Patent ID: 6297858
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A method for detecting a video transmission, the method comprises the steps of:a) detecting selection of a channel corresponding to the video transmission;b) determining signal strength of the video transmission over a frequency range relating to the channel;c) determining whether the signal strength, at a frequency within the frequency range, exceeds a threshold;d) when the signal strength at the frequency exceeds the threshold, utilizing the frequency by a video tuner to detect the video transmission independent of whether a synchronization signal is present within a digitized base band video signal;e) generating, by the video tuner, a base band video signal from the video transmission;f) providing, by the video tuner, the base band video signal to a video decoder;g) digitizing, by the video decoder, the base band video signal to produce digitized video;h) determining whether the digitized video includes a synchronization signal; andi) when the digitized video includes the synchronization signal, indicating the video transmission is a valid video transmission.