Patent ID: 6701526
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A television system, comprising:a first tuner; a second tuner for receiving a program video signal carried on a channel selected by a viewer; a microprocessor; an image capture module having an input coupled to an output of the first tuner and an output coupled to an output of the microprocessor; and a video display generator having a first input coupled to an output of the second tuner and a second input coupled to an output of the microprocessor; wherein the microprocessor is programmed to at least periodically tune the first tuner to an EPG channel carrying a broad cast video signal that includes EPG data, and to periodically control the image capture module to capture an image of the broadcast video signal that includes EPG data; wherein the microprocessor is also programmed to at least periodically extract programming information from the captured image, and to store the extracted programming information; wherein the microprocessor is also programmed to retrieve at least selected portions of the stored programming information, and to supply the retrieved programming information to the video display generator, whereby the video display generator simultaneously displays both a current program carried on the selected channel and the retrieved programming information on a video display; wherein the television system is programmed to perform a set-up routine that trains the microprocessor to recognize a presentation format of the EPG data contained in the broadcast video signal received over the EPG channel; and wherein the television system is programmed to perform a set-up routine that trains the microprocessor to recognize the locations of different data fields of the EPG data contained in the broadcast video signal received over the EPG channel, whereby the microprocessor uses this location information in extracting the programming information from the captured image.