Abstract: There is provided a digital broadcasting receiver capable of making channel selection without making a user conscious of the difference between a physical channel number and a virtual channel number. A CPU uses an OSD display circuit, for example, to display a menu screen, and causes a user to select either a first mode or a second mode. The first mode is a mode for making channel selection by the physical channel number in which a frequency is assigned to a channel by the physical channel number in accordance with a rule, and a second mode is a mode for making channel selection by the virtual channel number in which a frequency corresponds to a channel on the side of the receiver. The CPU automatically makes, when no channel selection can be made by the entered channel number in the selected mode, an attempt to make channel selection corresponding to the other mode.

Abstract: A client device selectively receives broadcast data according to any one of multiple data configurations. A broadcast data server enables broadcast of multiple data configurations by maintaining configuration definitions that define how broadcast data may be configured for presentation to a viewer. The broadcast data server also maintains region definitions that identify regions that may be associated with client devices for receiving broadcast data. The configuration definitions are mapped to region definitions, enabling a client device associated with a particular region to selectively receive broadcast data according to any one of multiple data configurations that are associated with the particular region.

Abstract: There is provided a digital broadcasting receiver capable of making channel selection without making a user conscious of the difference between a physical channel number and a virtual channel number. A CPU uses an OSD display circuit, for example, to display a menu screen, and causes a user to select either a first mode or a second mode. The first mode is a mode for making channel selection by the physical channel number in which a frequency is assigned to a channel by the physical channel number in accordance with a rule, and a second mode is a mode for making channel selection by the virtual channel number in which a frequency corresponds to a channel on the side of the receiver. The CPU automatically makes, when no channel selection can be made by the entered channel number in the selected mode, an attempt to make channel selection corresponding to the other mode.

Abstract: Type-ahead keypad input is described. In an embodiment, keypad inputs that are entered as characters of a search term on a keypad of an input device, such as a television remote control, are received by a television-based client device. A user interface displays the keypad inputs as they are received, and displays an alphanumeric keypad as a representation of the keypad of the input device. The keypad representation of the input device has input keys that include a display of characters, any of which can change after each keypad input is received.

Abstract: A method for displaying channel information on a digital TV. Channel information which can know the number of programs or program numbers received through a currently selected major channel is displayed. As channel information, a major channel number and minor channel numbers are displayed. If a channel up or down key is pressed, a viewing program is selected and corresponding channel information is displayed on a TV screen.

Abstract: Techniques for searching a program guide database. In accordance with a method, one or more search criteria (e.g., keywords) are received and a request for a search is then sent, along with the search criteria, to a head end of an information distribution system. In response, one or more search results are received from the head end. In this server-centric system, the program guide database is searched at the head end. The search results can be displayed on one search result IPG page (or more, if necessary) or displayed one at a time on the respective IPG page that includes the search result. Upon receiving an indication that a particular search result has been selected, one or more streams associated with the selected search result can be retrieved and decoded to recover the selected program, which can then be displayed.

Abstract: Provided are a tuning method according to a variable key input length and a broadcast receiving apparatus using the tuning method. The tuning method includes: if it is determined that an input length of one of at least one or more key inputs is more than or equal to a predetermined time, tuning to a first type broadcast; and if it is determined that the input length is less than the predetermined time, tuning to a second type broadcast different from the first type broadcast. Thus, different types of broadcasts can be tuned according to a length of a key input performed by a user. As a result, a digital broadcast channel can be directly input using only a number key.

Abstract: A broadcasting receiver for receiving a digital broadcast of the invention has a sub-channel changing-dedicated operation key so that upon reception of an instruction sent from this operation key, such a sub-channel that is adjacent in a predetermined direction in the same main channel may be selected in switch-over. If the desired channel cannot be found in the predetermined direction when an upward channel-movement instruction is received, such a sub-channel is selected that has the largest or smallest channel number. Thus, it is possible to accommodate a digital broadcast that has a hierarchical construction consisting of the main channel and the sub-channels and also that has a frequently fluctuating channel configuration, thus avoiding a delay in time required for channel changing.

Abstract: A digital TV and a method of switching a channel automatically thereof provides a viewer with advance notice of an automatic channel switch using linkage descriptor information on HD broadcasting. Providing the viewer with notice of the switched channel reduces viewer confusion. The method includes the steps of determining whether a linkage descriptor is included in additional information regarding a broadcast program whether the broadcast program regardless of whether the broadcast program is selected by a viewer, checking the remaining time of the broadcast program if the linkage descriptor is included in the additional information, displaying a channel switch notice message on a screen, determining whether or not the broadcast program has ended, switching a channel of the broadcast program to a designated channel when the broadcast program ends, and displaying a channel switch confirmation message on the screen.

Abstract: A channel tuning method and a television using a channel name auto completion function in which the entire channel name of a corresponding channel is automatically completed by inputting part of a channel name of a television broadcasting channel to be tuned using a predetermined inputting unit. The channel tuning method includes (a) searching similar channel names based on one or more of the characters of a channel name input by the inputting unit and displaying the searched channel names on a list from which selections can be made, and (b) in order to aid a user in selecting a channel, automatically tuning a corresponding channel among channels corresponding to the channel names displayed on the list for a predetermined interval of time and sequentially displaying the channels on a picture-in-picture (PIP) screen.

Abstract: A video frame is captured from a television broadcast on each of a plurality of channels. The captured video frames are provided to a display interface, which successively displays the captured video frames within a focus area of a user interface in response to an initiating action by a user. The display interface then discontinues the successive display of video frames to show a particular video frame corresponding to a selected channel in response to a terminating action by the user.

Abstract: A portable and usually handheld remote controller for accepting manual entry of acronymical as well as decimal input data urged through a keypad and converting the submitted input data into channel number selection data which is sent via wireless command to a channel selection receiver, such as a television set. The remote controller is particularly suited for accepting a program content provider's acronym, such as NBC and converting it, usually through an intermediate decimal entry step represented by keypad equivalent decimal values such as 622 and finally into a variously presetable channel selection decimal value such as 07 which is subsequently sent via the wireless command for effectuating a television channel selection uniquely designated by any particular service provider's virtual or real channel number assignments.

Abstract: An interactive system is provided in which information is displayed in response to the entry of the digits of a channel number. The interactive system may be implemented on a television, a computer, or a radio system. The displayed information may be program listings information such as the channel designator or the program currently airing on the channel. The displayed information may also be a list of channels. The list of channels may be associated with the entered digits, may be component channels, or channels of the same type and may be sorted by various techniques such as numerically, by favorite channels, by type, etc. The interactive system may allow a user to specify a source identifier to channels from different sources and display the channels with the source identifier when they are entered.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for dynamically defining individual channel behavior from a variety of tuner sources within an integrated PC/TV apparatus. The system includes a channel server database including a master channel list of all channels provided by various tuner sources within a PC/TV apparatus. Each channel within the database list includes various parameters and data associated therewith defining the behavior of the channel independently of other channels within a listing. A number of channels server functionalities enable a user to dynamically access and alter the channel parameters and data to tailor channel behavior to a user's personal preferences.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a database in a memory. Program identifying information is received from a service provider, the program identifying information comprising at least one service provider search criteria and information describing a channel on which a program is transmitted. A database is generated in a memory as a function of the channel identifying information and at least one of the service provider search criteria. Preferably, user-input search criteria is also received and it is determined whether the user-input search criteria corresponds to the service provider search criteria. A channel identified by the channel identifying information is selected if the user-input search criteria corresponds to the service provider search criteria.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus implementing a technique for selecting a channel in a digital television. In one implementation, selecting a channel includes: receiving a major and minor channel number sequence, including a major channel number, a delimiter, and a minor channel number, where the delimiter separates the major channel number and the minor channel number; identifying a physical channel which corresponds to the major and minor channel number sequence by accessing a channel look up table, where the channel look up table includes correspondences between major and minor channel number sequences and physical channels; identifying a virtual channel table which corresponds to the physical channel, where the virtual channel table indicates a virtual channel which corresponds to the major and minor channel number sequence; tuning to the physical channel to receive a signal carried on the physical channel; and decoding the virtual channel from the tuned signal.

Abstract: A device for selecting from one of a plurality of audio/video sources and connecting audiovisual signals from the selected source to input receiving circuitry such as the recording circuitry of a VCR or a display device. Based upon a user request such as a channel selection, the device accesses a list in memory to determine which source of a plurality of sources is associated with that channel. The associated source is then automatically connected to the input receiving circuitry and the associated source is automatically tuned to the requested channel.

Abstract: Channel information is displayed for a user in improved fashion by adjusting the amount of information according to the rate with which the user previews channels. For example, at a first rate of preview, the channel number, channel logo, program name and video could be displayed for each previewed channel, while at a faster rate, the channel number and logo could be displayed, and at a still faster rate the channel number alone could be displayed for each previewed channel. The rate of preview can be dictated by remote control signals, such as those produced by a remote control jog dial. The user can rotate the jog dial to preview channels at various rates and receive corresponding amounts of information for each previewed channel dependent upon the rate that the channels are previewed.

Abstract: A system and method for content-based television program selection are provided that allow a viewer to “surf” directly between programs of a desired content category. The system includes a head-end server operable to receive program signals from a programming source, and a viewer input apparatus, such as a remote controller, which is operable to generate an input signal indicating a viewer's desired program content category. The system further includes at least one set-top box, where the set-top box has a program receiver for receiving program signals from the head-end server, and a viewer input receiver for receiving the input signal from the viewer input apparatus. In addition, the set-top box includes a processor that determines whether any channels are currently showing a program of the desired content category at the time the input signal is received.

Abstract: The present invention is implemented in one embodiment in a tuning decoder device, such as an Integrated Receiver Decoder (IRD) of a digital satellite system. The IRD is coupled to a satellite system, the remote controller and a monitor, such as a TV set. The present invention allows a user to store up to five stations in a JUMP Loop sequence during a single viewing period by depressing a single key in a remote controller.