Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20060174280?dq=patent:7076806
Timestamp: 2014-12-22 22:50:40
Document Index: 164706679

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Patent US20060174280 - Computer system and method for storing TV signals therein - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA computer comprises: a central processing unit (CPU) driving an operating system (OS); a television (TV) receiver part for receiving external television signals; a storage unit for storing the television signals therein; a reserve-recording set-up part for setting up reserve-recording conditions for...http://www.google.com/patents/US20060174280?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20060174280 - Computer system and method for storing TV signals thereinAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20060174280 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 11/327,649Publication dateAug 3, 2006Filing dateJan 9, 2006Priority dateOct 19, 2000Also published asUS6985191, US7283180, US20020047925Publication number11327649, 327649, US 2006/0174280 A1, US 2006/174280 A1, US 20060174280 A1, US 20060174280A1, US 2006174280 A1, US 2006174280A1, US-A1-20060174280, US-A1-2006174280, US2006/0174280A1, US2006/174280A1, US20060174280 A1, US20060174280A1, US2006174280 A1, US2006174280A1InventorsSeung-Beom ChoiOriginal AssigneeSeung-Beom ChoiExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (4), Classifications (45), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetComputer system and method for storing TV signals thereinUS 20060174280 A1Abstract A computer comprises: a central processing unit (CPU) driving an operating system (OS); a television (TV) receiver part for receiving external television signals; a storage unit for storing the television signals therein; a reserve-recording set-up part for setting up reserve-recording conditions for the television signals; a record-controlling part for storing the television signals in the storage unit according to the set-up reserve-recording conditions; and a power control part for controlling power supply to allow switching between a normal mode and a power saving mode, and for switching from the power saving mode to the normal mode according to the set-up reserve-recording conditions when a time set-up for reserve-recording approaches, wherein the computer system supplies power to the central processing unit in the normal mode, whereas it does not supply power to the central processing unit in the power saving mode. The computer is automatically supplied with power to initiate the reserve-recording of a television program when the computer is in the power saving mode of the central processing unit, thereby minimizing power consumption due to reserve-recording. Images(7) Claims(15)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION While the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, it is to be understood at the outset of the description which follows that persons of skill in the appropriate arts may modify the invention here described while still achieving the favorable results of this invention. Accordingly, the description which follows is to be understood as being a broad, teaching disclosure directed to persons of skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the present invention. A method of recording a television program on a computer system will be described with respect to FIG. 5. The recording shown in FIG. 5 comprises a �reserve-recording� operation. The phrase �reserve-recording� can refer to recording of a signal which is set to be performed automatically at a predetermined time. For example, on 25 Feb. 2001, a person can program a video cassette recorder (VCR) to record a television show which is scheduled to be broadcast on television on 27 Feb. 2001. Thus, the phrase �reserve-recording� can be used to describe a recording operation which is performed automatically, without user intervention, at a predetermined reserved time. In FIG. 5, at step S510, power is supplied to a computer system. At step S520, a reserve-recording set-up program installed in the computer system is executed to allow a user to set up a broadcasting channel to be recorded and a broadcast time thereof. At step S530, when the computer system is on at the time of initiation of the reserve-recording, the reserve-recording set-up program is automatically activated. At step S540, received television signals are converted into digital files in a television receiver part. As an example, these digital files can comprise video files such as Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) files, audio visual interleaved (AVI) files, RealPlayer media (RM) files, or Windows Media Player media (WMV) files. At step S550, the digital files are stored in a hard disk drive which is a storage unit in the computer system. At step S560, after the recording is finished, the execution of the recording program automatically terminates. However, in the television program reserve-recording method of FIG. 5, it is required that the computer system be powered on prior to the reserve-recording, even when the user is not using the computer system. Also, in the method of FIG. 5, the computer system does not turn off after the recording is finished, thereby causing an unnecessary consumption of power. Referring to FIG. 1, a computer system of the present invention comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 10 driving an operating system (OS) of the computer system, an input unit 20 for inputting external commands into the CPU 10, a television receiver part 30 for receiving external television signals therein, a monitor 40 for outputting the television signals received in the television receiver part 30, and a hard disk drive 50 serving as a storage unit. The CPU 10 is supplied with power to drive the operating system of the computer system. The CPU 10 outputs the television signals to the monitor 40 in cooperation with the television receiver part 30 and a recording part 53 to be described later, and stores the television signals in the hard disk drive 50 substantially at the same time. The hard disk drive 50 comprises a recording part 53 which is software to receive the television signals, to convert the received television signals into digital files such as MPEG files or AVI files, for example, and to output and record the converted digital files, and a power control part 55 for controlling supply of power to the CPU 10 according to reserve-recording conditions of the recording part 53 so as to turn the computer system on or off. The television signals converted into digital files through the recording part 53 are stored in the hard disk drive 50. The recording part 53 comprises a reserve-recording set-up part 60 which is software to receive the television signals and to set up the reserve-recording conditions, and a record-controlling part 70 for outputting and recording the received television signals. The reserve-recording set-up part 60 includes a password skipping part 72. The reserve-recording set-up part 60 comprises a reserve-recording set-up window display 61 for setting up the reserve-recording conditions, a mode selection window display 80 for selecting a power mode (that is, power saving mode or normal mode) of the central processing unit after setting up the recording conditions, and an identification window display 63 for identifying the set-up reserve-recording conditions. When the computer system needs to have a password in order to operate, the password skipping part 72 in the reserve-recording set-up part 60 installs a password skip flag at a password designating point of the system basic input output system (BIOS). Accordingly, when the power mode is switched from the power saving mode to the normal mode, the password can be automatically skipped even though it is established in the system. Thus, if a password is required when the computer system goes from power saving mode to normal mode, the password skipping part 72 can enable the present invention to work properly without user intervention since the password requirement will not impede the process of the present invention. The password skipping part 72 can be set to cause the computer system to go from power saving mode to normal mode without requiring a user to manually enter a password at the moment that the computer system goes from power saving mode to normal mode for the recording of television signals in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Also, the password skipping part 72 can be not set, thus causing the computer system to require that a user manually enter a password at the moment that the computer system goes from power saving mode to normal mode for the recording of television signals. The present invention can also work without the password skipping part 72 because some computer systems are configured to not require a password when changing from a power save mode to a normal mode. The password skipping part 72 is a desirable enhancement which adds convenience. The password skipping part 72 can be configured to eliminate the need for a password to be entered only at times when a television signal will be recorded. Thus, if the mouse of the computer system is moved and the computer system is starting to change from the power save mode to a normal mode, then the password would be required to be entered by the user, since television signals are not about to be recorded. The user can select a desired television broadcasting channel and its broadcast time as reserve-recording conditions through use of the reserve-recording set-up window display 61. The mode selection window display 80, shown along with the reserve-recording set-up window display 61, is used in selecting the power mode of the CPU 10 after the user sets up the reserve-recording conditions. The user can select the power saving mode while he or she is not using the computer after setting up the reserve-recording conditions, and he or she can select the normal mode while he or she continues to use the computer. The identification window display 63 for identifying the reserve-recording conditions is used in changing, withdrawing or approving the set-up reserve-recording conditions displayed in the monitor 40 when the power mode of the system is changed from the power saving mode to the normal mode by the user after setting up the reserve-recording conditions. The record-controlling part 70 receives the television signals through the television receiver part 30, converts them into digital files, such as MPEG files or AVI files, which can be used in the computer system, and outputs them to the monitor 40, and at the same time stores them in the hard disk drive 50. The record-controlling part 70 allows the user to determine whether to continue to use the computer system or whether to stop its operation, through the mode selection window display 80, after the recording is finished. The power control part 55 is a type of application program for controlling the hardware of the computer system. The power control part 55 controls the supply of power to the CPU 10 according to the reserve-recording conditions so that the power mode is automatically changed to the normal mode in which power is supplied to the CPU 10, or to the power saving mode in which power is not supplied to the CPU 10. In the normal mode, all of the hardware of the computer system, including the CPU 10, is operated in a normal manner. For example, the process of receiving television signals in the television receiver part 30 and storing them in the hard disk drive 50 is performed in the normal mode. However, if the power mode is converted to the power saving mode by the power control part 55, all of the jobs done up to that time are saved in the hard disk drive 50, and then the monitor 40, the hard disk drive 50, and the CPU 10 are turned off, and thus the computer system is finally turned off. Referring collectively to FIGS. 2 and 6, the process of receiving television signals and storing them in the hard disk drive 50 according to the reserve-recording conditions will be described. A user connects power to the computer system so as to activate the reserve-recording set-up part 60, for receiving television signals and storing them in the hard disk drive 50 in the form of a digital file (S 10). Subsequently, the reserve-recording set-up window display 61 appears as seen in FIG. 3, allowing the user to set up the reserve-recording conditions, and accordingly, the user sets up a television broadcasting program desired for reserve-recording and a broadcast time (S20). Once the reserve-recording conditions are set up, the window display shows the mode selection window display 80 through which the user is allowed to determine whether to stop using the computer system after setting up the reserve-recording conditions or whether to continue using the computer system (S30). It is then determined whether the power saving mode is selected (S40). If the normal mode is selected, the computer system continues to operate (S90), and then the power control part 55 supplies power to the CPU 10 so as to allow the user to use the computer system. If the power saving mode is selected, the process of terminating the computer system is conducted (S50). The power control part 55 stores all of the jobs within a memory of the computer system in the hard disk drive 50, and then turns off the hard disk drive 50 and the CPU 10. In the off state of the computer system, if the user connects the power to resume use of the computer system (S60) or if the reserved broadcast time approaches (S70), the computer system is automatically turned on (S80). In step S70, the power control part 55 checks the reserve time using a timer (not shown) installed in the computer system, and supplies power to the CPU 10 a few minutes before the reserve-recording time starts so as to allow the computer system to be turned on for reserve-recording. The power control part 55 determines whether the computer system is turned on by the user at the same time as the system is turned on (S100). Where the computer system is not turned on by the user, a determination is made as to whether a password is required (S110). If no password is required, step S180 is performed after step S110. If a password is required, then step S130 is performed after step S110. If a password is required and was previously given to the system, the reserve-recording set-up part 60 provides a password skip flag to the system basic input output system (BIOS) so as to skip the password (S130). After the record-controlling part 70 in the recorder part 53 is activated in dependence upon the reserve-recording conditions set up through the reserve-recording set-up part 60 (S180), it receives the television signals through the television recorder part 30, converts them into digital files employable in the computer system, and outputs them to the monitor 40, while at the same time storing them in the hard disk drive 50 (S190). The recording is finished by the record-controlling part 70 according to the reserve-recording conditions set up through the reserve-recording set-up part 60, and the mode selection window display 80 is shown in the monitor 40, allowing the user to determine whether to continuously use the computer or to maintain the computer in suspension (S200); in other words, at step S202, a user is presented with choices of making a selection of a normal mode or a power saving mode after completion of the recording. Step S210 is performed after step S200 in order to determine whether the mode is the power saving mode. Where the mode selection window display 80 is not used because of the user's need for sleep or rest, etc., the power saving mode is automatically selected, and step S50 is accordingly conducted. Conversely, where the power mode can be selected through the mode selection window display 80, a determination as to whether or not the power saving mode is selected is made, and step S90 or step S50 is conducted depending upon the determination (S210). Where it is determined through step Si 00 that the system is turned on by the user, step S150 is executed. In step S150, the identification window display 63 for identifying the reserve-recording conditions within the reserve-recording set-up part 60 is displayed as seen in FIG. 4, allowing the user to change, withdraw or approve the reserve-recording conditions. Where the reserve-recording conditions are approved in step S160 or are changed in step S170, step S180 is then executed. Where the reserve-recording conditions are withdrawn, step S90 is carried out. Where the reserve-recording conditions are not identified for a predetermined period of time after the identification window display 63 is shown, although this situation is not shown in the figures, the reserve-recording conditions are automatically approved and subsequently step S180 is carried out, to activate the record-controlling part 50. In the preferred embodiments described above, the television signals received through the television receiver part 30 are converted into digital files, such as MPEG files or AVI files, for example, and they are saved in the hard disk drive 50. However, the objects of the present invention may be achieved even if they are saved in a compact disk drive (not shown), or a recordable digital versatile disk (DVD) drive (not shown), or other form of storage device. As described above, the computer system and the method for storing television signals therein, according to the present invention, allow the computer system to be automatically turned on for reserve-recording of a television program and to be automatically turned off after the reserve-recording is finished, thereby minimizing power consumption due to the reserve-recording. While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the inventor to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7937729 *Feb 22, 2007May 3, 2011Canon Kabushiki KaishaReceiving apparatusUS8782715 *Jul 24, 2008Jul 15, 2014Canon Kabushiki KaishaCommunication apparatusUS20100175094 *Jul 24, 2008Jul 8, 2010Canon Kabushiki KaishaCommunication apparatusUS20100245678 *Jan 14, 2010Sep 30, 2010Sony United Kingdom LimitedTelevision apparatus* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification725/58, 348/E05.127, 386/E05.043, 348/E05.102, 375/E07.024, 348/730International ClassificationH04N5/63, H04N5/445, H04N5/92, G11B20/10, H04N5/782, H04N5/76, H04N5/781, G06F1/32, H04N5/765Cooperative ClassificationH04N21/47214, H04N21/435, H04N21/41407, H04N5/782, H04N21/235, H04N5/781, H04N5/44513, H04N21/4882, H04N21/462, H04N21/84, H04N21/4104, H04N21/4432, H04N21/23614, H04N5/63, H04N21/488, H04N21/4113European ClassificationH04N21/462, H04N21/84, H04N21/414M, H04N21/488M, H04N21/236W, H04N21/41P2, H04N21/443B, H04N21/435, H04N21/235, H04N21/488, H04N21/41P, H04N5/63, H04N5/445F, H04N5/782Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMar 25, 2011FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Apr 11, 2006ASAssignmentOwner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., A CORPORATION ORGANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CHOI, SEUNG-BEOM;REEL/FRAME:017780/0417Effective date: 20060314RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google