Alarm memo method using time reservation function

A process for visually broadcasting alarm memoranda, comprising:

• determining whether a video system driving a visual display to provide visual presentations of different images varying as a function of time in response to control signals generated by a remote controller and time signals generated by a timer as an indication of current time, is in a mode for storing said alarm memoranda within a memory of said video system;
• while said video system is in said mode for storing said alarm memoranda, establishing a first time for automatically initiating a visual presentation of an alarm memorandum on said visual display, and establishing a second and later time for automatically discontinuing said visual presentation;
• storing said alarm memorandum comprised of data provided by a user, corresponding to a plurality of alphanumeric symbols;
• and
• responding to an indication by said time signals of an occurrence of said first time, by initiating said visual presentation of said alarm memorandum, independently of said control signals.

A video recorder, comprising:

• a non-volatile memory;
• a remote controller generating control signals regulating a visual display presented by a video system;
• a timer generating time signals as an indication of current time;
• an on-screen display driving a visual display to provide visual presentations of different images varying as a function of time in response to said control signals and said time signals;
• and
• a system controller:
• determining whether said video recorder system is in a mode for storing said alarm memoranda within a memory of said video system;
• while said video system is in said mode for storing said alarm memoranda, establishing a first time for automatically initiating a visual presentation of an alarm memorandum on said visual display, and establishing a second and later time for automatically discontinuing said visual presentation;
• storing said alarm memorandum comprised of data provided by a user, corresponding to a plurality of alphanumeric symbols;
• and
• responding to an indication by said time signals of an occurrence of said first time, by automatically providing said visual presentation upon said visual display during an interval between said first time and said second time.

A video recorder, comprising:

• a tuner selectively discriminating between broadcasts signals received on a plurality of channels;
• a non-volatile memory;
• a remote controller generating control signals selecting among said plurality of channels and regulating a visual display presented by a video system;
• a timer generating time signals as an indication of current time;
• an on-screen display driving a visual display to provide visual presentations of different images varying as a function of time in response to video signals carried by said plurality of channels provided by said tuner, on-screen signals for stored data corresponding to respective ones of said plurality of channels, said control signals and said time signals;
• and
• a system controller:
• determining whether said video recorder system is in a first programming mode for storing alarm memoranda within a memory of said video system;
• while said video system is in a second programming mode for reserving time for receiving said video signals, designating a channel number and reserving a selected time to receive images broadcast via said channel number during said selected time;
• while said video system is in said first programming mode for storing said alarm memoranda, establishing a first time for automatically initiating a visual presentation of an alarm memorandum on said visual display, and establishing a second and later time for automatically discontinuing said visual presentation;
• during said first programming mode, storing said alarm memorandum comprised of data provided by a user, corresponding to a plurality of alphanumeric symbols;
• during a recording mode, responding to an indication by said time signals of an occurrence of said selected time by receiving said images broadcast on said channel number designated during said selected time;
• and
• during a playback mode, responding to an indication by said time signals of an occurrence of said first time, by initiating said visual presentation of said alarm memorandum, independently of said control signals and independently of said stored data.

A process for visually broadcasting alarm memoranda, comprising:

• determining whether a video system driving a visual display to provide visual presentations of different images varying as a function of time in response to video signals for a plurality of channels provided by a tuner, on-screen signals representative of stored data corresponding to respective ones of said channels, control signals generated by a remote controller and time signals generated by a timer as an indication of current time, is in a first programming mode for storing said alarm memoranda within a memory of said video system;
• while said video system is in a second programming mode for reserving time for receiving said video signals, designating a channel number and reserving a selected time to receive images broadcast via said channel number during said selected time;
• while said video system is in said first programming mode for storing said alarm memoranda, establishing a first time for automatically initiating a visual presentation of said alarm memorandum on said visual display, and establishing a second and later time for automatically discontinuing said visual presentation;
• during said first programming mode, storing said alarm memorandum comprised of data provided by a user, corresponding to a plurality of alpha-numeric symbols;
• during a recording mode, responding to an indication by said time signals of an occurrence of said selected time by receiving said images broadcast on said channel number designated during said selected time;
• and
• independently of said selected time, independently of any images broadcast on said channel number designated and independently of said stored data corresponding to said channel number designated, during a playback mode responding to an indication by said time signals of an occurrence of said first time, by automatically providing said visual presentation upon said visual display during an interval between said first time and said second time.