# US 8,274,609 B2 · Method of tuning according to varying length of key input and broadcast receiving apparatus using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,274,609 B2 - Document ID: US8274609B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/723,002 - Filed: 2007-03-15 - Published: 2008-04-24 - Granted: 2012-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-20 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jung-kil Park - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8274609B2 ## CPC - H03J 1/0025: {in a remote control unit (remote control tuning in general H03J9/00)} - H04N 21/42204: {User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor (constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205)} - H04N 21/42215: {by measuring the time interval during which a key is pressed, e.g. for inputting sequences of digits when selecting a television channel} - H04N 21/4383: {Accessing a communication channel} - H04N 21/4622: {Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet (web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859)} - H04N 5/50: Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control - H04N 21/42638: {involving a hybrid front-end, e.g. analog and digital tuners} - H03J: TUNING RESONANT CIRCUITS; SELECTING RESONANT CIRCUITS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Provided are a tuning method according to a variable key input length and a broadcast receiving apparatus using the tuning method. The tuning method includes: if it is determined that an input length of one of at least one or more key inputs is more than or equal to a predetermined time, tuning to a first type broadcast; and if it is determined that the input length is less than the predetermined time, tuning to a second type broadcast different from the first type broadcast. Thus, different types of broadcasts can be tuned according to a length of a key input performed by a user. As a result, a digital broadcast channel can be directly input using only a number key. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tuning method comprising: conducting a first tuning to a channel of a first type broadcast corresponding to a number key of one or more number keys if it is determined that an input time period of the number key of the one or more number keys is greater than or equal to a first predetermined time period; and conducting a second tuning to a channel of a second type broadcast corresponding to the number key of the one or more number keys if it is determined that the input time period of the number key is less than the first predetermined time period, wherein the first tuning comprises tuning to a major channel corresponding to a first number which is input through the number key in which the number key is activated for the input time period which is greater than or equal to the first predetermined time period. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tuning method of claim 1, wherein the first type broadcast comprises a digital broadcast. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the first tuning comprises tuning to one of minor channels of the major channel, which corresponds to a second number input through at least one of the number keys after the input of the first number. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the first tuning comprises tuning to a major channel which corresponds to a combination of a plurality of keys corresponding to a plurality of digits in which a key of the number keys corresponding to the last digit of the plurality of digits is activated for the input time period which is greater than or equal to the first predetermined time period. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tuning method of claim 4, wherein the first tuning comprises tuning to one of minor channels of the major channel, which corresponds to a second number input through at least one number key of the number keys, after the input of the first number. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the second type broadcast comprises an analog broadcast. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the first tuning comprises selecting from a list of minor channels in a screen to be displayed, wherein the minor channels belong to a major channel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tuning method of claim 7, wherein the list of minor channels comprises of at least a channel number and a channel name. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tuning method of claim 1, wherein the first type broadcast comprises one of terrestrial, cable, IPTV and satellite broadcasts, the second type broadcast comprises one of terrestrial, cable, and satellite broadcasts, and the first and the second type broadcast are different from each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The tuning method of claim 2, wherein a broadcast corresponding to a predetermined minor channel number of the major channel number is tuned if a timeout period elapses after the input of the first number by the user, the first number corresponding to the major channel number. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The tuning method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined minor channel number is the first minor channel number of the corresponding major channel number. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The tuning method of claim 2, wherein a broadcast corresponding to a predetermined minor channel number of the major channel number is tuned if the number key corresponding to the first number is input for a second predetermined time period. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The tuning method of claim 12, wherein the second predetermined time period is greater than the first predetermined time period. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the first predetermined time period is approximately one second. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The tuning method of claim 14, wherein the second predetermined time period is approximately two seconds. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The tuning method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined minor channel number is the first minor channel number of the corresponding major channel number. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The tuning method of claim 12, wherein the second predetermined time period is approximately two seconds. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The tuning method of claim 10, wherein the timeout period is approximately two seconds. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The tuning method of claim 1, wherein the tuning method is incorporated into a settop box. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The tuning method of claim 1, wherein the tuning method is incorporated into a television. ### Claim 21 (depends on 2) The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the first broadcast type is an IPTV broadcast and the second broadcast type is a digital broadcast type. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The tuning method of claim 21, wherein the second broadcast type is a terrestrial broadcast. ### Claim 23 (depends on 2) The tuning method of claim 2, wherein the first broadcast type is a terrestrial broadcast and the second broadcast type is a cable broadcast. ### Claim 24 A broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: a broadcast receiver which tunes to and receives a broadcast; and a controller which controls the broadcast receiver such that a channel of a first type broadcast corresponding to a number key of one or more number keys is tuned, if it is determined that an input time period of the number key of the one or more number keys is greater than or equal to a first predetermined time period, and a channel of a second type broadcast corresponding to the number key of the one or more number keys is tuned, if it is determined that the input time period of the number key is less than the first predetermined time period, wherein the second type broadcast is different from the first type broadcast, wherein the tuning of the channel of the first type broadcast comprises tuning to a major channel corresponding to a first number which is input through the number key in which the number key is activated for the input time period which is greater than or equal to the first predetermined time period. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first type broadcast comprises a digital broadcast. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 25, wherein the controller controls the broadcast receiver to tune to one of minor channels of the major channel, which corresponds to a second number input through at least one of the number keys after the input of the first number. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first tuning comprises tuning to a major channel which corresponds to a combination of a plurality of keys corresponding to a plurality of digits in which a key corresponding to the last digit of the plurality of digits is activated for a time period greater than or equal to the first predetermined time period. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 27, wherein the controller controls the broadcast receiver such that one of minor channels of the major channel, which corresponds to a second number input through at least one number key of the number keys, after the input of the first number is tuned. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 25, wherein the second type broadcast comprises an analog broadcast. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a combiner which processes such that a display information is overlapped on a screen to be displayed, and the controller controls the combiner such that the length of the key input time is overlapped on the screen, when the screen displays a list of minor channels belonging to the major channel corresponding to a number input through the number key for the time period which is greater than or equal to the predetermined time period. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 30, wherein the controller controls the broadcast receiver such that a minor channel, which is selected by a user from the list of minor channels, is tuned. ### Claim 32 (depends on 24) The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first type broadcast comprises one of terrestrial, cable, and satellite broadcasts, the second type broadcast comprises one of terrestrial, cable, and satellite broadcasts, and the first and the second type broadcast are different from each other. ### Claim 33 A tuning method comprising: receiving an input of a first number key of one or more number keys for a time period which is greater than or equal to a predetermined time period; displaying a minor channel list including minor channels belonging to a major channel corresponding to a first number input through the first number key in response to the receiving of the input of the first number key for the time period which is greater than or equal to the predetermined time period; receiving an input of a second number key of the one or more number keys after the input of the first number key; and tuning a minor channel corresponding to a second number input through the second number key, wherein the minor channel is selected from the minor channels. ### Claim 34 A tuning method comprising: determining a length of input time of a number key of one or more number keys; determining the input of the number key as a command to tune to a channel of a first type broadcast corresponding to the number key, if it is determined that the length of the input time of the number key is greater than or equal to a predetermined time period; and determining the input of the number key as a command to tune to a channel of a second type broadcast corresponding to the number key, the second type broadcast being different from the first type broadcast, if it is determined that the length of the input time of the number key is less than the predetermined time period, wherein the channel of the first type broadcast corresponds to a major channel and the channel of the second type broadcast corresponds to a miner channel. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The tuning method of claim 34, wherein the first type broadcast comprises a digital broadcast, and the second type broadcast comprises an analog broadcast. ### Claim 36 A tuning method comprising: determining a length of time that a first key of one or more keys is input; determining that the first key input is for inputting a major channel and displaying a minor channel list including minor channels belonging to a major channel corresponding to the first key, if it is determined that the first key is input for a time period which is greater than or equal to a predetermined time period; and tuning a minor channel corresponding to a second key of the one or more keys, wherein the minor channel is selected from the minor channels. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The tuning method according to claim 36, wherein the key input is a numerical input. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The tuning method according to claim 37, wherein the key input is a alphabetical character input. ### Claim 39 A tuning method comprising: determining whether an input length of a first number key is greater than or equal to a first predetermined time period; and displaying a major channel number corresponding to a number which is input through the first number key and a dash (-) key, if it is determined that the input length of the first number key is greater than or equal to the first predetermined time period. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The tuning method of claim 39, further comprising: displaying a minor channel number corresponding to a second number key besides the major channel number and the dash (-) key, if the second number key is input within a second predetermined time period after the first number key is input; and tuning a channel corresponding to the major channel which corresponds to the first number key and the minor channel which corresponds to the second number key. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The tuning method of claim 39, further comprising: tuning a representative minor channel fixed to a first minor channel of the major channel or a default channel among minor channels of the major channel, if any number key is not input within the second predetermined time period after the first key is input. ### Claim 42 A broadcast receiving apparatus comprising: a display unit; and a controller for controlling to display a major channel number corresponding to a number which is input through a first key and a dash (-) key, if an input length of the first key is greater than or equal to a first predetermined time period. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 42, wherein the controller controls to display a minor channel number corresponding to a second number key besides the major channel number and the dash (-) key, if the second number key is input within a second predetermined time period after the first number key is input and to tune a channel corresponding to the major channel which corresponds to the first number key and the minor channel which corresponds to the second number key. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The broadcast receiving apparatus of claim 42, wherein the controller controls to tune a representative minor channel fixed to a first minor channel of the major channel or a default channel among the minor channels of the major channel, if any number key is not input within the second predetermined time period after the first number key is input.