US 4,737,993 A · Cable broadcast TV receiver with automatic channel search responsive to mode change

Abstract

A "cable-ready" receiver includes a controller for selecting broadcast ("air") and cable channels tuned by a tuner. When switching between air and cable tuning modes the controller stores the number of the channel tuned in the previous mode and retunes the tuner to the stored channel if the number is within a range of valid channel numbers for the new tuning mode. If not, the controller increments the number until it is both in the range and present in a user selected channel tuning list and retunes the turner to the incremented number. In another embodiment the controller increments the number until it is within the valid channel range and a video detector signifies that the channel is occupied. Both examples increase the likelihood that an active channel will be tuned when changing the air/cable tuner operating modes.

Claims2

Dependent claims

Tuning apparatus for a television receiver, comprising:

tuner means having an "air" tuning mode for tuning standard broadcast channels and a "cable" tuning mode for tuning cable channels;
switch means for selecting said cable and air tuning modes;
control means responsive to said switch means for placing said tuner means in a selected one of said tuning modes;
user programmable memory means for storing a list of user selected channel numbers;
and wherein:
said control means being further responsive to a change in said tuning mode selected by said switch means for causing said tuner means to tune to a previously tuned channel in the changed tuning mode if the previous channel number is within a range of valid channel numbers for the currently selected tuning mode;
said control means being responsive otherwise for incrementing said previous channel number until the incremented number is within said range and is also in said list for causing said tuner means to tune to a channel corresponding to said incremented number.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cable broadcast TV receiver with automatic channel search responsive to mode change

Life of this patent

Cable broadcast TV receiver with automatic channel search responsive to mode change

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims2