DE29880173U1 - Device for transmitting data from a plurality of data sources to a plurality of receivers - Google Patents

Description

Patent Attorneys ■ Königstraße 28 ■ D-22767 Hamburg

DIEHL · GLAESER HILTL & PARTNERS

21.06.00 F. 33305/00 Gl /th

GLAESER-HILTL CIVIL LAW COMPANY

Joachim W. Glaeser
Dr. Elmar HiItI*

Graduate engineer Graduate chemist

Patent Attorneys · European Patent Attorneys European Trademark Attorneys
HAMBURG MUNICH*

Office: Königstraße 28

D-22767 Hamburg

Force Electronics A/S
DK-940 0 Nærresundby

Telephone { Telephone (0 4.8) 39t£ J3-J4 >"Cefekcfcierer:/ FScsintileHO 4C? 330 92 88

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Device for transmitting data from a plurality of data sources to a plurality of receivers

The present invention relates to a device designed to receive, store and display data from a plurality of data sources.

For many years, teletext pages have been linked to individual television channels, which means that when a user wants to view a teletext page, he must then tune his television receiver to the relevant television channel and then activate "TTV" on his remote control so that the pages are displayed on a television screen.

Since each channel has a number of teletext pages that the user can select, it is necessary to enter the number of the page that one wishes to view using the remote control. However, the various teletext pages are transmitted together with the television programme in a priority order, which means that it takes a certain amount of time, sometimes quite a long time, before it is possible to view the desired teletext page. This problem has been solved by storing a large number of teletext pages so that the user has quicker access to the individual pages.

It can also be irritating that channel switching is required to find teletext pages from other providers' TV channels, for example when

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for an overview of the programs broadcast on the individual television channels.

It will therefore be a great advantage if teletext pages from several television channels could be coordinated so that information on a large number of teletext pages from different providers could be displayed simultaneously. It is also interesting that the user can individually combine these as desired.

European patent application No. 0 253 110 discloses a teletext decoder with a memory for storing a plurality of teletext pages transmitted by a number of television providers, e.g. via satellite, or by private broadcasters. The user can then generate a screen image via remote control showing an overview of the position and name of the individual channels. This page is formed on the basis of the channel name present on the teletext pages of the individual channel. The application therefore does not describe a solution in which an individual combination of several different teletext pages is displayed simultaneously.

The publication WO 95/26608 relates to a system in which information is transmitted as machine-readable data in a special format. Therefore, although the teletext data packets are used as a transparent layer, the format is different from the normal data format used for teletext for display on the screen and is therefore not readable by a classical teletext presentation unit. Consequently, the publication assumes the transmission of data packets with

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a comprehensive programme listing which data packets are carried in a service channel between the data signals used to deliver the teletext page information. The publication does not address the inclusion of programme listings in respect of channels for which the respective programme listings have not been included in a single comprehensive listing transmitted in the electronic data packet format. Therefore, the content of the programme listing is limited to what is actually available from at least one individual broadcaster. This is a strict practical limitation since there are many satellite channels available today whose respective programme listings are not available in the particular format.

US Patent 5,517,254 discloses an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1. In this apparatus, a program table displaying device is designed to display a program table for a plurality of programs on a single display. This publication proposes searching for program table information sequentially in a number of channels. The program table on the screen comprises a table with program listings of three channels occupying respective columns. The user can select programs which are then listed in a column of user selections. The publication proposes periodic retrieval of program table information broadcast by stations using teletext transmission. The data processing comprises compressing the

Font size on Yi the font size of the usual teletext transmission.

In the US patent, the complete listings on the screen are contained in a compressed format, namely ¹ A of the text size normally used. The user will have to scroll through extensive lists of small print program information to make his selections. No means are suggested for reducing the mass of information that must be retrieved or displayed on the screen during updating.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to improve the facilities for teletext users, thereby in particular eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages of the known systems.

The object of the invention is achieved by providing the device of the general type identified above with the features according to the characterizing part of claim 1.

This gives individual users the opportunity to use the stored data individually. They can then combine data that contains information that is only of interest to them.

By specifying an individual combination of data, information about the specific combination of data is stored, and information about the individual combination of data is retrieved to display the individual combination of data.

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In this way, the combination of data will be available more quickly, other things being equal, since the user does not have to specify the individual combination of data each time the information should be used.

By relying on data transmitted by the channels of a plurality of television providers in the form of teletext pages, data is used which is generally supplied by the respective television providers in connection with the television signal, although not always in any standardised form.

The simultaneous display of parts of several teletext pages on the television receiver screen enables the user to obtain a fairly good overview of the program options available, for example, right now, even when it is possible to receive a very large number of television channels.

If, as stated in claim 2, the storage in the television receivers is carried out by querying the data sources, which is carried out repeatedly, the users will always have the possibility to view the most recently updated data.

To further increase user friendliness, it is an advantage as set out in claim 3 that the screen image includes a sub-area with a menu containing a plurality of graphical function keys for use in individually displaying data combinations.

This makes it possible to sort and search the stored data in an individual way.

For more individual user-specific operations, it is an advantage as set out in claim 4 that, for example, when a graphical function key shows "All Day", at least some of the graphical function keys cause the display of an additional menu with a variety of special functions.

This makes it possible to provide search criteria for the teletext pages, giving unprecedented flexibility.

If, as stated in claim 12, a recording device for storing images or image sequences such as a video device is connected to the television receiver, which may be of the VHS type or CD/DVD type, it is advantageous if the television receiver is such that control signals can be transmitted from the television receiver to a video timer in the video device and that this process takes place automatically.

This allows easy programming of the video device to record television signals from various television channels without having to initiate an extensive procedure as is known with the video programming devices found in known video devices.

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Therefore, the user marks one or more programs on the screen using the graphic function keys, after which the video device is activated for recording and/or reproduction on the television receiver.

The required recording time for the marked programs can be displayed on the screen, which means that the user can check whether there is sufficient recording capacity on the video receiver.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing, in which

Fig. 1 shows a structure of ordinary television equipment;
Fig. 2 illustrates the structure of a data acquisition unit;

Fig. 3a shows a flow chart for querying the individual channels;

Fig. 3b shows how data is retrieved from teletext or digital channels;

Fig. 4 shows an example of teletext pages and the filtering thereof in connection with a subsequent recording of data for the formation of an individual combination;

Fig. 5-8 show examples of the display of teletext pages according to the invention on the screen of a television receiver;

Fig. 9 shows a screen image where programs to be recorded are marked, and

Fig. 10 shows a screen with status functions for a video timer built into a video device.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, a television system 1 consists of a television set 2 which is connected to a receiver 4 according to the invention and a video device 3.

As can be seen, an antenna, shown here as a VHF antenna 9, is connected to the television receiver 2 via a cable 5 on the video device 3, from which television signals are transmitted to the television device via the plug 6. In addition, a receiver 4, shown here as a satellite receiver, is connected to the television device 2 and the video device 4, respectively, the connection to the television receiver 2 and the video device 3 being made by means of scart cables 7, 8. Furthermore, two parabolic reflectors 10, 11 are shown for the receiver, which are set to receive satellite channels. Of course, nothing prevents the connection of more parabolic reflectors than the two shown in Fig. 1.

When using the above-mentioned television system, for example, there is a large number of channels that can be received. It is interesting to have an overview of the program transmission on the individual channels. It is therefore of interest to have information on several

channels into an overview that is specific to the individual user. In addition, the user can save his individual combinations so that they can be used again and do not have to be specified before each use.

Fig. 2 illustrates the recording unit for recording data from a variety of data sources. The recording unit comprises a receiver 202. This receiver 202 can be connected to data sources, e.g. the television network, the Internet or other sources which contain information about the program transmissions on the individual television channels, e.g. in the form of so-called home pages on the Internet or on teletext pages. The receiver 202 is connected to a channel database 203. The channel database 203 comprises data which describes the channels/Internet pages to be tuned to and from which data is subsequently to be retrieved. When the receiver 202 has been tuned to receive a given channel/Internet page, the channel information is filtered by a filter 204. The filter 204 ensures that only the data relating to program transmissions by the individual television channels passes through the filter. This filtering depends on the channel to be filtered, and filter criteria stored in the channel database 203 are specific to the individual channel. The data passing through the filter is then stored in the program database 205.

The type of information that can be stored, for example, in the channel database 203 or the program database 205 is shown in the two tables below.

Table 1 Table 2

Channel data bank Channel ID Update time Data type Filter criteria Channel time zone

Checkbox

Channel name and number Broadcast time Category Program message References, if available Additional information, if available

Table 1 shows the data stored in the channel database 203, which has a channel ID used to link the subsequent information to the individual channel. The update time is used to tell the receiver 202 when to tune to the channel in question and update the program information. The update is done repeatedly, this can e.g. be done every third time or every time the data source is updated. This time is individual for the individual channel and in the case where teletext is the data source, the program information on DR2 can e.g. be updated at 5 p.m. and TV3 already at 2 a.m. Data type indicates the data type and is used in conjunction with teletext to indicate which teletext pages are to be read. The filter criteria are used for the filter so that only the required information passes through the filter and e.g. display a message.

which lines of the teletext page, for example, contain relevant information. The time zone of the individual channels is stored and is used in the situation where the programme information comes from a channel with a time zone different to the time zone in which the information is to be presented. Finally, there is a check box that can be and is checked. The box is checked when an update has been carried out and is checked when a new update day begins. It is thus possible to keep track of which channels are being updated.

Table 2 shows the data stored in the program database 205. The program database 205 is arranged to associate some descriptive data with a given broadcast. Channel name and number are used for the user to identify the channel on which the named program is being broadcast. Time indicates when the program starts and in this connection the time zone of the channel database is acted upon to correct for time zones. Category indicates which category the program belongs to, comedy, tragedy, etc. Also stored is a message of the individual program, references, if any, to the individual program, as well as a link to other programs, and finally space has been allocated for storing additional relevant information.

Fig. 3a shows a flow chart showing how the individual channel is updated. In step 301,

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the system is initialised, which means that the channel database is filled as described above. Therefore, information is stored about which channels are to be queried and which information items are to be queried on each channel. The channel name and its update time are thus stored in the channel database and the channel database is searched in step 3 02. The channel with the update time closest to the actual time is the next to be updated. Step 3 03 involves waiting for the current time to match the update time and in step 3 04 data is retrieved from the channel which had the first update time. After the channel has been updated an update marker is provided for the relevant channel in the channel database, after which step 3 02 is returned to. In one embodiment a preferred time period, e.g. 24 hours, has been encoded, once this time has elapsed all update markers associated with the individual channels in the channel database are removed and a new update period can begin.

Fig. 3b illustrates the downloading of data in the case where the received data originates from either teletext or digital television. It is checked in 305 on the basis of the information in the channel database whether the data to be downloaded from the channel originates from teletext. If this is the case, switching to the teletext pages relevant according to the channel database is carried out in step 306, followed by waiting until the page is ready. The relevant according to the channel database

Lines are retrieved in step 3 07 and these are stored in step 3 08. Finally, the channel is marked as updated in step 3 09. If it is not teletext, it must be digital television and step 310 switches to the relevant channel. Data from a data stream is filtered in step 311 and in 312 and 313 the information is stored and the channel is marked as updated respectively.

Fig. 4 illustrates the collection of program data from a plurality of teletext pages. It has been previously defined on which lines the information of interest is located. Information, such as advertisements and other information, is sorted. The data is collected by the collector unit 401 and is used for subsequent user-defined presentation of data. This user-defined presentation of data is accomplished by the user transmitting control signals to the collector unit. The control signals may, for example, come from a control panel that can communicate with the collector unit. The control signals may be IR signals or other forms of signals.

Fig. 5 shows a first example of the display of a teletext page consisting of data collected by the collecting unit according to the invention.

This teletext page is the result of the processing of data collected by the collecting unit, e.g. in a television receiver.

As will be seen, this teletext page consists of three sub-areas 501, 502, 503. These sub-areas are formed by a display area 502, see also Fig. 5, a function area 503 and an area 501 showing television channels, here shown as TV3 Denmark. In the case concerned, the function has been set to the "Now Showing" function and, as will be seen, in the area 501 it is shown that TV3 Denmark is showing a program entitled "Magnum", shown at 504, at 16.05.

Fig. 6 shows a picture corresponding to that of Fig. 5, where the function key "Next" shown at 601 is activated, which means that TV3 Denmark shows the program "Picki Lake" as the next program.

Fig. 7 shows another possible function, where for TV3 it is shown which programs are broadcast in the evening, as can be seen in figure 701, and the programs broadcast in the period from 19:00 to 03:05 are shown.

The functions in the area 503 shown in Figs. 5-7 are shown in an overall view in Fig. 8, in which the numerous options for selecting programs shown at 801 in the function area 501 are present.

Although the foregoing has been explained in connection with the display of teletext pages from a single program, here TV3 Denmark, there is of course nothing to prevent a listing of several television programs in the left column in area 501. At the same time, different programs from different channels can be displayed through the

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display unit 502, and the programs will, of course, be marked by a text indicating the channel to which the program belongs.

The screen image of Fig. 8 is shown again in Fig. 9, but here with an additional facility that allows marking of the individual programs. This is shown with the marked programs 901, 902 and 903 in the form of a "*" on the display unit 502. This marking is used to transfer information from the teletext page in Fig. 9 to the programs of Fig. 10 shown in the screen image of a video timer. As will additionally be seen in Fig. 10, the screen image 1001 shows the reservation of three programs requiring a total recording time of 1 hour and 25 minutes, which assists a user in checking whether there is sufficient recording time to record all the programs.

Although the invention has been explained in connection with a preferred embodiment of the invention, nothing prevents it from including other options within the scope of the claims, such as proper searching of programs by means of the so-called keyword technique, which for example allows to list programs within a given theme, e.g. "sports" or more specifically "football".

Claims (12)

1. Apparatus adapted to receive, store and display data, comprising means for receiving control signals by which a user can define a combination of television channels and a presentation of data, means for storing data, and display means for displaying data, characterized in that it further comprises means for periodically initiating a poll of a plurality of television channels to collect updated teletext pages transmitted by a plurality of television providers, and means for coordinating portions of information from the plurality of teletext pages so as to provide a user-defined presentation of data including the simultaneous display on the display means of portions of information collected from a plurality of teletext pages. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for initiating the query of data channels is designed to initiate a repeated channel setting of a television receiver for receiving teletext pages from data sources according to the user-defined combination of television channels. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the display is designed to display a screen image containing a sub-area with a menu containing a plurality of graphic function keys ( 503 ) for use in individually displaying the combinations of data. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that when activated, at least some of the graphic function keys, e.g. a graphic function key displaying "whole day", causes a display of a further menu ( 801 ) with a plurality of special functions. 5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means for transmitting control signals from the television receiver (e.g. 4) to a video timer in a video device connected to the television receiver, which video device comprises a VHS-type or CD-type recording device for storing images or image sequences. 6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises - a channel database designed to store descriptive information relating to a plurality of channels, - means for querying data channels to receive channel information from selected channels, - means for filtering the channel information according to descriptive information relating to the respective channels, and - a program database for storing the filtered channel information. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the means for filtering the channel information comprises means for retrieving data from teletext pages or lines on teletext pages which are relevant to the respective channel. 8. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the means for querying data channels comprises means for retuning a television receiver for receiving channel information. 9. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the channel database comprises means for storing time zone information relating to the channel. 10. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the channel database comprises means for storing the channel update time. 11. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the means for querying data channels is arranged to query the data channels according to update time information relating to specific channels. 12. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises means designed to receive and store teletext pages, e.g. from satellite channels, VHF/UHF channels and/or channel-distributed television channels.