Index Systems, Inc.

Gemstar Developement Corporation

Yee Kong Ng

Roy J Mankovitz

Daniel S Kwoh

Henry C Yuen

Elsie Y Leung

Hing Y Ngai

Carl Hindman

Philip W Chan

Kwong Sang Sin

Apparatus and methods are provided for controlling recording of video programs. In one embodiment an apparatus for controlling the recording of video programs includes a device for retrieving a recorder identifier and recorder programming data from a television signal received from a television signal source, a device for determining whether the retrieved recorder identifier matches a first identifier for the apparatus, a device for storing the recorder programming data, if the retrieved recorder identifier matches the first identifier for the apparatus, and a device for using the stored recorder programming data to control recording. The device for retrieving a recorder identifier and recorder programming data from a television signal includes a vertical blanking interval decoder.

Apparatus and methods for downloading recorder programming data in a video signal

Operation of a video cassette player is facilitated by providing a VBI decoder which decodes information, such as title, channel, date, time and length of broadcast programs and utilizing the information in providing directory of the programs as well as control of the VCR. The video cassette player is also provided with a VBI encoder for inserting control as well as directory information into the tape, either in the VBI portions of the video track or in the control track.

Enhancing operations of video tape cassette players

Methods and apparatus are provided for generating codes for controlling appliances from a remote controller. One method includes the steps of entering a compressed pointer for accessing a stored protocol and for accessing stored key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller, decompressing the entered pointer, and storing the decompressed pointer, entering a compressed protocol for generating codes for controlling an appliance, the protocol comprising a pattern fragment for a zero and a one, a zero timing, a one timing, and a carrier frequency, decompressing the entered protocol, storing the decompressed protocol, entering compressed key data, the key data corresponding to appliance command keys on the remote controller, decompressing the entered key data, storing the decompressed key data, accessing the protocol and the key data using the pointer, and generating a code using the pattern fragment for a zero and a one, the zero timing, the one timing, the carrier frequency, and the key data.

Apparatus and methods for generating codes for controlling appliances from a remote controller

A method for recording on video tape and indexing programs carried by a television signal. The title of some, but not all, of the programs is embedded real time in the television signal. A video tape cassette is loaded in a VCR for recording. A data file corresponding to a plurality of television program listings is stored in memory. The data file includes the channel and start time of each program listing, and the title if available. The program listings are displayed on a video monitor. One of the displayed program listings is selected for recording. The data corresponding to the program listing selected for recording is transferred from the data file to a VCR recording stack so the VCR records the program represented by the program listing selected for recording. A directory of programs recorded on the video tape, including program titles and tape locations, is created. If the title of the program being recorded is embedded real time in the television signal, it is added to the directory as the program title. If the title of the program being recorded is not embedded real time in the television signal, the title from the data file corresponding to the program listing selected for recording is added to the directory as the program title. The tape location of the video tape in the VCR at the beginning of the recording of the program represented by the program listing selected for recording is measured and added to the directory.

Method of adding titles to a directory of television programs recorded

Identifier generation and remote programming for individually

Apparatus and methods are provided for measuring an address in time between the beginning of the tape on the reel and the current location along a recording tape wound around a hub of a reel. A method for measuring an address in time between the beginning of the tape on the reel and the current location along a recording tape wound around a hub of a reel comprises the steps of measuring a single rotational period of the reel near a first location along the recording tape being represented as Tp, storing a single rotational period of the reel when the radius of the tape on the reel is approximately the same as the radius of the reel hub being represented as To, storing a differential period between one rotational period of the reel and the next rotational period of the reel as the recording tape is wound around or unwound from the reel being represented as dT, and deriving from Tp, To and dT, an address in time from the beginning of the tape to the first location on the tape by calculating a value Tc corresponding to Tc=(Tp02-To02)/(2 * dT). A method is also provided for measuring a start address for a program recorded on a recording tape wound around a hub of a reel as the program is recorded by measuring a single rotational period of the supply reel near a start of the recording of the program.

Method and apparatus for determining addresses in time along a recording

Apparatus and methods are provided for encrypting and decrypting information having a header portion and a body portion. The decrypting method includes the steps of reading a current month from a clock, extracting an odd/even month indication from the header portion, generating a first key based on the current month if the odd/even indication is odd and the current month is odd or if the odd/even indication is even and the current month is even, otherwise generating the first key based on a month previous to the current month read from the clock if the odd/even indication is odd and the current month is even or if the odd/even indication is even and the current month is odd, and using the first key for decrypting the encrypted body portion to generate a decrypted body portion.

Growing community of inventors

Hong Kong, China

Yee Kong Ng