Patent ID: 7386220
Filing Date: 2008-06-10
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for controlling a recording operation included in a Video Cassette Recorder (VCR), wherein a watching operation is executed through a monitor, and at the same time, the recording operation is executed through a recording unit with respect to a cable broadcasting program, comprising: control means for checking whether a Graphical User Interface (GUI) is activated, and then generating a first and a second switching control signals when the GUI is activated, and generating a third and a fourth switching control signals when a GUI is not activated; combining means for combining menu screen data generated from the GUI with broadcast signals of the cable broadcasting program to thereby generate composite signals when the GUI is activated, while transmitting the broadcast signals when the GUI is not activated; first switching means for transmitting the broadcast signals to the combining means for the purpose of the watching operation, and at the same time, to the recording unit for the purpose of the recording operation, in response to the first switching control signal when the GUI is activated, while transmitting the broadcast signals to the combining means for the purpose of the recording and the watching operations in response to the third switching control signal when the GUI is not activated; and second switching means for transmitting the composite signals received from the combining means to the monitor for the purpose of the watching operation in response to the second switching control signal when the GUI is activated, while transmitting the broadcast signals to both the recording unit for the purpose of the recording operation and to the monitor for the purpose of the watching operation in response to the fourth switching control signal when the GUI is not activated.