Switch for automatic selection of television signal sources for delivery of television guide data

An apparatus for providing a television guide, the apparatus comprising:

• means for detecting whether a television is off;
• means for controlling television guide reception comprising:
• means for comparing a current time with at least one stored time period;
• means for determining whether television guide data is contained in one of a plurality of channels of a television signal when the current time is within the stored time period and the television is off;
• means for sending a switching command when television guide data is not contained in any of the plurality of channels;
• means for extracting the television guide data from one of the channels of the television signal when the television guide data is contained in one of the plurality of channels;
• and
• means for storing the extracted television guide data;
• and
• means for switching control of the television signal from a first television signal source having a first plurality of channels to a second television signal source having a second plurality of channels, upon command by the controlling means if television guide data is not contained in the television signal output from the first television signal source when the current time is within the stored time period, and the television is off, the switching control means comprising
• means for receiving the switching command from the controlling means, the switching command comprising a bit pattern of data signals;
• means coupled to the receiving means for detecting a predetermined bit pattern of data signals in the switching command corresponding to a selected one of the television signal sources;
• and
• switching means coupled to the detecting means and the television signal sources for allowing transmission of the television signal output from the selected television signal source to the controlling means.