Electronic program guide utilizing multiple tuning sources
AssigneeGateway, Inc.
InventorTheodore David Wugofski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system, software and method capable of communicating with a device coupled to the system via a network such that the tuning capabilities of the device can be made available for access and control via the system's program guide through placement of the device's tuning capabilities as a channel selection on the system's program guide.
Claims19
A system, comprising:
- a network;
- an information handling system coupled to the network and comprising a processor and a display monitor;
- a first tuning device coupled directly to the information handling system and configured to send first television signals from a first source to the information handling device;
- a second tuning device coupled to the network and configured to send second television signals from a second source to the information handling device via the network;
- a memory of the information handling system suitable to store a program of instructions executable by said processor for producing an electronic program guide including first programming information for the first television signals and second programming information for the second television signals;
- and
- a first television display device configured to receive and display said electronic program guide.
A method of producing an electronic program guide, the method comprising:
- coupling an information handling system comprising a display monitor directly to a first tuning device configured to receive first television signals from a first source;
- connecting the information handling system to a network, wherein said network is connected to a second tuning device configured to receive second television signals from a second source;
- receiving, at the information handling system, first television signals from the first tuning device;
- receiving, at the information handling system, second television signals from the second tuning device, said second television signals being received via the network;
- generating an electronic program guide comprising first programming information for the first television signals and second programming information for the second television signals;
- and
- displaying the electronic program guide on a television display device in communication with the information handling system.
A machine readable program of instructions storable on an information handling system connected to a network, said program of instructions, upon being executed by the information handling system, results in activities comprising:
- receiving, at the information handling system, first television signals from a first tuning device;
- said information handling system comprising a display monitor and being directly coupled to the first tuning device;
- receiving, at the information handling system, second television signals from a second tuning device, said information handling system being communicatively connected to the second tuning device via the network;
- generating an electronic program guide comprising first programming information for the first television signals and second programming information for the second television signals;
- and
- displaying the electronic program guide on a television display device in communication with the information handling system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.