Abstract:
An automatic channel accord method, which harmonizes first channel data corresponding to a first broadcasting reception device and second channel data corresponding to a second broadcasting reception device is provided. In the method, the first channel data is stored in the first broadcasting reception device, and the second channel data is stored in the second broadcasting reception device. Then, the first channel data is copied from the first broadcasting reception device and stored in the second broadcasting reception device as new second channel data. As a result, the new second channel data stored in the second broadcasting reception device corresponds to the first channel data stored in the first broadcasting reception device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is based on Korean Patent Application Ser. No. 43933/1995 which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an automatic channel accord method. More particularly the present invention relates to an automatic channel accord method in which channels of different broadcasting reception devices are automatically harmonized with each other. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally, a broadcasting reception device such as a television (&#34;TV&#34;) or video tape recorder (&#34;VTR&#34;) sets frequencies at which broadcasting signals are received to various channels. For example, if a user desires to have the broadcasting reception device allocate various channels to such frequencies, the user may press a channel tuning key on an input device. As a result, the reception device sequentially searches for broadcasting signals transmitted in a predetermined range of frequencies beginning from the lowest frequency. Then, when the broadcasting reception device detects a broadcasting signal on a particular frequency, it sequentially assigns a channel number to the particular frequency. 
     Afterwards, when the user wishes to view a broadcasting signal transmitted on a certain frequency, the user selects the channel which corresponds to the certain frequency. Consequently, the broadcasting reception device detects such frequency, tunes to the detected frequency, and receives the appropriate broadcasting signal. 
     In Korea, four broadcasting stations SBS, KBS2, KBS1, and MBC are respectively assigned to four channels 6, 7, 9, and 11. Since the total number of channels is relatively small, the user can easily remember which channel corresponds to which broadcasting station. 
     On the other hand, Europe and other countries have many more channels than Korea, and a user in such countries may be able to select from among more than 50 broadcasting channels. Accordingly, remembering which channels correspond to which broadcasting stations is relatively difficult. As a result, many broadcasting reception devices enable users to choose which channels will correspond to which broadcasting stations so that the user can more easily remember the relationship between channel numbers and broadcasting stations. 
     However, in the instances in which the user can customize the allocation of broadcasting stations to various channel numbers based on his or her preferences, the same channel number of two reception devices (e.g. a TV and a VTR) may correspond to different broadcasting stations. Specifically, since the TV and VTR have separate receivers, the user may allocate the channel numbers of the TV to a first ordered series of broadcasting stations and may allocate the channel numbers of the VTR to a second ordered series of broadcasting stations. Thus, if the user desires to record a particular program, the VTR may erroneously record the wrong program if the user does not remember that the channels set by the VTR are different than the channels set by the TV. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to overcome the disadvantages above, one object of the present invention is to provide an automatic channel accord method which coordinates the channels of different broadcasting reception devices. 
     In order to accomplish the above object, an automatic channel accord method, which harmonizes first channel data corresponding to a first broadcasting reception device and second channel data corresponding to a second broadcasting device, is provided. In particular, the method comprises the steps of: storing said first channel data in said first broadcasting reception device; storing said second channel data in said broadcasting reception device; copying said first channel data from said first broadcasting reception device; and storing said first channel data in said second broadcasting reception device as new second channel data such that said new second channel data stored in said second reception device corresponds to said first channel data stored in said first reception device. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram of a TV and a VTR which incorporate an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2A shows an example of the content of a display when the channels of two broadcasting reception devices are not harmonized; 
     FIG. 2B shows an example of the content of the display when a user is prompted to select how the channels of two broadcasting reception devices are to be harmonized; and 
     FIG. 2C shows an example of the content of the display when the channels of two broadcasting reception devices are harmonized. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description of the preferred embodiments discloses specific configurations and components. However, the preferred embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and thus, the specific features described below are merely used to more easily describe such embodiments and to provide an overall understanding of the present invention. Accordingly, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described below. Furthermore, the descriptions of various features and structures of the present invention which would be known to one skilled in the art are omitted for the sake of clarity and brevity. 
     FIG. 1 is a diagram of a first broadcasting reception device (e.g. a television (&#34;TV&#34;)) 1 and a second broadcasting reception device (e.g. a video tape recorder (&#34;VTR&#34;)) 2 which incorporate an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the TV 1 comprises a TV broadcasting receiver 4, a TV controller 6, and a TV channel storage unit 8. The receiver 4 receives broadcasting signals from an antenna 3 and outputs such signals to the controller 6, and the storage unit 8 outputs TV channel data to the controller 6. The TV channel data may correspond to the relationship among various TV channels, broadcasting stations, and/or frequencies over which broadcasting signals are transmitted by the broadcasting stations. The controller 6 inputs the channel data, as well as other data, and controls various operations of the TV 1. 
     Similarly, the VTR 2 comprises a VTR broadcasting receiver 5, a VTR controller 7, and a VTR channel storage unit 9. The receiver 5 inputs broadcasting signals from the antenna 3 and supplies such signals to the controller 7, and the storage unit 9 outputs VTR channel data to the controller 7. As in the case of the TV channel data, the VTR channel data relates to the relationship among various VTR channels, broadcasting stations, and/or frequencies over which broadcasting signals are transmitted by the broadcasting stations. The controller 7 inputs the VTR channel data, as well as other data, and controls various operations of the VTR 2. 
     In addition, the TV 1 and VTR 2 are connected together via an interface 10, and the interface 10 performs interface operations between the TV controller 6 and the VTR controller 7. The interface 10 inputs control signals, data, and clock signals from the TV 1 and outputs corresponding control signals, data, and clock signals to the VTR 2. Similarly, the interface 10 receives control signals, data, and clock signals from the VTR 2 and supplies related control signals, data, and clock signals to the TV 2. In addition, the interface 10 may be constructed from many types of components which are capable of performing the various interfacing functions. 
     For example, the interface 10 may be a scart jack which is generally used to form a connection between a TV and a VTR in a phase alternation line (&#34;PAL&#34;) broadcasting reception region. The scart jack contains 21 pins, and conventionally, three of the pins (i.e. pins 10, 12, and 14) are not used. Thus, in the present embodiment, the three unused pins may be used to transmit and receive the control signals, data, and the clock signals. 
     The manner in which the present embodiment harmonizes the channels of the TV 1 and VTR 2 will be described below in conjunction with FIGS. 2A to 2C. However, before the channels of the TV 1 and VTR 2 are harmonized, the user must assign broadcasting stations to the channels of the TV 1 and VTR 2. 
     In order to assign the TV channels of the TV 1 to particular broadcasting stations, the user may input a command via an input device, and the input device may supply a corresponding TV channel setting command signal to the TV controller 6. In response to the command signal, the controller 6 outputs a searching control signal to the broadcasting receiver 4 to search for broadcasting signals within a predetermined range of frequencies beginning from the lowest frequency. As the receiver 4 receives each broadcasting signal, the user assigns the broadcasting station transmitting such signal to a particular channel by inputting an appropriate TV channel assign command via the input device. Then, the controller 6 stores the particular TV channel and broadcasting station as channel data in the channel storage unit 8. Thus, the channel data may indicate the particular channel, broadcasting station transmitting the signal, and/or the frequency over which broadcasting signal is transmitted. 
     Channels of the VTR 2 may be assigned to particular broadcasting stations, in a similar manner. Specifically, the user may input a command via an input device, and the input device may output a related VTR channel setting command signal to the VTR controller 7. Then, the controller 7 supplies a searching control signal to the broadcasting receiver 5 to search for broadcasting signals within a predetermined range of frequencies beginning from the lowest frequency. As the receiver 5 detects each broadcasting signal, the user assigns the broadcasting station transmitting the signal to a certain channel by inputting a VTR channel assign commands via the input device. Then, the controller 7 stores the certain VTR channel and broadcasting station as channel data in the channel storage unit 9. 
     Subsequently, the user can display a list of the TV and VTR channels and their respectively assigned broadcasting stations on a display (not shown). In particular, the user may input a channel display command via the input device, and the input device outputs a corresponding command to the TV controller 6. As a result, the controller 6 detects or retrieves the TV channel data stored in the channel storage unit 8. 
     In addition, the VTR controller 7 detects or retrieves the VTR channel data stored in the channel storage unit 9, and outputs a control signal to the interface 10 to place the interface 10 in a communication standby mode. Then, the controller 7 sequentially outputs the VTR channel data and a clock signal indicative of the starting and ending points of the VTR channel data to the interface 10. Subsequently, the interface 10 outputs a control signal to the TV controller 6 to place the controller 6 in a data reception standby mode and supplies the VTR channel data and the clock signal to the controller 6. After the TV controller 6 inputs the TV channel data and the VTR channel data, the controller 6 displays the TV and VTR channel data on a display unit (not shown) as shown in FIG. 2A. 
     When the TV and VTR channel data is displayed, a message is also displayed which asks the user whether or not he or she desires to harmonize the TV channels and the VTR channels. If the user inputs a command indicating that he or she would like to harmonize the channels, the controller displays a menu on the display as illustrated in FIG. 2B. In particular, the menu contains an option for sorting the TV channels in accordance with the VTR channels and contains an option for sorting the VTR channels in accordance with the TV channels. 
     If the user desires to sort the TV channels based on the VTR channels, the user inputs a TV channel sort command via the input device, and the TV channel data stored in the channel storage unit 8 is deleted. Then, the VTR channel data stored in the channel storage unit 9 is copied and stored in the storage unit 8. Alternatively, the VTR channel data may be copied and written over the TV channel data in the storage unit 8 without previously deleting the TV channel data. As a result, both the TV channels and the VTR channels correspond to the same broadcasting stations. Specifically, if the TV channel data and the VTR channel data are again displayed on the screen, the display would display the information shown in FIG. 2C. 
     On the other hand, if the user desires to sort the VTR channels in accordance with the VTR channels, the user inputs a VTR channel sort command via the input device, and the VTR channel data stored in the channel storage unit 9 is deleted. Then, the TV channel data stored in the channel storage unit 8 is copied and stored in the storage unit 9. In addition, the TV channel data may be copied and written over the VTR channel data in the storage unit 9 without previously deleting the VTR channel data. As a result, both the TV channels and the VTR channels correspond to the same broadcasting stations. 
     As described above, the TV channels and the VTR channels can be automatically harmonized by simply inputting a few easy commands. Thus, the user does not need to remember the relationship between the broadcasting stations and TV channel numbers stored in the TV 1 and the relationship between the broadcasting stations and the VTR channel numbers stored in the VTR 2 when the user operates the TV and VTR together. Also, since the present invention automatically harmonizes the TV channels and the VTR channels, the invention prevents the wrong program from being erroneously recorded if the user forgets the relationship of the VTR channels and the broadcasting stations. 
     The previous description of the preferred embodiments is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Moreover, various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of inventive faculty. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described herein but is to be accorded the widest scope as defined by the claims.