Apparatus and method for auto channel searching in a TV wherein various channel attributes are displayed in pages of channel listings

摘要

Apparatus for auto channel searching in a TV comprising a tuner 1,2, video signal processor 3, program information memory 6 (e.g. EEPROM), micro-computer 10 and a logo memory 7 wherein channel list information along with a logo are read from the appropriate memories and displayed on screen (figure 5B). Also disclosed are auto channel search methods: A first embodiment including the steps of displaying a numerical list of channels and searching these channels in sequence; then indicating, preferably by use of different colours, which channel numbers do not have a broadcast signal and preferably indicating those channels having some other attribute (e.g. digital, analogue, specific company). Furthermore if a specific company is to be indicated in association with a channel preferably this is by use of a logo (figure 4B, S26) which is preferably captured from the transmission of the specific company and preferably displayed alongside a channel number when the TV is operated. A second embodiment includes the step of displaying a video image of a channel in which a search is being performed (figure 4A, S16). A third embodiment includes the step of displaying a users last selected channel from a previously displayed list of channels.