Systeme unifie de communication a programmation regroupant les communications de l'art anterieur (telles que par exemple la television, la radio, l'impression transmise electroniquement, et les communications par ordinateur) ainsi que les nouveaux mass medias specifiques aux utilisateurs. Unified programming communication system involving communications of the prior art (such as eg television, radio, print transmitted electronically, and computer communications) and new mass media specific users. Dans le systeme unifie, des moyens (205) et procedes mettant en oeuvre des systemes d'ordinateurs ont la capacite de produire des informations specifiques a un utilisateur particulier, simultanement a chaque poste (26) d'une pluralite de postes d'abonnes (26). In the unified system, means (205) and methods employing computer systems have the ability to generate specific information to a particular user, simultaneously with each station (26) a plurality of subscriber stations ( 26).

Signal processing apparatus and methods.

An electronic program schedule system with access to both stored television program schedule information and data feeds containing status information for live programs such as sporting events. The system includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs and data feeds containing status information for certain of the programs, and a video display generator for generating a display signal simultaneously comprising information from both the stored schedule information and the received data feed. The system is further provided with user control means such as a remote controller for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto so as to control the content of the display signal. The display signal may be displayed on a display apparatus such as a television receiver. In addition, the program schedule system of the present invention utilizes category-specific user interfaces providing access to multiple services including television programs, received data feeds, home shopping services, and video games as well as the stored program schedule information.

Electronic television program guide schedule system and method with data feed access

A client-server interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide client is implemented on user television equipment. The interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to define expressions that are processed by the program guide server. The program guide server may provide program guide data, schedules reminders, schedules program recordings, and parentally locks programs based on the expressions. Users' viewing histories may be tracked. The program guide server may analyze the viewing histories and generates viewing recommendations, targets advertising, and collects program ratings information based on the viewing histories.

Client-server electronic program guide

The disclosed methods and apparatus relate generally to the electronics media industry, such as cable television (CATV), home shopping services, on-line computer services and computer memory applications. These methods and apparatus allow a user to access and make use of electronic media input and output devices by reference to and/or utilization of standard printed matter, such as magazines, textbooks, or any other printed matter that can be correlated to electronic media.

Method and apparatus for accessing electronic data via a familiar printed medium

A system and method may be provided that allows users to store, retrieve, and manipulate on-demand media content and data stored on a remote server network in an on-demand media delivery system. More particularly, the system may allow a user to access his or her on-demand media account from user equipment in different locations as long as the current user equipment can communicate with a remote server that stores user-specific information. The system upon user selection may freeze the delivery of on-demand media at a particular point and allow the user to resume the media at a later time from some other network location in system. Users may upload personal images or files to an on-demand delivery server for later retrieval and display. Users may be permitted to assign access rights to the uploaded files.

Systems and methods for providing storage of data on servers in an on-demand media delivery system

An electronic device, such as a video tape recorder (VTR), is set into a desired, but complex mode, such as automatic recording of a desired program, by manual scanning with an optical wand or other scanning instrument of one or more code groups printed on a selection card. Respective selection cards have code groups thereon for selecting, for example, mode, channel, day of week, recording start time (including AM or PM), and recording end time. Code signals provided from the scanning instrument are processed in a data processing circuit, which can be provided as a microprocessor and included in the VTR to provide control signals to the VTR in response to information contained in the scanned code groups. Alternatively, a combination of an FM receiver and high fidelity audio recorder can be set into an auto record mode or other complex operating mode by scanning of selection cards with a scanning instrument associated with such combination.

Method and apparatus for automatic control of electronic equipment

In a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in which first and second signals, such as, the chrominance and luminance signals of a color television signal, are recorded by first and second magnetic heads in respective first and second tracks traced thereby on a magnetic recording tape, the first and second tracks are made to overlap, at least partly, so as to increase the utilization of the tape, and the signals to be recorded are given substantially different frequencies to permit their reproduction without interference from each other. In order to further avoid interference between the signals recorded in the overlapped tracks, the core gap of the head for recording and reproducing the relatively low frequency signal is made wider than the core gap of the other head, and the latter core gap extends transversely at right angles to the longitudinal direction of its respective track while the relatively wide core gap extends obliquely with respect to its track.

Magnetic recording system with overlapping tracks of high and low frequency information

In a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus that includes a cylindrical tape guide drum with at least one rotary magnetic head moved in a circular path substantially coinciding with the periphery of the drum, a tape supply, such as, a cassette containing reels on which a magnetic tape is wound, a holder spaced from the guide drum for receiving and positioning the cassette and a capstan spaced from the guide drum; a support ring is rotatable around the drum between inactive and active positions in an arcuate path that extends adjacent the holder and capstan, tape engaging members including a pinch roller are mounted on the support ring and movable with the latter for extending into the cassette and engaging the tape between the reels with the support ring in its inactive position and for withdrawing a progressively extended loop of the tape from the cassette and wrapping the extended tape loop about at least a portion of the guide drum periphery in response to movement of the support ring to its active position at which the pinch roller is located within the tape loop adjacent the capstan, and an actuating device is operative only during recording and reproducing operations of the apparatus, for example, by energizing of a solenoid, for pressing the pinch roller against the capstan so that the latter drives the tape therebetween and such actuating device is otherwise effective for locking or securely holding the pinch roller away from the capstan with the support ring in its active position so that the tape can remain wrapped about the guide drum, for example, during fast forward and rewinding operations, without the danger that the resulting increased tape tension will move the pinch roller against the capstan.

Magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Apparatus for the recording of video signals and for the normal slow motion or still picture reproduction of such signals

In a video signal recording and reproducing apparatus having one or more rotary heads for recording or reproducing video signals in tracks extending obliquely across a magnetic tape as the latter is transported or driven about a guide drum and a fixed head for recording or reproducing control signals at spaced locations along the tape corresponding to the tracks, the tape is automatically brought to rest with its last recorded or reproduced track at a predetermined position relative to the path of the rotary heads whenever driving of the tape is halted, as for the still reproduction of a television picture or for the editing of the video signals recorded on the tape.

Nobutoshi Kihara

Papers

Method and apparatus for automatic control of electronic equipment

Magnetic recording system with overlapping tracks of high and low frequency information

Magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Apparatus for the recording of video signals and for the normal slow motion or still picture reproduction of such signals

Magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus for videotape editing