VCR programming system

Abstract

An apparatus and method for programming a VCR is provided. The system, utilizing a programming controller, presents a display on the viewer's television which contains a pattern representing a plurality of time intervals. The user programs the controller by indicating what time intervals on what week and on what channel are to be recorded. The controller then continually compares the current time with the programmed time until a match is found. When a match is found the controller activates the VCR, tunes the VCR to the desired channel, and initiates recording. When the controller determines that the VCR has recorded for the desired length of time, it stops the VCR from further recording and turns off the power to the VCR.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A VCR programming system, comprising: 
 a programming controller coupled to a VCR and a television;    a clock coupled to said programming controller providing a time of the day and a day of the week;    a switching mechanism coupled to said programming controller for activating and suspending operation of said VCR programming system;    a display generator coupled to said programming controller for generating a display screen containing a VCR programming instructional display, said programming instructional display comprised of a pattern of markings representative of a plurality of individual time segments, wherein said pattern represents at least one day of the week;    a pointing device for selecting at least one of said individual time segments, wherein selection of said time segment causes said programming controller to store a set of VCR programming instructions within a storage memory, said storage memory coupled to said programming controller, and said set of VCR programming instructions including a start time and a stop time; and    a channel designator for inputting a specific channel into said programming controller, said input specific channel stored within said set of VCR programming instructions, wherein said programming controller utilizes said VCR programming instructions to control said VCR.    
     
     
         2 . The VCR programming system of  claim 1 , wherein said pattern of markings is a blank grid.  
     
     
         3 . The VCR programming system of  claim 1 , further comprising a week designator for inputting a specific week into said programming controller, said specific week stored within said set of VCR programming instructions.  
     
     
         4 . The VCR programming system of  claim 1 , wherein said programming controller can accept a plurality of sets of VCR programming instructions.  
     
     
         5 . The VCR programming system of  claim 4 , further comprising a program designator for indicating a particular set of VCR programming instructions from said plurality of VCR programming instructions.  
     
     
         6 . The VCR programming system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of individual time segments is sufficient to represent each day of a seven day week.  
     
     
         7 . The VCR programming system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of individual time segments represents a 30 minute durational time period.  
     
     
         8 . The VCR programming system of  claim 1 , wherein said pointing device is a cursor on said display screen, said cursor highlighting said selected time segments.  
     
     
         9 . The VCR programming system of  claim 8 , further comprising a remote controller for manipulating said cursor.  
     
     
         10 . The VCR programming system of  claim 1 , further comprising an IR emitter coupled to said programming controller, said IR emitter controlling said VCR.  
     
     
         11 . The VCR programming system of  claim 1 , wherein said VCR programming system is resident within a device selected from the group consisting of a stand-alone device, a decoder box, a television guide system, a television, a TVCR, and a VCR.  
     
     
         12 . A VCR programming system, comprising: 
 a programming controller coupled to a VCR and a television;    a clock coupled to said programming controller providing a time of the day and a day of the week;    a switching mechanism coupled to said programming controller for activating and suspending operation of said VCR programming system;    a display generator coupled to said programming controller for generating a display screen containing a VCR programming instructional display, said programming instructional display comprised of a pattern of markings representative of a plurality of individual time segments, wherein said pattern represents at least one day of the week;    a pointing device for selecting at least one of said individual time segments, wherein selection of said time segment causes said programming controller to store a set of VCR programming instructions within a storage memory, said storage memory coupled to said programming controller, and said set of VCR programming instructions including a start time and a program duration; and    a channel designator for inputting a specific channel into said programming controller, said input specific channel stored within said set of VCR programming instructions, wherein said programming controller utilizes said VCR programming instructions to control said VCR.    
     
     
         13 . A method of programming a VCR, said method comprising the steps of: 
 activating a programming controller, said programming controller coupled to said VCR and a television;    generating a display with said programming controller, said display presented on a screen coupled to said television, said display comprised of a pattern of markings representative of a plurality of individual time segments, wherein said pattern represents at least one day of the week;    selecting at least one of said individual time segments;    storing within a memory coupled to said programming controller a set of VCR programming instructions based on said selected individual time segment, said set of VCR programming instructions including a start time, a stop time, and a day of the week;    inputting a channel designator into said VCR programming controller, wherein said channel designator is stored within said set of VCR programming instructions;    storing within said VCR programming instructions said input channel designator;    determining a clocked time of the day and a clocked day of the week with a clock coupled to said programming controller;    comparing said clocked time of the day and said clocked day of the week with said VCR programming instructions;    initializing a recording function on said VCR with said programming controller when said clocked time of the day and said clocked day of the week correspond to said start time and said day of the week;    tuning said VCR to a VCR channel corresponding to said input channel designator with said programming controller; and    ending said recording function on said VCR with said programming controller when said clocked time of the day and said clocked day of the week correspond to said stop time and said day of the week.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said pattern of markings is a blank grid.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the steps of: 
 inputting a program designator into said VCR programming controller, said program designator indicating a specific set of VCR programming instructions from a plurality of sets of VCR programming instructions; and    chronologically ordering said plurality of sets of VCR programming instructions.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of individual time segments is sufficient to represent each day of a seven day week.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of said plurality of individual time segments represents a 30 minute durational time period.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said selecting step is further comprised of the step of highlighting said selected time segments.