System and method for providing fast acquire time tuning of multiple signals to present multiple simultaneous images
AssigneeMicrotune (Texas), L.P.
InventorsJohn P. Norsworthy, Stanley Vincent Birleson, Douglas J. Bartek
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Abstract
A multiple information decoding system and method are provided in which multiple information content is decoded sequentially and provided to a viewer such that the viewer perceives the information content as being simultaneously decoded. One embodiment of the system and method is in a video display system where RF channels are decoded by a single tuner for concurrent presentation to a display.
Claims33
A system for decoding a plurality of channels, said system including:
- a single video tuner, said tuner having a fast channel acquire time such that the tuner can interleave at least two channels to form two distinct signals which are continuously updated that a user perceives as being formed simultaneously, wherein said acquired time is 5 milliseconds or less.
An RF decoding system comprising:
- a first tuner for forming a first video image from received RF signals;
- and
- a second tuner for forming a plurality of other video images, each of said other images occluding a separate portion of said first video image, wherein said second tuner has a channel acquire time faster than 5 milliseconds.
A method for decoding a plurality of channels, said method including the step of:
- providing a single video tuner, said tuner having a fast channel acquire time, wherein said acquire time is 5 milliseconds or less;
- operating the tuner to interleave at least two channels to form at least two distinct signals;
- and
- providing, in sequential form, said at least two distinct signals which are continuously updated so that a user perceives them as being formed simultaneously.
A method for decoding RF signals, said method comprising the steps:
- forming a first video image from received RF signals, using a first tuner;
- and
- forming a plurality of other video images using a second tuner, each of said other images occluding a separate portion of said first video image, wherein said second tuner has a channel acquire time faster than 5 milliseconds.
The method of decoding signals from a frequency division multiplexed source, said method comprising the steps of:
- applying said source to a tuner circuit, wherein said tuner circuit has a channel acquire time less than 5 milliseconds;
- alternating the channel selectivity of said tuner circuit to provide multiple decoded signals perceived by a user to be simultaneously provided;
- presenting text data on a video display, said text data having information corresponding to a plurality of said multiple decoded signals;
- and
- providing in association with such text data, video images from a plurality of said multiple decoded signals.
A system for sequentially presenting data, said system comprising:
- means for presenting multiplexed signals to a tuner so as to obtain data from selected channels of said multiplexed data;
- means for selecting which of said channels is desired at any point in time;
- and
- means for controlling said selecting means so as to alternate within 100 milliseconds between a plurality of said channels.
A method for presenting a video guide on a video display, said guide containing text data pertaining to program material available on a plurality of channels, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing in association with each such text data, a video image of program material on an associated channel of said plurality of channels;
- and
- operating a tuner having a fast channel acquire time such that the tuner can interleave at least two channels to form at least two distinct signals that a user perceives as being formed simultaneously by providing, in sequential form, at least two channel selections wherein said acquire time is 5 milliseconds or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.