Patents Assigned to British Sky Broadcasting Limited
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Publication number: 20090087167Abstract: A media recording device automatically records selected broadcast programmes according to categories specified by the user, without requiring the user to specify in advance which programmes are to be recorded. The recorded programmes are then presented to the user for selection, and the selected programmes may be played back immediately or saved for later playback. Each broadcast programme may be allocated a priority, and the device may decide which programmes to record or delete according to their relative priority. For each broadcast programme, a corresponding visibility period may be specified, during which the programme can be selected for playback and is not deleted. There may be a delay between the broadcast of the programme and the beginning of its visibility period. An expiry time may be specified for each programme, after which the programme is deleted. There may be a delay between the end of the visibility period and the expiry time.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2006Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: Michele Seisun, Herve Murret-Labarthe, Steven Griffith
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Publication number: 20090049483Abstract: A receiver for television signals is arranged to receive video signals comprising video data and information data. The receiver is arranged to respond to viewer operation of a control device. The receiver includes a processor for processing selected information data to convert the same into signals representative thereof for output to a television in combination with the video signals. The receiver is arranged to respond to the information data to output for display data derived from said image data and said information data and representing an inter-active image. The receiver is responsive to viewer manipulation of the control device to vary the interactive image and to establish a telecommunications link to a remote site for on-line interaction via the interactive image between the viewer and the remote site. The interactive image may form part of an interactive services interface comprising a broadcast entry level and plural broadcast interactive levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2008Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING LIMITEDInventors: Christopher TOWNSEND, David HOLLIDAY, Robin CROSSLEY, Alun David WEBBER, Nicholas JAMES
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Publication number: 20090007185Abstract: A wireless network device (4), such as a wireless media centre, has orthogonally polarised antennas (6a, 6b) arranged to provide transmit and/or receive polarisation diversity. The antennas may be arranged so that their nulls do not coincide, to produce a combined antenna pattern with a low variation of gain with direction. The antennas may be collocated, but arranged orthogonally. Preferably, the combined antenna pattern is substantially omnidirectional in elevation as well as azimuth. This arrangement provides uniform coverage in a 3D environment. The transmitter may transmit data using polarisation-time block codes. A wireless receiver (10, 18) for use in the wireless network may have either one antenna or two orthogonally polarised antennas. The receiver (10, 18) applies maximal ratio combining to the received signals. The signals may be OFDM signals and the receiver applies maximal ratio combining independently to each frequency channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2005Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: Andrew R. Nix, Andrew George Lillie
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Patent number: 7389253Abstract: A receiver for television signals is arranged to receive video signals comprising video data and information data. The receiver is arranged to respond to viewer operation of a control device. The receiver includes a processor for processing selected information data to convert the same into signals representative thereof for output to a television in combination with the video signals. The receiver is arranged to respond to the information data to output for display data derived from said image data and said information data and representing an inter-active image. The receiver is responsive to viewer manipulation of the control device to vary the interactive image and to establish a telecommunications link to a remote site for on-line interaction via the interactive image between the viewer and the remote site. The interactive image may form part of an interactive services interface comprising a broadcast entry level and plural broadcast interactive levels.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2002Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: Christopher Townsend, David Holliday, Robin Crossley, Alun David Webber, Nicholas James
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Patent number: 7356828Abstract: A receiver for television signals is arranged to receive video signals comprising video data and information data. The receiver is arranged to respond to viewer operation of a control device (28). The receiver includes a processor (23) for processing selected information data to convert the same into signals representative thereof for output to a television in combination with the video signals. In one mode of operation the decoder responds to manipulation of the control device by causing brief scheduling information pertaining to programmes transmitted in the received signal to be displayed. In another mode of operation the receiver is arranged to display detailed scheduling information pertaining to plural different television signals. The receiver is operable to receive signals containing video data representing a plurality of video clips. The processor is arranged to process the signals and to cause simultaneous display of the clips on a television screen.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2003Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: Christopher Townsend, David Holliday, Robin Crossley, Alun David Webber
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Publication number: 20080060047Abstract: A receiver (3) for television signals has a primary video output (22a) connected to a primary TV (2a) and a secondary video output (22b) connected to a secondary TV (2b) at a remote location (42b). The receiver (3) can be controlled by an infrared remote control (28) either directly or from the remote location (42b) via a remote control extender (40). The primary TV (2a) may be a widescreen TV with a 16:9 picture format, while the secondary TV (2b) has a 4:3 picture format. The receiver (3) can output video signals suitable for either format, but must apply the same format to both the primary and secondary video outputs (22a, 22b). The receiver (3) detects whether control signals are arriving directly or via the remote control extender, and automatically selects the correct format. In another embodiment, a wireless audio base station (55) is connected to the receiver (3) for relaying audio signals and programme data to a wireless audio receiver (60).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2005Publication date: March 6, 2008Applicant: British Sky Broadcasting Limited Grant WayInventors: David Holliday, Ian Trimnell, Ben Freeman, Robin Crossley, Nicholas James
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Publication number: 20070077028Abstract: A Hard Disk Recorder (HDR) receives signals defining television programmes and programme schedule data. The HDR receives updated programme schedule data substantially constantly in a dedicated programme schedule data channel and outputs this data for display on a television screen. The HDR comprises a hard disk for recording programmes. A remote control selects programmes for recording from the displayed schedule. The HDR also receives schedule information included in each of the received television channels which information is used to control the hard disk to record pre-programmed programmes. The hard disk can simultaneously record two different television programmes received in different channels and to replay a currently broadcast programme offset in time. The HDR also receives transition signals indicating transitions between parts of programmes, such as advertisements and the “actual” programmes, which can be used to skip between transitions in recorded programmes replayed from the hard disk.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2006Publication date: April 5, 2007Applicant: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: Nigel Bodkin, Xavier Willame, Robin Crossley, Nick James
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Patent number: 6661373Abstract: The present invention relates to an antenna alignment meter which comprises a receiver for detecting a signal with predetermined characteristics and outputting data pertaining to the detection of the signal, and a controller responsive to the data from the receiver for controlling generation of an indicator that signal has been received. The meter can be used for aligning an antenna with a signal source. The meter is arranged to monitor signals received by the antenna and to provide an indication of correct alignment of the antenna with a desired signal source when a signal of a predetermined frequency, polarization, symbol rate and error correction is received.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2001Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventor: David Holliday
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Patent number: 6501514Abstract: A receiver for television signals is arranged to receive video signals comprising video data and information data. The receiver is arranged to respond to viewer operation of a control device (28). The receiver includes a processor (23) for processing selected information data to convert the same into signals representative thereof for output to a television in combination with the video signals. In one mode of operation the decoder responds to manipulation of the control device by causing brief scheduling information pertaining to programmes transmitted in the received signal to be displayed. In another mode of operation the receiver is arranged to display detailed scheduling information pertaining to plural different television signals. The receiver is operable to receive signals containing video data representing a plurality of video clips. The processor is arranged to process the signals and to cause simultaneous display of the clips on a television screen.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 1999Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: Christopher Townsend, David Holliday, Robin Crossley, Alun David Webber
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Patent number: D519487Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2004Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventor: Jonathan Arnold Manley Knight
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Patent number: D533164Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2005Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: Jonathan Arnold Manley Knight, Zoltan Radivojevic
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Patent number: D533165Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2005Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: Jonathan Arnold Manley Knight, Zoltan Radivojevic
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Patent number: D566065Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: James Whittaker, Andrew Shi-Yuan Wong, Robert Curtis
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Patent number: D566667Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: James Whittaker, Andrew Shi-Yuan Wong, Robert Curtis
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Patent number: D566668Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: James Whittaker, Andrew Shi-Yuan Wong, Robert Curtis
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Patent number: D584253Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2008Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: James Whittaker, Andrew Shi-Yuan Wong, Robert Curtis
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Patent number: D596634Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2007Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: British Sky Broadcasting LimitedInventors: Andrew Wong, Dieter Schwarz