Method and apparatus for transmitting and downloading setup information

Abstract

Multiple channel maps are embedded in a television transmission and the appropriate channel corresponding to the particular television service used by the viewer is downloaded for use with the television receiver. Each channel map is accompanied by a channel map identifier which identifies the source of the television transmission and a geographic identifier. The source of a television transmission is automatically detected by monitoring the radio-frequency spectrum allocations of telecast stations. The geographic area identifier is determined by comparison with a user inputted geographic area identifier. The channel map having a channel map identifier corresponding to the detected television transmission source and the user inputted geographic area identifier is downloaded and stored for future use.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A method for determining a mapping of television channels to television stations, the method comprising:
 receiving television signals of a plurality of channels;   identifying a geographic area identifier in response to user input;   storing channel mapping information associated with the geographic area identifier;   scanning each of the television signals to update the channel mapping information, wherein updating the channel mapping information comprises merging the channel mapping information with additional channel mapping information.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the channel mapping information comprises information associated with at least one of a television station of a plurality television stations and a channel of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising determining a channel map identifier based on a geographic location of a user equipment. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the channel map identifier comprises a unique identifier that identifies a one-to-one correspondence between a service provider, of a plurality of service providers, and a set of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the channel mapping information comprises first channel mapping information, and wherein scanning each of the television signals to update the channel mapping information comprises:
 scanning each of the television signals to determine second channel mapping information based on the channel map identifier; and   updating the first channel mapping information to include the second channel mapping information.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein scanning each of the television signals to update the channel mapping information comprises selecting one of a plurality of channel maps. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the channel map indicates a mapping between each channel of the plurality of channels to a corresponding television station of the plurality television stations. 
     
     
         49 . A system for determining a mapping of television channels to television stations, the system comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 receive television signals of a plurality of channels; 
 identify a geographic area identifier in response to user input; 
 store channel mapping information associated with the geographic area identifier; 
 scan each of the television signals to update the channel mapping information, 
   wherein updating the channel mapping information comprises merging the channel mapping information with additional channel mapping information.   
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the channel mapping information comprises information associated with at least one of a television station of a plurality television stations and a channel of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 49 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a channel map identifier based on a geographic location of a user equipment. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the channel map identifier comprises a unique identifier that identifies a one-to-one correspondence between a service provider, of a plurality of service providers, and a set of the plurality of channels. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the channel mapping information comprises first channel mapping information, and wherein the processor configured to scan each of the television signals to update the channel mapping information comprises the processor being configured to:
 scan each of the television signals to determine second channel mapping information based on the channel map identifier; and   update the first channel mapping information to include the second channel mapping information.   
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the processor configured to scan each of the television signals to update the channel mapping information comprises the processor being configured to select one of a plurality of channel maps. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the channel map indicates a mapping between each channel of the plurality of channels to a corresponding television station of the plurality television stations.