Patent ID: 6208799
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
In a cable TV system wherein program data contains a plurality of program identifiers to identify TV programs that are to be transmitted during a future time interval, wherein said program data is periodically sent to a plurality of set-tops that are within the cable TV system, and wherein most recent received new program data is stored at said set-tops for future use in selectively activating one or more record timers to record one or more TV programs by operation of said one or more active record timers, apparatus for automatically correcting stored program data in said active record timers, comprising;interrogating apparatus operable to detect when new program data is received by a set-top that contains a first active record timer having stored program data therein identifying a given TV program;comparing apparatus operable to compare said new program data with said stored program data in order to determine whether or not said new program data contains said stored program data;searching apparatus responsive to said comparing apparatus determining that said new program data does not contain said stored program data;said searching apparatus operating to search said new program data to determine whether or not said new program data contains a program identifier that identifies said given TV program;correcting apparatus responsive to said searching apparatus finding a program data item having a program identifier that identifies said given TV program;said correcting apparatus operating to replace said stored program data in said first active record timer with said found program data item;cancellation apparatus responsive to said searching apparatus being unable to find a program identifier that identifies said given TV program;said cancellation apparatus operating to cancel said stored program data within said first active record timer;message generating apparatus responsive to said cancellation apparatus operating to cancel said stored program data within said first active record timer;said message generating apparatus operating to provide a user-alert message relating to said cancellation of said stored program data within said first active record timer:a second active record timer within said set-top;conflict determining apparatus responsive to said correcting apparatus replacing said stored program data in said first active record timer with said found program data item;said conflict determining apparatus operating to compare said found program data item with stored program data within said second active record timer to determine if a time conflict is produced by said found program data item; andmessage generating apparatus responsive to said conflict determining apparatus determining that a time conflict would be produced by said found program data item and providing a user alert message relating to said time conflict.