Abstract: A signal sequencing control means is provided for an electronic device. The sequencing control means includes an electronic circuit (2) and timing means, to allow a sequence of control signals to be activated in a pre-determined order for operation of the device and deactivated in a reverse order for disabling the device. The electronic circuit is driven to generate the sequence of control signals in a forward and reverse direction along the same circuit path. The electronic circuit can be a smart card.

Abstract: A Broadcast data receiver is provided which is capable of receiving data relating to a number of television channels. The receiver is also able to generate an electronic programme guide (EPG) providing information relating to the television channels, programmes and/or other functions which are available for selection by a user of the apparatus. The user typically makes the selection using a remote control handset. The EPG is generated using a first source in the form of embedded code provided in the receiving apparatus and other functions of the apparatus/television set are generated using a second source in the form of software language provided in the receiving apparatus. The utilisation of the first and/or second source by the receiving apparatus is controlled in response to a user selection using the control means.

Abstract: The invention relates to the ability to connect items of electrical apparatus and to allow the transfer of data signals between them. In particular, the invention relates to the connection of at least three items of electrical apparatus via scart connections and, the transfer of data signals between the first and third items of apparatus via the second item of apparatus such that even if the second item of apparatus is switched off from its mains power supply, a circuit within the apparatus still be powered via power supply provided via the scart connection to allow the passage of the data signal between the first and third items through the second item. This therefore allows savings in electricity and overcomes the need for the second item of apparatus to be kept connected to a mains power supply at all times which is conventionally the case.

Abstract: The invention provides a television system for receiving data broadcast to a number of broadcast data receivers at different locations. The broadcast data receivers generate video and audio from the received data to represent television programmes selectable by a user. The invention provides for the transmission of portions of data in addition to the data for the programmes available at that instant. The portions of data allow the generation of video and/or audio “trailers” which represent a programme or service available for user selection and viewing in the future. The user can select the programme or service via the broadcast data received at the time of display of the video or audio trailer generated from the portion of data.

Abstract: The invention to which this application relates is to the generation of a font or text on a display screen such as, for example, a display screen of a television set. The present invention provides a means whereby a broadcast data receiver can be used to generate font or text on a “transparent” video background so that a video image on the screen is still viewable which moves yet still reduce the visible flicker of the font or text with respect to the video image. By following the present invention, there is provided a means whereby flickering text which conventionally occurs on transparent backgrounds can be eliminated or at least reduced.

Abstract: A broadcast data receiver (BDR) is provided with a web browser system. A service provided by the web browser system si selectable by a user of the BDR and, when selected, is controllable by the user via a remote control handset, thereby allowing an Internet web site page for display on a display screen connected to or forming part of the BDR to be determined and one or more user options can be selected if required. One or more icons are generated on at least a portion of the display screen and each of the icons represents a button on the remote control handset. Each icon is mapped to a specific control function or option of the web browser, thereby allowing user selection of a web browser control function or option by selection of the appropriate button on the remote control handset.

Abstract: A television system (2) is provided of the type including a broadcast data receiver (BDR) (4) for receiving data transmitted from a broadcaster at a remote location via cable, satellite and/or terrestrial broadcast systems. The BDR (4) decodes and processes the data to provide video, audio and/or auxiliary data for display on a display screen (6), listening to via speakers and/or for storage in the hard disk drive of the BDR (4) for subsequent display/listening at some time in the future. One or more points of reference can be labelled in incoming data and/or stored data in the BDR (4), such that on selection of a reference function in the BDR by the user using remote control means (10), the one or more reference points of data are assembled in sequence for display on the display screen (6) and/or listening to via the speakers.

Abstract: A television system is provided which includes a broadcast data receiver (BDR). The BDR receives digital data from a broadcaster at a remote location. The digital data includes video, audio and/or auxiliary data relating to a number of channels and/or television programmes for showing on a television display screen. The BDR is connected to an Internet provider for the receipt and/or delivery of electronic documents, such as e-mails. The system further includes a remote control handset to allow a user to select one or more functions or operations of the television system. The BDR is further provided with a plurality of pre-defined messages stored in memory thereof. When an e-mail is received by the BDR and the document receipt is notified to a user of the system, said user can choose to reply to the e-mail by selecting a pre-defined message using the remote control.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling the operation of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) with respect to a SAW filter (6) within a broadcast data receiver (BDR) (104). Over time, it is found that during normal operation of the BDR (104), the SAW filter (6) is susceptible to frequency drift which can affect the operation of the BDR. In accordance with the invention, temperature readings are taken at various time intervals from within the BDR (104) to provide an indication of changes in temperature over time and, if the temperature does change in the BDR with time then the operating frequency of the VCO can be adjusted to a predefined frequency value which is appropriate for the temperature values measured. By adjusting the operating frequency of the VCO with changes in temperature, the drift of the SAW filter (6) can be compensated for, thereby ensuring the continued operation of the BDR (104) in the required manner.

Abstract: The invention which is the subject of this application relates to the ability to generate teletext displays such as, although not exclusively, subtitles, on a television screen and to ensure that the text can be viewable regardless of which of a number of possible display formats for the video data is selected by the user. A broadcast data receiver is connected to or provided integrally with the television set and receives video data and auxiliary data. The required position of the text, which is generated from the auxiliary data, with respect to the video data, is determined by the broadcast data receiver with respect to the television screen format and the display format selected, and either automatically, or provides the user with the option to, alter the position of the text with respect to the video data display to ensure that when the text and video display are generated for viewing the text is in a position which is viewable on the display screen.

Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of an internet capability as a function of a broadcast data receiver included in or connected to a display screen as part of a television set. The display screen of the television set is used to display a series of user selected internet window display but can only display one internet window at a time, typically of a page from a website, at a time. However several window displays can be open and available for user selection for display at any time. In accordance with the invention an information display is generated and displayed on screen which allows information identifying each of the display windows available for user selection to be shown to the user and, in one embodiment, selected from the display screen using the broadcast data receiver remote control facility.

Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of a cooling effect on components (6) of electrical apparatus which are mounted on an upper surface (8) of a printed circuit board (4) within a housing (2). The invention provides for the mounting of a material layer (12) which can absorb or otherwise dissipate heat and the invention allows the mounting of the said material (12) beneath the printed circuit board (4) within the housing (2) in position to provide improved cooling effect without contacting the components (6) themselves.

Abstract: The invention which is the subject of this application relates to a television system which includes a display screen connected to a means for receiving and processing broadcast digital data. Some of the data can be used to generate an electronic programme guide (EPG) on the screen. The invention provides for the generation of a display on the screen indicting programme information relating to a programme available for viewing from a viewer selected subset of television channels. The display can relate to one programme on one channel, such as indicating the start time of the same, or the display can be provided in an animated manner to indicate programme information for a range of channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a package and method of transportation for items of electrical apparatus. The items are required to be packaged for transport from the manufacturing location to a storage facility and then on to an end user. At the storage facility, preinstallation checks and procedures, also called staging, are performed on the items of apparatus including, in some instances the downloading of software and control features via electrical connection The invention avoids the conventional need to remove the items of apparatus at the storage location for the performance of the checks and procedures by providing a package with selectively removable portions which, when removed, allow the required access to the components of the apparatus without needing to remove same from the package.

Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of a broadcast data receiver with at least one tuner and a control system therefore. The tuner is tuned to specific frequencies to obtain transmitted data from which a television channel can be generated. The frequency tuned to is dependent on the channel selected and the invention allows the output signal quality for the channel at each frequency to be optimised by allocating a take over point value at which the transition between radio frequency amplitude gain control and Intermediate frequency amplitude gain control occurs on a channel frequency by channel frequency basis rather than the conventional general take over point value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a television system which typically includes a broadcast data receiver connected to or provided integrally with a television display screen. The system is provided with an internet capability and the invention allows the user of the capability to identify information relating to each of the internet page windows which are live and selectable for display across the screen at that instant by the generation of an information display which includes bibliographic data for each of the page windows. This therefore allows the system which hallows only one page window to be viewed at a time on the screen to be more user friendly.

Abstract: Broadcast data receiver apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a broadcast data receiver (BDR) connected to at least one LNB. The BDR provides a power supply to allow operation of the LNB. At least two analogue to digital converter sampling points are provided to allow the input and output voltages to be measured at the LNB, thereby allowing the voltage drop across a linear regulator (8) of the LNB to be assessed. Control means are provided to control the power supply from the BDR to the LNB in response to the voltage measurements obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to the provision of data to a viewer of a television system. In particular the information is provided in a visual and/or audible indication to the viewer of a selected program as to when the next program in that program series is scheduled to be shown. The identity and schedule data is retrieved from data received relating to the generation of an EPG or alternatively from the data broadcast along with the selected program being viewed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the generation of a display on a display screen, such as that of a television set. The display includes an internet web page, selected for display by a user. The web page includes a display window for a video display generated from video data. The web page and video data are received by a broadcast data receiver connected to the display screen. In accordance with the invention the display window is provided of a predetermined size which is compared with the size of the video display to be shown at that time. If the video display will not fit into the display window, newly set dimensions are generated for the display window thereby allowing the video display to be shown in its entirety and without the need for cropping or any other editing features to be performed.

Abstract: Information on Demand A broadcast data receiver for the reception of data broadcast from a remote location, processing of the data and generation of video and/or audio therefrom in the form of a television program for viewing. The receiver includes a table, such as an Event Information Table (EIT) which includes one or more strings of data. A user can request to be informed of an occurrence or occurrences of data from one or more of the strings being identified in a user-selected program. The receiver informs the user of an occurrence and/or every occurrence of said data identified in said selected program at the time of said program being broadcast. Alternatively, or in addition to, the user can select to be updated with information relating to the occurrences of data at their convenience by selecting a pre-designated button on the remote control unit.