Abstract:
A consumer electronic device tuning system is disclosed. The system receives instructions form a user of the electronic device and converts the instructions into digital and/or analog signals. These command signals are then conveyed to a mapping unit which matches the command signals with available programs data mapped in a mapping table of the mapping unit with regard to the programs available with an electronic device. The mapping unit enables the electronic device to play the requested program.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     Frequency tuning in electronic devices for example TV, radio, cassette and/or disc players etc. is done manually by operating the electronic device itself in person or by using the remote control. The user of an electronic device presses a button relating to a specific channel number and the frequency is tuned based on an input channel number. The user, for tuning an electronic device for example a TV, is required to have prior knowledge of the channel number with respect to different entertainment networks. Similarly the user is required to have prior knowledge of the frequency for a respective radio station for tuning a radio and a track number of a particular song to play back such song via a disc player. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0002]     The invention described herein is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying figures. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference labels have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.  
         [0003]      FIGS. 1A-1D  illustrates different embodiments of an electronic device tuning system.  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of control unit  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of mapping unit.  
         [0006]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of mapping table generation process that may be implemented by the mapping unit.  
         [0007]      FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of program select process that may be implemented by the control unit.  
         [0008]      FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of electronic device tuning process that may be implemented by the system of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0009]     In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are described in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other stances, well known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. Further, example sizes/models/values/ranges may be given, although the present invention is not limited to these specific examples.  
         [0010]     References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.  
         [0011]     Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1D , different embodiments of an electronic device tuning system are shown. The electronic device tuning system may comprise a control unit  100 , a mapping unit  200  and an electronic device  300  like, for example, a TV, a radio, a cassette player, and/or a disc player.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment and as depicted in  FIG. 1A , a control unit  100  may be an independent unit to be used by a user as a remote control unit. The mapping unit  200  may also be a separate unit adapted to be coupled with an electronic device  300 . The user controller  100  and the mapping unit  200  may communicate with each other. Also the mapping unit may communicate with an electronic device  300 .  
         [0013]     In another embodiment and as depicted in  FIG. 1B , a mapping unit  200  may be provided as a built-in unit with an electronic device  300 . A control unit  100  may be an independent unit to be used by a user as a remote control. The mapping unit  200  may be capable to communicate with the electronic device  300  and the control unit  100  may be capable to communicate with the mapping unit  200 .  
         [0014]     In yet another embodiment and as depicted in  FIG. 1C , a control unit  100  may have a mapping unit  200  provided therewith and may be capable to communicate with each other and also with an electronic device  300 . Combined unit of the control unit  100  and the mapping unit  200  may be used as an external unit to the electronic device  300  and may be capable to communicate with the electronic device  300 .  
         [0015]     In still another embodiment and as depicted in  FIG. 1D , a control unit  100  may have a mapping unit  200  provided therewith. Combined unit of the control unit  100  and the mapping unit  200  may be provided as a built-in unit with an electronic device  300 . The control unit  100  may communicate with the mapping unit  200  and the mapping unit  200  may communicate with the electronic device  300 .  
         [0016]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , one embodiment of a control unit  100  is illustrated. As depicted, the control unit  100  may comprise a user interface  105  coupled with a processor  110 . The processor  110  may be coupled with a memory  120 . A mapping unit interface  115  may be coupled with the processor  110 . The mapping unit interface  115  may be capable to communicate with a mapping unit  200  through a control unit interface  205  of the mapping unit  200 .  
         [0017]     The user interface  105  may receive instructions/requests for example spoken command from a user of an electronic device  300  and may convert the instructions into digital and/or analog signals. These digital/analog signals may be transmitted to the processor  110 . The processor may process the signals and may read and/or write data from and into the memory  120  as per the instructions of the user. The processor  110  may retrieve the data from the memory  120  and transmit the data to the mapping unit  200  to enable the mapping unit  200  to tune the electronic device  300  as per the instructions of the user and to play the requested program.  
         [0018]     The user interface  105  according to an embodiment may comprise a voice enabled unit or a touch screen unit or any other kind of unit capable to receive user command. The user interface  105  may further communicate the received user commands to the processor  110  of the controller unit  100 . The user interface  105  may also comprise one or more output mechanisms such as a speaker, display screen, or other presentation device to present available programs data to a user.  
         [0019]     The memory  120 , as depicted, may comprise available program data  125  to store data regarding the programs available with the different electronic devices  300 . The mapping unit interface  115  may be provided with the control unit  100  to facilitate receiving and/or transmitting information packets from and/or to the respective mapping unit  200  provided with different electronic device  300  and to transmit the information packets to the processor  110  with regard to the available programs.  
         [0020]     The processor  110  may process the information packets and may store respective available program data  125  of the information packets in the memory  120  to store the data regarding the available programs with respect to a particular electronic device  300 . The mapping unit interface  115  may transmit the instruction signals, received from the user of the electronic device  300 , to the mapping unit  200  through a control unit interface  205  provided with the mapping unit  200 . Similarly mapping unit interface  115  may receive information packets from the mapping unit  200  through a control unit interface  205  provided with the mapping unit  200 .  
         [0021]     In one embodiment the user may be able to select a category like for example sport, news, movies etc with the help of the control unit  100 . The control unit  100  may send the signal to the mapping unit  200 . The mapping unit  200  then may search for all channels that fall in that category and send the list of the available programs to the control unit  100 . The control unit  100  may update the available program data  125  of the memory  120  based upon the received list of available programs.  
         [0022]     In one embodiment the control unit  100  may be provided with voice recognition and transmission capability. When switched on, the control unit  100  may broadcast signals such as an IDLE signal to all available mapping units  200  in the electronic devices  300 . The mapping units  200  on reception of the IDLE signals may know that it has as association with the control unit  100 . The mapping unit interface  115  may be used by the control unit  100  to broadcast common system signals like for example IDLE, START, SHOUTDOWN etc., to the mapping units  200 . In one embodiment dedicated frequencies may be used between the control unit  100  and mapping unit  200  to communicate between the control unit  100  and particular mapping unit  200  provided with an electronic device  300 .  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , one embodiment of a mapping unit  200  is illustrated. The mapping unit  200  may comprise a control unit interface  205  that may be coupled with a processor  210 . The processor  210  may be coupled with an electronic device interface  215 . The processor  210  may also be coupled with a memory  220 .  
         [0024]     The mapping unit  200  may send a request to the electronic device  300  to fetch the information regarding available programs through the electronic device interface  215  and may receive the information packets from the electronic device  300  as per the request through electronic device interface  215 . The information packets received from the electronic device  300  may be transmitted to the processor  210 . Channel names may be obtained from the header information of the received broadcasted signals in particular frequency. For example TV telecast signals received have the channel names like AXN, HBO, ZTV etc, and radio signals received have channel frequency name like BBC, WIBC, ALL INDIA RADIO etc. This information may be used to build the mapping table  225  in the memory  220  with multiple records for example TV network names to corresponding TV channels, radio station names to corresponding frequencies, and/or song names to corresponding track number. This process of sending the request to the electronic device  300  to fetch the information may be repeated to obtain complete information regarding available channel names and the frequency. The mapping unit may be capable to convey the list of channel names available with the electronic device to the control unit  100  to facilitate selection of the TV channel, radio station and/or a particular song, by the user.  
         [0025]     The processor  210  may process the information packets to identify the program and related playback information, for example, TV network names to corresponding TV channels, radio station names to corresponding frequencies, and/or song names to corresponding track numbers. The processor  210  may convey the information data to the memory  220  so as to store the information data in a mapping table  225  provided with the memory  220 .  
         [0026]     As depicted, the memory  220  may comprise one or more mapping tables  225  to store the information data that maps, for example, TV network names to corresponding playback TV channels selections, radio station names to corresponding playback frequencies selections, and/or song names to corresponding playback tracks selections relating to available programs with an electronic device  300 .  
         [0027]     In one embodiment and in case of multiple electronic devices  300  present in the house, the mapping unit  200  shall be provided for each electronic device  300 . Each electronic device  300  may have a mapping table  225  built therein and stored in the memory  220  of the mapping unit  200 . The mapping table  225  may have as many records as the broadcasting channels along with corresponding playback selections received by the electronic device  300 . Once the mapping table  225  is built, the list of the channel names may be transmitted to the controller unit  100  and the mapping unit  200  may start receiving instructions from the user.  
         [0028]     The control unit interface  205  may facilitate receiving and transmitting the information signals from and to a control unit  100 . The control unit interface  205  may receive the information signal packets from the control unit  100  through the mapping unit interface  115  of the control unit  100  and may convey the signals to the processor  210  of the mapping unit  200 .  
         [0029]     The processor  210  may process the information signal packets. The processor  210  may further retrieve information from the memory  220  and may transmit the information to an electronic device  300  through an electronic device interface  215  so as to enable the electronic device  300  to play the required program.  
         [0030]     In one embodiment and where the user may be expected to use different names for the same frequency for example MTV or Music Television for the same channel, the mapping unit  200  may maintain two different entries with MTV and frequency and Music Television and the same frequency to be able to provide flexibility for frequency selection and there by avoiding confusion. Similarly in case of CD/DVD players the control unit  100  may have available list of songs or movie from the player and display it to the user for selection.  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an embodiment of mapping table generation process implementable by the mapping unit  200  is illustrated. As depicted in block  400 , the mapping unit  200  may send a request to the electronic device  300  to fetch the information regarding available programs through the electronic device interface  215 . In one embodiment the request to fetch information may comprise a command field and a payload field. The command field may carry a request or response op-code (operational code) between the mapping unit  200  and an electronic device  300  so as to request information from the electronic device  300  regarding available programs the electronic device  300  has for playing. The payload field may carry mapping information and/or play back selections between the mapping unit  200  and the electronic device  300  such as, for example, TV network name to channel mappings, radio station name to frequency mappings, song name to track mappings and/or some other user friendly name that may be stored in the mapping table  225  of the mapping unit  200  to facilitate playback of a requested program.  
         [0032]     In block  405 , the mapping unit  200  may receive the information packets from the electronic device  300  as per the request through electronic device interface  215 . The information packets received from the electronic device  300  may be transmitted to the processor  210  for processing and to obtain the information from the information packet. In one embodiment channel names may be obtained from the header information of the received TV telecast signals. Similarly radio stations name may be obtained from radio signals received by mapping unit  200 .  
         [0033]     In block  410 , the processor  210  may map the program for example channel name with the particular frequency at which the information packet with header information was broadcasted. Also the name of the radio station may be mapped with the frequency at which the radio signals were broadcasted. Similarly the name of the songs or movie may be mapped with the track number received in the information packet by the mapping unit  200  from the electronic device  300 .  
         [0034]     In block  415 , the processor uses the information received from the electronic device to build the mapping table  225  provided in the memory  220  with multiple records for example TV network names to corresponding TV channels, radio station names to corresponding frequencies, and/or song names to corresponding track numbers constituting corresponding playback selections. This process of sending the request to the electronic device  300  to fetch the information may be repeated again and again to obtain complete information regarding available programs and corresponding playback selections data available with the electronic device  300 .  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , an embodiment of program selections process implementable by the control unit  200  is illustrated. As depicted in block  500 , the control unit  100  may send START signal to the mapping unit  200  through mapping unit interface  115  and mapping unit  200  may start transmitting information packet to the control unit  100  through control unit interface  205 , upon establishing an association of the mapping unit  200  with the control unit  100 . In one embodiment the information packet may comprise a source ID field, a mapping information field and a checksum field. The mapping information field may comprise mapping information and/or playback selections regarding the available programs stored in a mapping table  225  of a memory  220  of the mapping unit  200 . The checksum field may provide a checksum of the whole information packet to enable the control unit  100  to verify the data integrity of the received information packet.  
         [0036]     In block  505 , the control unit may receive source ID information from a mapping unit  200  through a mapping unit interface  115 . The source ID information may be sent by the mapping unit through a control unit interface  205 . The source ID field may specify the electronic device  300  from which the information has been sent.  
         [0037]     In block  510 , the control unit  100  may receive information packet through a mapping unit interface  115 , regarding the available programs and corresponding playback selections data available and stored in the mapping table  225  provided in the memory  220  of the mapping unit  200  and convey the information packet to a processor  110  of the control unit  100 . Available programs and corresponding playback selections data information may be sent by the mapping unit through a control unit interface  205 .  
         [0038]     In block  515 , the processor  110  may process the information packet and may store available programs data  125  of the information packet in the memory  120  of the control unit  100 . The available programs data can be seen by the user on the control unit and the user may search to select a desired program from the available programs data  125  and may select a program to be played by the electronic device  300 .  
         [0039]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 6  which depicts a process of tuning of an electronic device. As depicted in block  600 , user interface  105  of a control unit  100  may receive instructions to select a particular electronic device  300 . The user interface  105  may convert the instruction signals into digital and/or analog signals and convey the signal to a processor  110 . The processor  210  processes the signals and identifies an electronic device and transmits the START signals to the intended electronic device  300  through a mapping unit interface  115 . If the intended electronic device  300  is not ON then the START signal may switch ON the intended electronic device  300  to establish an association of the electronic device  300  with the control unit  100 .  
         [0040]     In block  605 , and upon receiving the start signals a mapping unit  200  of the electronic device  300  starts sending the information packets to the control unit  100 . The signals received from the mapping unit  200  may be conveyed to a processor  110  which may process the signals and store data regarding available programs in the memory  120 .  
         [0041]     In block  610 , the user interface  105  may now wait to receive instructions from the user to play a particular program. Upon receiving the command from the user, the user interface  105  may convert the command signals into digital and/or analog signals and convey said signals to a processor  110 . The processor  110  may process the instructions received from the user and retrieve the information regarding the requested program from available programs data  125  of the memory  120  and transmit the digital and/or analog command signals to the mapping unit  200  of the associated electronic device  300  through a mapping unit interface  115 .  
         [0042]     In block  615 , a mapping unit  200  may receive the command signals from a control unit  100  for example a channel name through a control unit interface  205  and convey the signals to a processor  210 . The processor processes the signals so as to identify the channel name and start searching a mapping table  225  in a memory  220 , using the channel name.  
         [0043]     In block  620 , the processor identifies the channel name and retrieves the mapping frequency/playback selections from the mapping table  225 . The mapping unit  200  then instruct intended electronic device  300  to be tuned to the corresponding frequency/playback selection so as to play the desired program. If the specified channel is not found then the mapping unit in the electronic device  300  triggers a frequency scan with this channel name and this operation may not affect running program if the device was already running.  
         [0044]     Certain features of the invention have been described with reference to example embodiments. However, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the example embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention, which are apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains are deemed to lie within the spirit and scope of the invention.