Receivers for television signals

Abstract

A receiver is configured to receive television signals in a plurality of channels, a channel set identity, and a channel subset identity. Each channel defines a television program and/or other services provided by a broadcaster for the channel. The receiver is configured to store a reference channel set identity and one or more reference channel subset identities, compare the channel identity and channel subset identity for a channel in a received signal with the reference channel and channel subset identities, and output the received television signal for display of the program or other services defined thereby depending on the comparison.

1 . A receiver for receiving television signals in a plurality of channels each defining a television programme and/or other services provided by a broadcaster, and a channel set identity and a channel subset identity for the channel, the receiver comprising means for storing a reference channel set identity and one or more reference channel subset identities, means for comparing the channel identity and channel subset identity for a channel in a received signal with the reference channel and channel subset identities and means for outputting the received television signal for display of the programme or other services defined thereby depending on the comparison. 
     
     
         2 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the storing means is arranged to store a common channel subset identifying programmes and/or other services receivable independent of the receivers location and a regional channel subset identifying programmes and/or other services receivable depending on the location of the receiver. 
     
     
         3 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each channel has associated with it a logical channel number which varies on a channel subset basis, the receiver comprising means for displaying a list of programmes and/or other services containing the logical channel number. 
     
     
         4 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each channel has associated with it an order channel number which varies on a channel subset basis, the receiver comprising means for displaying a list of programmes and/or other services depending the order channel number. 
     
     
         5 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each channel has associated with it one or more indicators, the receiver comprising means responsive to the indicators for controlling display of programme and/or service information. 
     
     
         6 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each channel has associated with it a logical channel number which varies on a channel subset basis, the receiver comprising means for displaying a list of programmes and/or other services containing the logical channel number. 
     
     
         7 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each channel has associated with it an order channel number which varies on a channel subset basis, the receiver comprising means for displaying a list of programmes and/or other services depending the order channel number. 
     
     
         8 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each channel has associated with it an order channel number which varies on a channel subset basis, the receiver comprising means for displaying a list of programmes and/or other services depending the order channel number. 
     
     
         9 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each channel has associated with it an order channel number which varies on a channel subset basis, the receiver comprising means for displaying a list of programmes and/or other services depending the order channel number. 
     
     
         10 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each channel has associated with it one or more indicators, the receiver comprising means responsive to the indicators for controlling display of programme and/or service information. 
     
     
         11 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each channel has associated with it one or more indicators, the receiver comprising means responsive to the indicators for controlling display of programme and/or service information. 
     
     
         12 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein each channel has associated with it one or more indicators, the receiver comprising means responsive to the indicators for controlling display of programme and/or service information. 
     
     
         13 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each channel has associated with it one or more indicators, the receiver comprising means responsive to the indicators for controlling display of programme and/or service information. 
     
     
         14 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each channel has associated with it one or more indicators, the receiver comprising means responsive to the indicators for controlling display of programme and/or service information. 
     
     
         15 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each channel has associated with it one or more indicators, the receiver comprising means responsive to the indicators for controlling display of programme and/or service information. 
     
     
         16 . A receiver as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each channel has associated with it one or more indicators, the receiver comprising means responsive to the indicators for controlling display of programme and/or service information.