Thomson Consumer Electronics Inc.

Thomson Licensing S.a.

Sung J Kim

John H Furrey

Alfred J Schick

Hans-Joachim Platte

Joseph Craig Engle

Jesse Edward Herzberg

Robert Harold Metcalfe

Phillip Russell Mullis

A video recording and playback device has a control track recorder for recording a control track signal including timing edges recorded on a tape or other storage medium together with the video program. A decoder is coupled to the control track signal and to the tape drive for switching among a forward play mode, a forward skip mode and a rewind mode, as a function of play, skip and rewind codes inserted into the control track as phase variations of edges other than those used for timing, or preferably as pulses with sloping edges distinct from the timing edges. In addition to selectively skipping sections of the video program preceded by a skip code and followed by a play code, such as commercial breaks, the device permits user editing of play and skip codes and selective multiple replays of sections of the video program preceded by a play code and followed by a rewind code. Replay can be continuous or for a predetermined number of replays, encoded in the control track signal with the play, skip or rewind codes. The play, skip and rewind codes and/or the number of play repetitions are user editable from an on screen menu for changing the content to be presented during a later playback.

Video replay automation with manual control track editing

A VCR includes apparatus for controlling a cable converter unit. In a preferred embodiment, infrared (IR) transmission of commands from the VCR to the cable converter unit is employed. An LED assembly holds the LEDs in a predetermined orientation and provides first and second IR ports through which different amounts of IR signals are transmitted.

IR led assembly for VCR control of a cable converter unit

Video recording and playback apparatus

A VCR includes circuitry for controlling a cable converter unit, circuitry for detecting the presence of a television signal, and control code transmission circuitry for remotely controlling a cable converter unit. Advantageously, because the VCR is coupled to the output of the cable converter unit, the VCR can monitor the television signals received from the cable converter unit to ensure that commands sent to the cable converter unit from the VCR are executed. It is herein recognized that a skip list programmed into a VCR may be used by the VCR to control a cable box. That is, in response to a channel up command received by the VCR, the VCR would not change channels itself, but rather controls the cable box to select the next preferred channel entered in the skip list of the VCR. In this mode of operation, the channel tuning keys (e.g., CHAN UP, CHAN DN) of the VCR remote control are used to control an external source of signals, while the VCR mechanism control keys (e.g., PLAY, STOP, RECORD, FAST FORWARD) control the operation of the VCR. It is further recognized that those portions of the VCR concerned with channel tuning should receive power from the standby power supply normally provided for powering the IR receiver.

VCR control of a cable converter unit

A VCR includes circuitry for controlling a cable converter unit, circuitry for detecting the presence of a television signal, and control code transmission circuitry for remotely controlling a cable converter unit. Advantageously, because the VCR is coupled to the output of the cable converter unit, the VCR can monitor the television signals received from the cable converter unit to ensure that commands sent to the cable converter unit from the VCR are executed. It is herein recognized that a skip list programmed into a VCR may be used by the VCR to control a cable box. That is, in response to a channel up command received by the VCR, the VCR would not change channels itself, but rather controls the cable box to select the next preferred channel entered in the skip list of the VCR. In this mode of operation, the channel tuning keys (e.g., CHAN UP, CHAN DN) of the VCR remote control are used to control an external source of signals, while the VCR mechanism control keys (e.g., PLAY, STOP, RECORD, FAST FORWARD) control the operation of the VCR.

VCE control of a cable converter unit

Apparatus in accordance with the subject invention controls a cable box (i.e., the source of its own video input signals), and monitors the television signals received from the cable box, in a 'closed loop' manner. By monitoring an appropriate signal the controller of the VCR can detect perturbations of signal level which indicate that the cable box has changed channels. It is herein recognized that such an appropriate signal can be taken across the filter capacitor of a either sync or AGC portions of a video processor of the VCR.

Detector circuit for use in a VCR

A VCR controls a cable box, and monitors television signals received from the cable box in a 'closed loop' manner. By monitoring an appropriate signal the controller of the VCR can detect perturbations of signal level which indicate that the cable box has changed channels. That is, the output signal of the cable box remodulated on, for example, the RF carrier frequency of channel 3, will be momentarily lost during the period in which the cable box changes channels. Thus, the subject apparatus can automatically determine the proper control code format for the cable box by issuing a channel change command and observing if the cable box responds to the channel change command. In one embodiment of the invention the VCR causes an on-screen display of an error message if it determines that it is unable to control the cable box.

Automatic detection of kind of cable converter unit coupled to a VCR

A VCR controls a cable box, and monitors television signals received from the cable box in a 'closed loop' manner. By monitoring an appropriate signal the controller of the VCR can detect perturbations of signal level which indicate that the cable box has changed channels. That is, the output signal of the cable box remodulated on, for example, the RF carrier frequency of channel 3, will be momentarily lost during the period in which the cable box changes channels. Thus, the subject apparatus can determine if the cable box is 'off' or 'on' by issuing a channel change command and observing if the cable box responds to the channel change command. In one embodiment of the invention the VCR causes an on-screen display of an error message if it determines that it is unable to control the came box.

On/off control of a cable converter unit by a VCR

A VCR includes circuitry for controlling a cable converter unit, circuitry for detecting the presence of a television signal, and control code transmission means for remotely controlling a cable converter unit. Advantageously, because the VCR is coupled to the output of the cable converter unit, the VCR can monitor the television signals received from the cable converter unit to ensure that commands sent to the cable converter unit from the VCR are executed. In one embodiment, infrared (IR) transmission of commands from the VCR to the cable converter unit is employed.

Growing community of inventors

Fishers, IN, United States of America

Sung J Kim