respective front end tuner subsystems. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be described hereinbelow with reference to the figures appended hereto, in which:
Figure 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary method by which an electronic program guide is generated in background, while a television program can be viewed simultaneously;
Figure 3(a) illustrates an exemplary ATSC data packet structure used with the present invention; and
Figure 3(b) illustrates an exemplary structure of a data packet header for the ATSC data packet illustrated in Figure 3(a).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Figure 1 illustrates a system constructed in accordance with the present invention.' The present invention includes at least one front end tuner subsystem 100a. The at least one front end tuner subsystem 100a is generally associated with a specific type of incoming signal (for example, without limitation, ATSC or NTSC signals). Front end tuner subsystem 100a generally comprises an RF tuner and a demodulator and preferably converts an incoming signal into a digital bitstream that is fed to a bitstream signal processor 102.
In general, according to the present invention, the at least one front end tuner subsystem 100a is used to cycle through a plurality of available channels. See step 205 in Figure 2. Each time a channel is tuned to, television programming information corresponding to that channel is extracted and accumulated in a memory (not shown) to thereby build an electronic program guide. See step 207 in Figure 2. Thereafter, a next given channel is tuned to (step 208), and television programming information corresponding to that next channel is extracted an accumulated in the memory (step 210) . This process is repeated ("no" in step 212) until a plurality of desired channels have the television programming information corresponding thereto extracted and accumulated ("yes" in step 212). This results in an electronic program guide for that plurality of channels. It will be readily recognized that it is possible to cycle through all available channels in this manner, so as to provide a comprehensive electronic program guide covering all available channels.
In addition, the method according to the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 2, may include other steps.
For example, it may be desirable to create an initial electronic program guide in accordance with the present invention, for example, during a receiver or a set-top box bootup. See step 200.
Furthermore, it may be desirable to periodically update the accumulated electronic program guide, by, for example, regularly repeating the above-described process at fixed time intervals (see, for example, step 214). In particular, extracted television programming information corresponding to a respective channel frequently only relates to programming for a certain time into the future (for example, a few hours) . Therefore, it is useful to update the electronic program guide obtained according to the present invention in order to maintain an up-to-date version of the electronic program guide.
Alternatively, the electronic program guide can be updated on demand, (for example, in accordance with a command input, such as from a remote control, provided by a user). Generally, during the process of generating an electronic program guide according to the present invention, television programming is not viewable. It is therefore desirable (but not critical) according to the present invention to permit television programming to be viewed while an electronic program guide is generated in background.
Thus, another front end tuner subsystem 100b may be provided, as seen in Figure 1, in order to process an incoming signal to permit television programming to be viewed. A user is therefore not inconvenienced by being unable to, view television programming while an electronic program guide is being generated and/ or updated in accordance with the present invention.
Front end tuner subsystem 100a may be associated with, for example, an ATSC signal while tuner subsystem 100b is associated, for example, with a DIRECTV™ incoming signal. ATSC signals do not provide comprehensive television programming information (i.e., television programming for a plurality of channels, or all channels) in a single given channel, thereby necessitating a cycling through channels as discussed above. In contrast, as discussed above, a DIRECTV™ signal has comprehensive television programming information for a plurality of channels available on any given transponder being tuned to. It is, however, within the scope of the present invention to have both front end tuner subsystems 100a, 100b be associated with the same type of incoming signal, as discussed in more detail below.
Although only one signal processor 102 is shown in Figure 1 , it is within the scope of the presently contemplated invention to provide a signal processor for each respective tuner subsystem. However, a single signal processor 102 may be preferable with respect to system simplicity and economy of manufacture. The present invention relies, most generally, on recognizing which data packets in the bitstreams 101a, 101b contain television programming information and which contain audio and/ or video components of the television programming being viewed.
As mentioned above, a signal processor may be provided for each front end tuner subsystem 100a, 100b. This is a relatively simple (but not trivial) embodiment of the present invention, because no differentiation need be made between data packets containing television programming information and data packets containing audio and/or video components of television programming being viewed. That is, one signal processor acts only on television programming information in accordance with the present invention, while the other signal processor acts only on audio and/ or video components of a television program. It is within the scope of the presently contemplated invention to have each signal processor be multifunctional. That is, in one instance, a given signal processor may act on television programming information, as discussed above, but in another instance, that same signal processor may act on audio and/ or video components of a television program.
When a single signal processor 102 is provided, as seen in Figure 1 , the single signal processor 102 must differentiate between data packets. An example of how the data packets are so differentiated is set forth below.
Figures 3(a) and 3(b) illustrate data structures corresponding to an ATSC data packet 300. In general, each data packet 300 comprises a header 302 and a payload 304. The header 302 generally contains information that, in part, identifies or describes the information carried in the payload 304. In particular, as seen in Figure 3(b), header 302 includes a field such as a packet identifier ("PID") field 305. PID field 306 carries a value that can be used to determine whether the payload 304 contains, for example, either television programming information or audio and/ or video components of television programming. The structure of a DIRECTV™ data packet (not shown) is, broadly speaking, similar to that of ATSC data packet 300 in terms of comprising a header and a payload. However, the DIRECTV™ data packet includes service channel ID ("SCID") in its header, instead of a PID field as in the ATSC data packet. Like ATSC data packets, DIRECTV™ data packets (i.e., the information in the payloads thereof) can be distinguished using the value held in the SCID.
Thus, when a single signal processor 102 is used, the signal processor operates on both bitstrea s 101a, 101b simultaneously, and operates on data packets depending on what each data packet's PID or SCID indicates is contained in that data packet's payload.
It is emphasized that the example hereinabove using ATSC and DIRECTV™ signals is strictly for illustration. Other combinations are within the scope of the contemplated invention, as discussed below.
Thus, the data packets containing audio and/ or video components of television programming being viewed are processed in a known manner by audio/video processing subsystem 104, so as to provide an audio/ video signal 106 that can be viewed (and/ or heard) (by, for example, a television or other video monitor) .
The present invention can be implemented in a variety of fashions. In particular, the method and apparatus according to the present invention, and as described hereinabove, may be implemented in a stand-alone digital television receiver. In a preferable embodiment, the method and apparatus according to the present invention may be implemented in a stand-alone television receiver that characteristically includes a plurality of front end tuner subsystems. In another preferred implementation, the method and apparatus according to the present invention may be provided in the form of a set-top box (sometimes referred to as an Integrated Receiver Decoder ("IRD")) operably located between a satellite outdoor unit ("ODU"), including a receiving antenna subsystem, and a receiver/ monitor, or between an off-air antenna and a receiver/ monitor.
As emphasized above, the present invention is not restricted to processing a combination of ATSC and DIRECTV™ signals. For example, both front end tuner subsystems may be configured to act upon ATSC signals, where the signal acted on by one of the front end tuner subsystems can be used to create an electronic program guide while an ATSC program is viewed using the other front end tuner subsystem.
It should be noted that when an ATSC program is viewed in the ATSC/ DIRECTV™ system above, an electronic program guide for the ATSC channels may not be generated according to the present invention while the ATSC front end tuner subsystem is used to view an ATSC program. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a system including, for example, three front end tuner subsystems: one for DIRECTV™, and two for ATSC. Therefore, an ATSC electronic program guide can be generated in background regardless of whether a DIRECTV™ program or an ATSC program is being viewed.
Another possible arrangement according to the present invention is using first and second satellite tuner subsystems (such as the DIRECTV™ system). This may be desirable to build an electronic program guide from multiple satellite systems, especially where one system does not transmit the electronic program guide for the other satellite system(s).
Also, as mentioned above, comprehensive television program information is available on any given satellite transponder being tuned to. However, the information that is available might only cover a relatively near-term time period (for example, for the next 6 hours) . If an electronic program guide is desired for a relatively far in the future time period (for example, the following week), that information may only be available on certain transponders. Therefore, the use of a secondary satellite tuner subsystem permits generation of an electronic program guide using the specific transponder from which the future program information is available. The present invention may also be applicable to digital cable
TV systems that are based on a quadrature amplitude modulation signaling approach, or to analog NTSC signals.
The present invention being thusly described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A method for generating an electronic program guide comprising: extracting television programming information from a first incoming signal and accumulating the extracted television programming information to create an electronic program guide; and concurrently converting a television program carried on a second incoming signal into a perceivable form.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein extracting television programming information and accumulating the extracted television programming information comprises: tuning to a first channel in the first incoming signal using a first tuner subsystem; extracting television programming information corresponding to the first channel in the first incoming signal; accumulating the television programming information corresponding to the first channel in the first incoming signal to build the electronic program guide; controlling the first tuner subsystem to tune to a second channel in the first incoming signal; extracting television programming information corresponding to the second channel in the first incoming signal; and accumulating the television programming information corresponding to the second channel in the first incoming signal to further build the electronic program guide.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein extracting television programming information comprises extracting television programming information corresponding to all available channels in the first incoming signal.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein converting a television program comprises tuning to a channel in the second incoming signal using a second tuner subsystem.
5. The method according to claim 1, comprising updating the electronic program guide by periodically extracting television programming information corresponding to channels in the first incoming signal and accumulating the extracted television programming information to build an updated electronic program guide.
6. The method according to claim 1, comprising updating the electronic program guide by extracting television programming information corresponding to channels in the first incoming signal and accumulating the extracted television programming information to build an updated electronic program guide in accordance with an external command.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first incoming signal is an ATSC signal.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second incoming signal is an ATSC signal.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second incoming signal is a satellite television distribution system signal.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first incoming signal is a satellite television distribution system signal.
1 1. The method according to claim 10, wherein the second incoming signal is a satellite television distribution system signal.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first incoming signal is an NTSC signal.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second incoming signals are of different types.
14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second incoming signals are of the same type.
15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said converting of a television program comprises extracting audio and video components of the television program from the second incoming signal.
16. The method according to claim 15, comprising using a single processor to extract television programming information and to extract audio and video components of the television program.
17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first incoming signal includes a stream of data packets, each data packet comprising a header with a packet identifier field and a payload, wherein extracting television programming information comprises identifying a data packet containing television programming information in its payload by the value contained in the packet identifier field associated with the data packet.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the second incoming signal includes a stream of data packets, each data packet co prising a header having a packet identifier field, and a payload, wherein converting a television program comprises identifying a data packet containing an audio component and/ or a video component of the television program in its payload by the value contained in the packet identifier field associated with the data packet.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the second incoming signal includes a stream of data packets, each data packet comprising a header with a service channel identifier, wfoerein converting a television program comprises identifying a data packet containing an audio component and/ or a video component of the television program in its payload by the value contained in the service channel identifier associated with the data packet.
20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first incoming signal includes a stream of data packets, each data packet comprising a header with a packet identifier field and a payload, wherein extracting television programming information comprises identifying a data packet containing television programming information in its payload by the value contained in the packet identifier field associated with the data packet.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the second incoming signal includes a stream of data packets, each data packet comprising a header with a packet identifier field and a payload, wherein converting a television program comprises identifying a data packet containing an audio component and/ or a video component of the television program in its payload by the value contained in the packet identifier field associated with the data packet.
22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the second incoming signal includes a stream of data packets, each data packet comprising a header with a service channel identifier, wherein converting a television program comprises identifying a data packet containing an audio component and/ or a video component of the television program in its payload by the value contained in the service channel identifier associated with the data packet.
23. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first incoming signal includes a stream of data packets, each data packet comprising a header with a service channel identifier, wherein extracting television programming information comprises identifying a data packet containing television programming information in its payload by the value contained in the service channel identifier associated with the data packet.
24. An apparatus for generating an electronic program guide based on received information, comprising: a first tuner subsystem associated with a first incoming signal; a second tuner subsystem associated with a second incoming signal; and at least one signal processor constructed and arranged to extract data from at least one of said first and second incoming signals.
25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said at least one signal processor is constructed and arranged to: cause said first tuner subsystem to tune to a first carrier frequency on said first incoming signal; extract television programming information corresponding to said first carrier frequency; accumulate said television programming information corresponding to said first carrier frequency to build an electronic program guide; cause said first tuner subsystem to tune to a second carrier frequency on said first incoming signal; extract television programming information corresponding to said second carrier frequency; and accumulate said television programming information corresponding to said second carrier frequency to further build said electronic program guide.
26. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein at least one of said first and second tuner subsystems comprises a tuner and a demodulator.
27. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said at least one signal processor is a single signal processor constructed and arranged to extract data from both said first and second incoming signals.
28. The apparatus according to claim 24, comprising a memory for storing the electronic program guide.
29. The apparatus according to claim 24, consisting essentially of one said signal processor.
30. A television receiver comprising: a first tuner subsystem associated with a first incoming signal; a second tuner subsystem associated with a second incoming signal; an audio /video component processor at least operatively connected with said second tuner subsystem, said audio /video component processor being constructed and arranged to permit a television program carried on said second incoming signal to be viewed; at least one signal processor constructed and arranged to extract data from at least one of said first and second incoming signals.
31. The television receiver according to claim 30, wherein said at least one signal processor is constructed and arranged to: cause said first tuner subsystem to tune to a first carrier frequency on said first incoming signal; extract television programming information corresponding to said first carrier frequency; accumulate said television programming information corresponding to said first carrier frequency to build an electronic program guide; cause said first tuner subsystem to tune to a second carrier frequency on said first incoming signal; extract television programming information corresponding to said second carrier frequency; and accumulate said television programming information corresponding to said second carrier frequency to further build said electronic program guide.
32. The television receiver according to claim 30, consisting essentially of one said signal processor.
33. An Integrated Receiver Decoder ("IRD") comprising: a first tuner subsystem associated with a first incoming signal; a second tuner subsystem associated with a second incoming signal; an audio /video component processor at least operatively connected with said second tuner subsystem, said audio/video component processor being constructed and arranged to permit a television program carried on said second incoming signal to be viewed; at least one signal processor constructed and arranged to extract data from at least one of said first and second incoming signals.
34. The IRD according to claim 33, consisting of a single said signal processor.
35. A method for generating an electronic program guide comprising: extracting television programming information from a first channel; accumulating the television programming information extracted from the first channel to build an electronic program guide; extracting television programming information from a second channel; and accumulating the television programming information extracted from the second channel to further build the electronic program guide.
PCT/US2001/024121 2001-08-03 2001-08-03 Method and apparatus for creating electronic program guide without consolidated program guide information transmission WO2003105470A1 (en)

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