Abstract: Broadcast receiving devices usually have access to an electronic program schedule or EPG. Since often the same audio/video program is broadcasted more than once within a short time range on the same channel, or simultaneously on another channel, a method is provided for notifying this fact to the user. According to the invention, a method for automatically extracting data identifying a broadcast A/V program from received broadcast data includes the steps of receiving user input defining a first program, analyzing an EPG, determining broadcast data of the first program, automatically detecting that an identical second program is scheduled for broadcast, and displaying an indication to the user indicating that the second program was detected. If e.g. the same program is broadcasted at different times or channels with different amount of commercial interruptions, the user may select the instance with less commercials for viewing or recording.

Abstract: Broadcast receiving devices usually have access to an electronic program schedule or EPG. Since often the same audio/video program is broadcasted more than once within a short time range on the same channel, or simultaneously on another channel, a method is provided for notifying this fact to the user. According to the invention, a method for automatically extracting data identifying a broadcast A/V program from received broadcast data includes the steps of receiving user input defining a first program, analyzing an EPG, determining broadcast data of the first program, automatically detecting that an identical second program is scheduled for broadcast, and displaying an indication to the user indicating that the second program was detected. If e.g. the same program is broadcasted at different times or channels with different amount of commercial interruptions, the user may select the instance with less commercials for viewing or recording.

Abstract: The invention relates to the search mode in a video recorder according to the helical scan method, in particular in a video recorder in accordance with the D-VHS system standard, which enables both the recording and/or reproduction of analogue and the recording and/or reproduction of digital television signals. The object of the invention, in a video recorder whose system standard for digital signal recordings is compatible with the system standard for analogue signal recordings, is to improve the search mode for recorded digital television signals.

Abstract: In known processes for controlling a receiver-side appliance, data concerning the identification signal of a program being received are derived automatically from the identification signal transmitted together with the program. The aim of the invention is to allow a program received after the program currently being received to be programmed in a receiver-side appliance without having to input manually individual essential data of the identification signal. According to the present invention, a first identification signal received when a receiver-side control device is activated and a predetermined number of subsequent, different identification signals are counted together and stored automatically in the data contained in the identification signals concerning the identification signal received when the predetermined number is reached and/or the previously received identification signal and the first identification signal.

Abstract: The present infra-red remote control transmitter understands external formats, and those with toggle-bits and different carrier frequency ranges, and transmits signals in these data formats to the appropriate devices, with or without a toggle-bit. The remote control receives and transmits infra-red formats and comprises an infra-red receiver with a microprocessor and/or with two carrier frequency oscillators to generate two modulation frequencies, in which case it is provided with two infra-red receivers. An externally formatted data word with toggle-bits is subjected, after being read at least twice, to a comparison inside the microprocessor, from which the presence of toggle-bits, their number, position and the carrier frequency of the data word are found.

Abstract: A method of copying magnetic tapes having a message information track and a control track with supplementary information formatted as a digital word encoded as a plurality of successive data bits. The method includes the steps of playing the tape and reproducing the message track and the control track. The message information is coupled to a second playback/record device for recording. The plurality of successive data bits reproduced from the control track is stored in a digital memory to decode the digital word. The stored digital word is transferred to the second playback/record device and is reencoded as a plurality of successive data bits and recorded in the control track of the second playback/record device.

Abstract: If previously stored transmitters allocated to certain program settings in an entertainment electronics appliance are reallocated to the usual program settings, e.g., because of a changed transmitter distribution arrangement due to a change of location, time consuming reprogramming becomes necessary. The present invention concerns obtaining a simple sequencing process for reallocating previously stored channels to the desired program setting number. A microprocessor receives a command, and within a time window determined by the command, reads previously programmed data concerning two selected program settings from a main memory into a first auxiliary memory, and from this auxiliary memory into a second auxiliary memory, interchanging the channel numbers, and from the second auxiliary memory into the main memory again, so as to keep the same program numbers.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiment of the invention comprises method and/or equipment to program a video or audio appliance, such as a video recorder, with tuning data such as the channel number, frequency or the like, required to receive television and/or radio transmissions, whereby the tuning data specific to a station can be entered into a program memroy of the video or audio appliance and be assigned to a program number or other program identification indicia. The tuning data and its assignment to a program number or other program identification are loaded automatically from a program memory of an already programmed video or audio appliance, such as a television set. In addition, apparatus is included for automatically loading the current time, for example, from videotext decoder unit.

Abstract: The disclosed device enables the recording of television broadcasts which are preprogrammed in a memory. The presence of data lines of the television signal in combination with the presence of a color television signal is checked. When the data lines stop, the video recorder is switched on in real time by a clock time signal.

Abstract: A system for providing transmitter-controlled actuation of equipment at the receiving end of a communications system by using an identification signal transmitted for the entire duration of a broadcast and characterizing this broadcast. If the equipment has not been started by the identification signal and if the device is actuated at the beginning or during the broadcast, the further operation of the equipment in a predetermined operating mode is controlled using the identification signal. The equipment at the receiving end may be a broadcast receiver, particiularly a television or radio receiver, or an audio or video recorder. In a particular embodiment, the identification signal is stored when a record or "quick start" key of a VCR is manually actuated, and recording continues until the current identification signal is no longer the same as the stored signal.