Acquiring cable channel map information in a cable receiver

A system for acquiring a channel map in a cable receiver, comprising:

• a memory device resident in the cable receiver;
• and
• a processor disposed in communication with the memory device, the processor configured to:
• obtain a list of available channels from an electronic program guide service provider;
• initialize the channel map based on the list of available channels;
• perform a channel scan to detect clear channels, and collect identification information for each detected clear channel;
• update the channel map based on the identification information for each detected clear channel;
• receive changes to the channel map from a user of the cable receiver;
• update the channel map based on the changes to the channel map from the user;
• and
• upload the channel map to the electronic program guide service provider,
• wherein the channel map associates physical analog and digital channels in an RF spectrum to channel identification data, and
• wherein the channel identification data includes physical RF channel numbers, modulation type, virtual channels, and channel names.

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for acquiring a channel map in a cable receiver, by a method comprising:

• obtaining a list of available channels from an electronic program guide service provider;
• initializing the channel map based on the list of available channels;
• performing a channel scan to detect clear channels, and collect identification information for each detected clear channel;
• updating the channel map based on the identification information for each detected clear channel;
• receiving changes to the channel map from a user of the cable receiver;
• updating the channel map based on the changes to the channel map from the user;
• and
• uploading the channel map to the electronic program guide service provider,
• wherein the channel map associates physical analog and digital channels in an RF spectrum to channel identification data, and
• wherein the channel identification data includes physical RF channel numbers, modulation type, virtual channels, and channel names.