Method and apparatus for automatically extracting data identifying a broadcast A/V program

1. A method for automatically extracting data identifying a broadcast A/V program from received broadcast data, the method comprising:

measuring for each of a plurality of channels a transmission signal quality caused by signal disturbances;

storing for each of the plurality of channels an indication of the measured transmission signal quality;

receiving user input defining a first program;

analyzing an electronic program schedule according to the first program;

determining that the first program is scheduled for future broadcast;

determining at least program name and broadcast channel of the first program, and the stored transmission signal quality of the broadcast channel of the first program;

determining broadcast start time and end time, or determining broadcast duration of the first program;

automatically detecting that a second program is scheduled for future broadcast, wherein the second program corresponds to the first program and has the same content as the first program, but has a different broadcast start time, end time or duration, and a different broadcast channel, wherein the stored transmission signal quality of the broadcast channel of the second program is higher than the stored transmission signal quality of the broadcast channel of the first program;

displaying at least the program name, broadcast channel, start time, end time or duration of the first program, and an indication indicating that the second program was detected;

automatically detecting which of the program instances displayed in the menu has an advantage or disadvantage regarding the determined broadcast channel or duration according to predefined criteria, wherein the predefined criteria include higher transmission signal quality and/or shorter duration; and

indicating in the display the detected program instance that has an advantage as preferable, or indicating in the display the detected program instance that has a disadvantage as not preferable, wherein a criterion for a preferable program is better reception quality of the channel according to said stored transmission quality indication.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein additionally at least the data of the second program that differ from the first program are displayed.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

receiving second user input selecting the first or the second program; and

selecting the data corresponding to the selected first or second program for further processing.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising setting a tuner to the channel of the first or second program according to the selected data.

5. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising

storing at least the broadcast start time, end time or duration, and channel of the selected program in a timer; and

setting or activating the timer for recording.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising defining a time at which the electronic program schedule is to be checked for detecting a program change, the time being relative to the scheduled recording start time.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the detecting includes detecting additional information that identifies different episodes of a serial.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said analyzing an electronic program schedule is limited to a predefined time range being different from the time range provided by the electronic program schedule.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein better reception quality is automatically detected.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein better reception quality is detected from a user programmed parameter.

11. An apparatus for automatically extracting data identifying a broadcast A/V program from received broadcast data, the apparatus comprising:

means for measuring for each of a plurality of channels a transmission signal quality caused by signal disturbances;

means for storing for each of the plurality of channels an indication of the measured transmission signal quality;

means for receiving user input defining a first program;

means for analyzing an electronic program schedule according to the first program;

means for determining that the first program is scheduled for future broadcast;

means for determining at least program name and broadcast channel of the first program, and the stored transmission signal quality of the broadcast channel of the first program;

means for determining broadcast start time and end time, or determining broadcast duration of the first program;

means for automatically detecting that a second program is scheduled for future broadcast, wherein the second program corresponds to the first program and has the same content as the first program, but has a different broadcast start time, end time or duration, and a different broadcast channel, wherein the stored transmission signal quality of the broadcast channel of the second program is higher than the stored transmission signal quality of the broadcast channel of the first program;

means for displaying at least the program name, broadcast channel, start time, end time or duration of the first program, and an indication indicating that the second program was detected;

means for automatically detecting which of the program instances displayed in the menu has an advantage or disadvantage regarding the determined broadcast channel or duration according to predefined criteria, wherein the predefined criteria include higher signal quality and/or shorter duration; and

means for indicating in the display the detected program instance that has an advantage as preferable, or indicating in the display the detected program instance that has a disadvantage as not preferable, wherein a criterion for a preferable program is better reception quality of the channel or shorter duration of the program according to said stored transmission quality indication.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein better reception quality is automatically detected.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein better reception quality is detected from a user programmed parameter.