Thomson Consumer Electronics Inc.

Rca Licensing Corporation

Openglobe, Inc.

Douglas M Keenan

Scott A Jones

A low-cost library management solution for consumer music selection systems. A multiple CD changer includes non-volatile storage for textual title and track information about the CDs in the changer. Also included is a communication device that communicates with a remote database to obtain the textual information. Instead of using a modem or an ISDN terminal adapter, the communication device uses a DTMF generator/detector to communicate with a front-end processor of the remote database using DTMF signals, or uses a conventional serial or parallel interface to communicate with an external device connected to the Internet that transmits queries formulated by the changer to the remote database and provides the response to the changer.

Playback device having text display and communication with remote database of titles

A television receiver provides a 'favorite channel' selection function for up to ten favorite channels without the addition of a dedicated array of keys. According to the present invention, a user holds-down a digit key for an extended period of time (preferably 3 seconds), and circuitry in the television receiver interprets this 'extended keypress' as an instruction to tune favorite channel 'N' where 'N' corresponds to the digit key pressed. Two digit channel entry can be accomplished as usual by releasing the digit keys in less than the extended period of time (i.e., less than three seconds). An extended keypress of a CHANNEL UP or CHANNEL DOWN key is interpreted as a command to store the currently tuned channel in the favorite channel memory in the location specified by the number of the next digit key pressed. CHANNEL UP and CHANNEL DOWN functions can be accomplished as usual by releasing the CHANNEL UP or CHANNEL DOWN key in less than the extended period of time (i.e., less than three seconds). Alternatively, a separate MEMORY key may be employed for storing favorite channel information. Pressing the MEMORY key serves as a command to store the current channel in the favorite channel memory location identified by the next digit key pressed.

Favorite channel selection using extended keypress

In a television receiver including a plurality of RF input terminals, each of which has a respective scan list, a controller links the lists to form a single scan list with a single wrap-around point, and separates the linked list into separately accessible scan lists in response to a user-entered command. As the user scans through the channels and changes from one linked scan list to another, the appropriate RF input connector is automatically selected.

Linkable scan lists for a television receiver

In a television receiver including a plurality of RF input terminals, each of which having a respective scan list, and each scan list having an associated Last Tuned Channel register, and having a common Current Channel register, there is provided a Previous Channel and RF Input register. The Previous Channel and RF Input register and the Current Channel register both hold tuning information and RF input terminal information which allow retuning of a formerly tuned channel regardless of which RF input provides the signal for that channel. In one embodiment of the invention, the scan lists are linked providing an easy way to scan through the channels of all scan lists, and an easy return to a previously tuned channel from any RF input via operation of a Previous Channel (PC) key.

Previous channel feature in a television receiver having multiple RF

In a television receiver including a plurality of RF input terminals, each of which having a respective scan list, the channel numbers of respective scan lists are displayed in respective colors to indicate to the viewer which RF input terminal and associated scan list is selected. In one embodiment of the invention, the RF input terminals and the antenna selection keys of a user-operable keyboard are color-coded to correspond to the color-coded channel numbers.

Color-coded system for selection of RF input terminals and associated

A controller copies a single subroutine from a ROM memory into a RAM memory and modifies the subroutine to enable it to access all locations of a number of irregularly sized matrices by changing the addresses contained in the subroutine in accordance with a list of addresses stored in ROM.

Apparatus and method for addressing memory

A channel number data entry system for a television receiver employing a numeric keyboard allows the selection of cable channels having channel numbers greater than 99, without the use of a separate ENTER or 100s key. Specifically, if the leading digit of a desired channel number is a number one, a measurement is made of the time interval during which the number one key is activated. If the measured time interval exceeds 2 seconds, then a three digit channel entry mode is enabled. If the measured time interval does not exceed 2 seconds, then a two digit channel entry mode is enabled. In both modes, the desired channel is tuned upon receipt of the final digit of the channel number.

Three digit channel entry by use of an extended keypress

A multi-brand universal remote control handunit stores compressed device control codes to make efficient use of the available memory space. In addition to storing data pointers to pairs of pulse off and pulse burst components of a transmission, the memory also stores data indicative of several characteristics of transmissions within a given brand of device to be controlled.

Growing community of inventors

Noblesville, IN, United States of America

Douglas M Keenan