Merging multi-source information in a television system
AssigneeStarsight Telecast, Inc.
InventorBrian Lee Klosterman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a scheme for margin television schedule information received from multiple sources (26, 28, 30 and 34). In the preferred embodiment, a microprocessor (36) mixes and sorts the schedule information received from multiple source devices (26, 28, 30 or 34). The schedule information is then displayed in a television schedule guide (50). A user can select a program (60 or 62) by pointing to that program in the displayed schedule information (50). The system (10) then carries out an automatic switching/tuning such that the required source device (26, 28, 30 or 34) is input to the destination device (22), and a tuner is then tuned to the selected program's channel (52).
Claims24
A method of providing a consolidated television program guide of listings of television programs telecast from a plurality of sources, e.g., antenna, cable, and satellite, to a television system, the method comprising the steps of:
- (A) receiving from the plurality of sources data representing individual listings of television programs and a source identifier for each listing, the source identifier allowing an automatic switching of a television signal to a source corresponding to the source identifier upon user selection of a program listing from a grid guide;
- and
- (B) merging the individual listings and source identifiers to form the consolidated television program guide.
A system for providing a consolidated television program guide of listings of television programs telecast from a plurality of sources, to a television system, the system comprising:
- a receiver for receiving from the plurality of sources data representing individual listings of television programs and a source identifier for each listing, the source identifier allowing an automatic switching of a television signal to a source corresponding to the source identifier upon user selection of a program listing from a grid guide;
- and
- a microprocessor attached to the receiver for merging the individual listings and source identifiers to form the consolidated television program guide.
In a multi-source television scheduling guide system, a method of providing a consolidated television program guide of listings of television programs telecast from at least two broadcast sources, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving from a data transmission source data representing listings of television programs and a source identifiers for each listing, the source identifiers corresponding to one of the broadcast sources;
- and
- merging the program listings and the corresponding source identifiers to form the consolidated program guide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.