Sony Electronics Inc

Other

Sony Corportion

Tadashi Kajiwara

Noriko Kotabe

Fujio Noguchi

Takashi Otani

Kazuhiko Akaike

Setsuko Watanabe Blaszkowski

Richard Gioscia

Mark A Schaffer

Peter G Jordan

Gail Karen White

An innovative but easy line guide is provided to provide the user of a multiple channel television broadcast system a wealth of programming information in a simple format that is easy to understand. The guide enables the user to easily select a particular program to watch. In e particular, the system provides an innovative mechanism to enable the user to scan program information of channels that the user has designated as his favorite channels. A button is provided that is designated as &ldquo;favorite&rdquo;. When the user is in a broadcast guide and selects the button, the system responds by displaying program information regarding the favorite stations at the top of the guide. Thus, the user sees at the top of the list the current programming with respect to his favorite stations, followed by program information for the remaining stations.

Method and apparatus for providing favorite station and programming information in a multiple station broadcast system

In a receiver for a DBS (direct broadcasting satellite) system, a method of implementing multi-dwelling reception and normal reception. The method is implemented in receiver. The receiver of the present invention is capable of setting itself up for use with a DBS antenna unit and LNB without any intervention from the user. The present invention automatically configures itself for operation with either right-hand circular polarized signals or left-hand circular polarized signals as received from the antenna unit and LNB. The DBS system includes an antenna unit for receiving the DBS signal from the DBS satellite. The DBS signal is converted to a DBS IF (intermediate frequency) signal and is coupled to the receiver. The receiver receives the DBS IF signal and detects whether the IF signal is in a multi-dwelling format or a normal format by tuning to an upper band of the IF signal. If the multidwelling format is detected, the receiver configures itself for multi-dwelling reception. If the normal format is detected, the receiver configures itself for normal reception. The steps of receiving the DBS IF signal, detecting whether the IF signal is in a multi-dwelling format or a normal format, and configuring for multi-dwelling reception or normal reception are performed by the receiver automatically such that the receiver properly configures itself for operation without user intervention.

Self configuring multi-dwelling satellite receiver system

An innovative but easy to use on-line guide is provided to provide the user of a multiple channel television broadcast system a wealth of programming information in a simple format that is easy to understand. The guide enables the user to easily select a particular program to watch. In particular, when the guide is presented to the user, the guide covers only a portion of the actual television screen or display. The remaining portion of the television screen continues to broadcast the audio and video of the currently selected program. As a user scans through the guide and moves the pointer from one station to another, the system responds by automatically tuning to the channel pointed to by the pointer and provides the audio and displays the video in the portion of the screen not covered by the guide. Thus, the user can easily get an idea of the broadcast on a particular station without exiting the guide and without expressly selecting a particular channel. Furthermore, a written description of the program currently broadcasted on a station that the cursor currently points to is also shown. Thus, the user is provided the audio and video of a particular program as well as a written description of the program and the ability to easily preview another station broadcasting another program simply by moving the pointer. Once the user determines that a particular station is to be viewed, the user simply indicates selection by depressing the corresponding key on the receiver or remote control device which then functions to remove the guide. If the viewer exits the guide without selection of a station, the system automatically tunes back to the station that the system was tuned to at the time the guide was entered.

Method and apparatus for providing station and programming information

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Tadashi Kajiwara