Abstract: A television receiver with an electronic program guide (EPG) is disclosed, which allows a user to navigate through an overview of scheduled television programs each belonging to one of a plurality of program categories. Upon highlighting a program item in the guide, or upon highlighting a pictogram representing an available program category, the receiver produces (14) an auditive signal (AUD) which is characteristic of the relevant program category. This provides an additional feedback to the user which eases the process of navigating through on-screen EPG menus. In embodiments of the receiver, the respective auditive signal is also produced as an alert signal (reminder) that a desired program is about to start. A sequence of such reminders may be given at different instants of time before the program starts. By manipulating (15) a parameter, which is characteristic of a perceived distance from user to receiver (e.g.

Abstract: A method and structure is capable of scanning through available programs on a display screen and selectively displaying the most recently scanned programs in a spiral formation on the display screen. The spiral formation conveys visual information to the viewer about when the programs were scanned by the arrangement and sizing of a number of positions of the spiral formation. Provided with the visual information of the recently scanned programs in the spiral formation, the viewer can readily determine which programs were recently scanned and when they were scanned.

Abstract: Disclosed is an antenna controller of a digital television receiver and a controlling method thereof including an antenna receiving channel signals of digital television broadcasting and having a directionality dependent on a control signal, a signal processing part tuning a wanted channel signal from the channel signals and processing the tuned channel signal as a wanted form, a detection part detecting state signals of the channel signal outputted from the signal processing part, a memory, when every new state signal is detected, storing the detected new state signal sorted with previously-detected state signals, a control part producing the control signal corresponding to an optimal direction of the antenna by comparing the new state signal to the previous state signals, and an interface part providing the antenna with the control signal, thereby enabling to increase the integration of the receiver.

Abstract: A digital television receiver and antenna control method in the digital television receiver are disclosed. The digital television receiver includes and antenna having directivity according to a control signal for switching patterns of the antenna. A receiving section receives and processes channel signals for digital television broadcasting through the antenna. An antenna control section generates the control signal for switching the patterns of the antenna based on channel information according to the received channel signal. An antenna switching control section switches the patterns of the antenna during a sync signal period of the received channel signal when the control signal is generated.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for simultaneously displaying a graphic image (23) (e.g., a control menu of a television receiver or video recorder) and a video image (22). In order to achieve optimal legibility of the menu without fully obscuring the underlying video signal, the graphic image is accommodated within a window (21) and the window is given an adequate color (24) which is additively mixed with the video signal. The mixing factor is preferably controlled in response to the amount of spatial and/or temporal activity of the video signal within the window.

Abstract: A level adjust display apparatus and method for an OSD menu in an image display device in which various function control targets of the image display device are displayed on a screen in the form of various OSD menus, and the direction that the plurality of various function control targets are adjusted and the moving direction of a level meter of the OSD menus respectively corresponding to the plurality of function control targets correspond to each other, so that a user can easily control the function control targets.

Abstract: A TV controlling method having an adjust mode reset function for adjusting a user control on an adjust mode menu screen, the method including selecting a predetermined mode to be changed on the adjust mode menu screen, if a desired mode value is close to the currently set mode value, inputting a corresponding data UP/DOWN key to set a desired mode value, if there is a great difference between the desired mode value and the currently set mode value, inputting a RESET value to set the mode value to a default value set when the TV set leaves the factory and then inputting the corresponding data UP/DOWN key to set a desired mode value, and if an EXIT key is input, returning to a channel screen. If a default value of a desired mode is to be displayed on the adjust mode menu screen, when a viewer wants to set the default value of a desired mode on the adjust mode menu screen, it can be simply set by pressing a reset key.

Abstract: An electronic program schedule system with product ordering capability which includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs, and a user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto. The television program schedule information is displayed on a display apparatus such as a television receiver. A video display generator receives video control commands from the data processor and program schedule information and displays a portion of the program schedule information on the receiver. The program schedule information indicates the availability of a product or service for certain of the programs included in the program information, wherein the product or service is associated with the program, such as a program transcript or videocassette.

Abstract: Function representation and selection in a multi-function system that supports user selection of system function by means of a menu-driven graphical user interface includes displaying a rotatable function menu. The rotatable function menu includes a plurality of circumferentially-arrayed facets, each facet representing a respective function of a plurality of functions. The rotatable function menu may be rotated on an axis to place any desired facet at a selection location at which the function represented by the facet may be selected. Selection and configuration of functions and features related to a selected function are provided by display and navigation through one or more submenus.

Abstract: Radio waves transmitted from the antenna of a broadcasting station are received by the antenna of a television receiver. The television receiver extracts an EPG from the received radio waves and transmits it to a remote controller via an infrared transmission/reception section. The remote controller displays the received EPG on an LCD and is then rendered in a state of waiting for selection of a program. If some program is selected and then a reserve button is manipulated, the remote controller transmits a control command for a recording reservation to a video tape recorder. The video tape recorder receives the control command with an infrared transmission/reception section, whereby the recording reservation of the designated program is set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting an antenna to maximize the strength of a program information signal.

Abstract: A method of displaying a progressive degree of channel setting in a digit vision receiver having automatic channel settings including setting a kind of channel and acquiring the total number of channels corresponding to the kind of the channel which is set. In addition, a start channel is selected and a tested number of channels is obtained by calculating an absolute value of the difference between the start channel and a present channel. Next, a percentage value of the tested number of channels to the total number of channels is calculated and then stored in a memory. The percentage value stored in the memory is then displayed on a display unit to a user enabling the user to determine the current percentage of channels which have been previously selected.

Abstract: A first channel selection signal generating circuit successively indicates selection of channels which can be received by the electronic tuner. A second channel selection signal generating circuit indicates selection of a particular channel. A channel selection signal switching circuit effects switching between these two outputs so as to output one of them to an electronic tuner. A digitizing circuit converts the output from the electronic tuner into its digital signal. A scan line converting circuit outputs a signal which has been formed from the digital signal by reducing the number of horizontal scan lines so that the output is stored into a texture memory, as one sub-frame image for each channel. A graphics engine subjects the image data loaded from the texture memory to a 3D image process and stores it into a video image memory.

Abstract: To provide an OSD circuit needing little load for the control command transfer for displaying a background color, a OSD circuit of the invention comprises a background color control circuit (4) for out-putting three color signals and a blanking signal generated by a character generator (3), when a background control signal supplied from the command processor is inactive, said background control signal made active when the video picture is to be replaced with a background color, and outputting the three color signals generated by the character generator during the blanking signal is active and background color signals for displaying the background color during the blanking signal is inactive, together with a background blanking signal for suppressing signals of all of the video picture instead of the blanking signal, when the background control signal is active.

Abstract: A receiving method in the receiving equipment in, first, a service table composed of channel numbers currently on air is made and, if the channel key is judged to be pressed, a channel number searched from the service table is displayed on the screen. If the channel key is judged to be pressed continuously, only the channel numbers are changed and if the channel key is judged to be released, a channel selection is started. There is thus provideded a receiving equipment capable of swiftly selecting a desired channel of the television broadcasting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying programming information by translating the display of a broadcast of a program are provided. Programming information is displayed along with the program broadcast on the screen such that no portion of the broadcast is covered by the programming information. A multiple channel broadcasting system is tuned to a channel to provide a display of a broadcast of a program on a screen. Programming information is displayed that identifies channels in the broadcasting system. When displaying the programming information, the display of the program broadcast is translated to a smaller broadcast window on the screen by superimposing at least one of a series of successively smaller broadcast window outlines over the display of the broadcast on the screen.

Abstract: A TV/video viewing supervision system that enables a supervisor, typically a parent controlling children's viewing, to selectably program the hours, programs and/or channels of television, VCR, cable TV, satellite TV and/or game viewing that are allowed and/or blocked from viewing by comparing the signal source identification code embedded in the video signal with a programmed list of channels to be blocked. The system features a channel/time matrix that can be programmed with a keypad-controlled cursor of a hand-held remote unit to set up a viewing schedule for future time period, for example a coming week.

Abstract: The present invention relates to televisions (TV) and video tape recorders (VTR) which carry out the tuning operation by using a microcomputer. The microcomputer converts the modes in sequence of conventional air mode, cable TV Standard mode, cable TV Harmonic Relate Carrier mode, and multibroadcasting mode according to the inputted signal from a key matrix to control both the conventional and multibroadcasting modes which have different channels frequencies. Thus, independant systems or additional programs for multimode systems are not necessary.

Abstract: A television channel selection monitoring apparatus for identifying the broadcast channel to which a television receiver means is tuned at any given time is disclosed. Instead of relying for the channel identification on the local oscillation frequency at the tuner of such television receiver means, the apparatus of the present invention utilizes the recognition of the channel identification number superimposed on the video signal received through the selected channel so that the image of the superimposed channel number may appear, for a certain duration following the channel selection, at a predetermined area of the image corresponding to the video signal.

Abstract: An error detecting/correcting circuit 9 in a digital broadcast receiving device calculates a error rate from the error amount for the amount of input information. A controlling part 15 converts the error rate into the C/N ratio as a receiving signal quality and indicates it on a screen of a TV receiver 5 or other indicator 18. In this method, after digitally demodulating the received digital broadcasting signal, the error rate is obtained by an error detecting part 9 and the error rate is converted into the receiving signal quality for indication. Therefore, compared with the reception performance indication based on the input level such as the AGC voltage, the method is high both in precision and in stability. The receiving signal quality can be detected only while receiving a digital broadcasting signal, so with reference to the converted receiving signal quality in antenna bearing adjustment, a digital broadcasting signal can be surely received without confusing it with an analog broadcasting signal.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a television receiver includes a read-only memory for storing a plurality of labels, and a programmable memory for storing at least one channel number. An operator-actuated control generates a signal representative of one of the labels and a channel number to be associated therewith, and a processor receives the signal and causes the programmable memory to store the channel number as corresponding to the one label. The operator-actuated control further generates a second signal representative of the one label independent of the channel number. Upon receiving the second signal, the processor retrieves from the programmable memory the channel number and generates an output control signal corresponding to the channel number.

Abstract: A VCR tuning system wherein broadcast channels 3/4, used for VCR tuning, has a different frequency assignment in a different tuning band. A special VCR indicia is added to the active tuning list and is accessed when VCR tuning is selected. The indicia is mapped to the corresponding frequencies of broadcast channels 3/4 as determined by the VCR flag. Non VCR indicia channel selections access look up tables corresponding to the various tuning bands in the system in the usual manner.

Abstract: An automatic channel searching method for a picture-in-picture type television receiver which automatically searches other channel broadcasting signals and displays the searched channel broadcasting signal on a sub-channel region of a display screen when the present viewing channel program is almost completed or a new channel broadcasting program starts, thereby providing convenience for the user's channel selection. According to the channel searching method, broadcasting program information signal is detected from an input channel broadcasting signal, if it is determined according to the detected information signal whether or not a newly starting broadcasting program of a corresponding channel is displayed on the sub-channel region.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device for achieving ease of portability, minimally having a liquid crystal display section, a receiving circuit section, a memory section, and a number of switches, a number of receive channel storage means being provided in the memory section, and a function being provided which simultaneously displays the storage status of the receive channel storage means on the liquid crystal display section. The device prevents both erroneous overwriting of a memory location and erroneous storage of the same selected channel in a number of different memory locations, and permits determination of the empty memory locations, and to quickly verify the receivable channels, even in geographical regions in which the receivable channels change.

Abstract: An electronic program schedule system which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and television program schedule information.

Abstract: This invention relates to consumer use of what is here called the "television space". That is, the use of video/audio signal streams such as in the past have been distributed by broadcast over radio frequency bands or by cable distribution, or made available from video recorder/player devices such as cassette recorders or video disc player, or made available from direct, live sources such as cameras, game systems or computers. A list of previously viewed channels or video signal stream sources is constructed and stored in memory devices by use of a cursor and remote control interface. Listed sources may be selected by cursor positioning on a displayed list of the previously selected sources.

Abstract: A television signal receiving apparatus which can read program information relevant to a television program from an optical disk medium, interlocked with the television program and can reproduce and display the read program information. Program information (broadcasting information including program names, broadcasting channel names and broadcasting dates and times and appendant information relevant to the contents of the programs) relevant to the television programs to be displayed by the television receiver/display is recorded in the optical disk medium. When a user instructs a display of the program information by the selection and decision input unit, the television control unit transmits the display request and time information from the clock apparatus to the control unit of the optical disk unit. The control unit makes the appendant information to be reproduced from the optical disk medium, by using the broadcasting channel name and the time information as retrieval information.

Abstract: A broadcast state self-diagnostic apparatus and method detects a horizontal sync signal from a video signal received through an antenna, counts the number associated with the detected horizontal sync signal, compares this value with the number associated with a reference horizontal sync signal, detects the level of the video signal by using an AGC signal, and compares the detected level of the video signal with a reference level. A user can easily see that a noise is generated by the broadcast state rather than the television, itself, by displaying an OSD character showing the abnormal state of the broadcast signal according to the compared result.

Abstract: A television channel display comprises remote controller signal receiver for receiving a channel number determined by a user, an MCU for receiving a signal output from the remote controller signal receiver, a memory for storing and outputting audio signals of the channel number and a broadcasting station name according to a control signal output from the MCU, an audio mixer for mixing the audio signal of the channel number and the broadcasting station name output from the memory, an aural processor for processing audio signals of an input broadcasting program, a multiplexer for selecting and outputting the audio signals of the audio mixer and the aural processor under a control of the MCU, and a speaker for converting and outputting audio current outputs from the multiplexer into an audio signal.

Abstract: A television system for receiving a plurality of television programs includes a programming unit for causing the television system to receive and record a particular television show aired on a given channel, at a particular time and date in accordance with schedule data entered by a user. The television system includes a controller for generating the on-screen displays in response to user-entered data. Upon completion of a programming entry, the controller causes a display of a substantially grammatically correct sentence summarizing the entered programming instructions and acting as a confirmation screen. In one embodiment, the confirmation screen is interactive in that certain variables within the sentence may be modified by the user to change the sense of the sentence, and thus to modify the programming instructions.

Abstract: A memory device for channel selection in a television receiver comprises a nonvolatile memory for storing at least one set of channel data and channel attendant data, and a RAM having a channel data storing part which accesses and stores all channel data stored in the nonvolatile memory. When a read tuning command is given, the nonvolatile memory is accessed in order to search addresses of the channel attendant data if a specified channel exists in the RAM. When no specified channel data exists in the RAM, the nonvolatile memory is not accessed.

Abstract: An electronic program schedule system having virtual channels which includes a receiver for receiving broadcast, satellite or cablecast television programs for a plurality of television channels and a tuner for tuning a television receiver to a selected one of the plurality of channels. A data processor receives and stores in a memory television program schedule information for a plurality of television programs to appear on the plurality of television channels. A user control apparatus, such as a remote controller, is utilized by a viewer to choose user control commands and transmit signals in response to the data processor which receives the signals in response to user control commands. A television receiver is used to display the television programs and virtual channel programming.

Abstract: A user station for navigating a visual menu structure includes a processor in electrical communication with a memory and a presentation device. In operation, the processor receives a first electrical signal generated by a user selection device. The signal corresponds to the user's request to store a selected node and a corresponding presentation element desired for future viewing. A second electrical signal generated by the user selection device is received at the processor and compared to the stored location information so as to locate the selected presentation element. The presentation element is thereafter automatically displayed for the user.

Abstract: Televisions (TV) and video tape recorders (VTR) carry out the tuning operation by using a microcomputer. The microcomputer converts the modes in sequence of conventional air mode, cable TV Standard mode, cable TV Harmonic Relate Carrier mode, and multibroadcasting mode according to the inputted signal from a key matrix to control both the conventional and multibroadcasting modes which have the different channel frequencies from each other. Thus, independent systems or additional programs for multimode systems are not necessary.

Abstract: A television receiver system includes an HDTV tuner, and an NTSC tuner. In response to the entering of a channel number, a CHANNEL UP or CHANNEL DOWN command, or a channel label, in a channel selection mode, a controller searches a "paired channel" table for associated HDTV and NTSC channels. If an HDTV channel is associated with that channel number or channel label, the HDTV tuner is controlled to select the HDTV channel. If no HDTV channel is associated with that channel number or channel label, the NTSC tuner is controlled to select the corresponding NTSC channel. In another embodiment, the controller determines if HDTV signals are actually being received. If not, the controller causes the NTSC tuner to select the corresponding NTSC channel. In yet another embodiment, the "paired channel" data is sent via an Extended Data Services (EDS) transmission and automatically loaded into memory.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for and method of stabilizing a picture in an image system during the changing of a broadcast channel. Since channel altering causes noise in synchronization, and an unstable picture when performing automatic frequency tuning (AFT) and automatic gain control (AGC), an image signal of the previous channel is stored in an image memory before being changed, and output onto the screen using a switch controlled by a microcomputer during the unstable period for AFT and AGC, instead of the image signal of the altered channel. The image signal of the altered channel is output after the output of an automatic controlled is stabilized.

Abstract: A CATV center facility transmits, together with the television signals of a plurality of programs, display control data indicating program names and selection numbers of the respective programs and channel data indicating the numbers of channels on which the respective programs are being broadcast or to be broadcast. A terminal apparatus detects the program names, selection numbers and channel numbers from the display control data and the channel data, and makes a TV receiver display the detected program names and selection numbers in an associated manner. While looking at a picture thus displayed, a user selects a desired program by pushing a corresponding numeral button of a remote controller or a keyboard. In response to the program selection by the user, the terminal apparatus is tuned to the channel of the selected program.

Abstract: A channel selection method stores broadcast channel numbers for which broadcast signals are input and displays the stored broadcast channel numbers on a screen, thereby facilitating broadcast channel selection. The method comprises the steps of storing the number of a corresponding channel by sequentially scanning broadcast signal channels, displaying the numbers of all the channels scanned in the storage step so as to be able to distinguish the stored channel numbers from unstored channels numbers, and selecting a channel using only a channel number stored in the storage step from among the displayed channel numbers. Accordingly, the broadcast channels can be identified with ease, permitting a desired channel to be easily selected.

Abstract: A wide screen television apparatus comprises a memory for storing a set of video sources, a circuit for tuning to the set of video sources and a video signal processor. The video signal processor is coupled to the memory and to the tuning circuit, and develops a wide screen multiple picture display by selecting any one of the set of video sources for generating a main picture of the display and by selecting all of the set of video sources for generating supplemental pictures of the display, for example as three POP's. A remote control can be activated for choosing the set of video sources and for selecting the main picture from among the supplemental pictures. The multiple picture display is modified in a manner which identifies which one of the supplemental pictures corresponds to the main picture. An on-screen display indicator can be generated for the supplemental picture corresponding to the main picture.

Abstract: A receiver such as a liquid crystal display television receiver, which a user carries with him, is used for learning at sight which television stations at a destination supply broadcasting service. The receiver performs automatic tuning operation of television signal waves to search available television channels, stores searched available television channels in a memory device, and displays a list of the available stored television channels. The receiver displays the available television channels stored in the memory device, and successively receives the available television channels, thereby displaying the television programs for a predetermined period. The receiver is equipped with a memory in which local areas, local television stations in the areas, frequency data and network relations between key stations and the local television stations are memorized.

Abstract: Tuning apparatus for a television system, comprising a rotary encoder having a slidable and rotatable channel changing mechanism, the rotary encoder outputting a plurality of signals with a phase difference with respect to one another, corresponding to a channel change in accordance with the rotation of the channel changing mechanism, a microcomputer for calculating a channel number to be changed in accordance with the output signals from the rotary encoder and outputting channel receive data corresponding to the calculated channel number, and a tuner for receiving a television broadcasting signal of a channel corresponding to the channel receive data from the microcomputer.

Abstract: A film/video detector includes circuitry for generating the differences between corresponding pixel values in successive frames of video signal. These differences are accumulated over respective frame intervals. Accumulated values for respective frames are applied to a signal averager and to a correlation circuit. Average values from the averager are subtracted from correlation values from the correlation circuit, and film mode signal is indicated if the latter differences are greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A television channel selection apparatus for use with a television receiver having a number of available television channels. The television channel selection apparatus includes a pushbutton pad having a first pushbutton and a group of second pushbuttons. A television channel list is displayed on the television channel when the first pushbutton is depressed. The television channel list includes channel numbers listed in relation to the respective television channels. One of the second pushbuttons is selectively depressed to specify the corresponding channel number and thus to select the corresponding television channel.

Abstract: A subscriber terminal includes a receiver for receiving a television signal including video, audio, and data information. A channel of the television signal may be selected for display on the television. A memory stores channel identification information such as channel identifiers. The channel identifiers include at least one display character. A processor establishes a relationship between channel identification information and channel numbers associated with channels of the television signal. An on-screen display control circuit controls the display of character information on the television and has the capability of overlaying the channel number and the channel identification information on the video portion of a selected channel displayed on the television for a predetermined period of time. Program identification information such as program titles may also be displayed.

Abstract: A channel display device in which a channel number which is receiving discrimination is flashed while a list of all channel numbers is displayed on a television screen. Also, a display color of the channel number discriminated as being in a receiving state is changed. Thus, a receivable channel from within a number of channels can be readily confirmed.

Abstract: Items related to the quality of an on-screen image such as brightness, sharpness, chroma, etc. and items related to the audio quality such as bass, treble, balance, etc. in a CRT display, such as a television receiver, are subject to adjustment by a user. These items are originally classified into those in a first class and those in a second class in accordance with the nature of a respective item, that is, whether a user must know the current analog value of the item before he or she adjusts it. When an instruction is input through user's manipulation to adjust the analog value of an item to be controlled, the system determines whether the item belongs to the first class or the second class. If it belongs to the first class, the system first confirms that the item and its actual analog value are displayed on a screen, then permits adjustment of the analog value in response to the instruction, and then displays a new analog value.

Abstract: A television control system is for selecting a television channel corresponding to a preassigned channel tuning designation. A tuner receives multi-channel input signal, and in response to a processor signal, tunes out all but one selected channel. A memory stores at least one operator-assigned channel select designation for the channel tuning designations. An operator-actuated control means generates a first data signal representative of a desired channel select designation for one of the channel tuning designations, and a second data signal representative of a desired viewing channel identified by one of the channel select designations. A processor receives the first data signal from the control means, and in response, causes the memory to store the desired channel select designation as corresponding to the tuning designation.