gay@venice.SEDD.TRW.COM (Lance Gay) (01/16/91)
Here in Los Angeles, a new system for making VCR recordings of television
programs has been unvielded under the name of VCR Plus+ (a trademark of
Gemstar Development Corp.).
It works this way -- first the user purchases a VCR Plus+ universal remote
control unit from a local electronics store. This remote control unit is
advertised to work with most wireless VCRs and cable TV decoder units. After
each program listing in the televsion section of the local newspaper
a 2-digit to 8-digit numer is listed. To record the program simply enter
this program code into the remote unit, and it will send the appropriate
commands to your VCR to start and stop recording at the appropriate times.
The interesting part is: what algorithm is used to compute the codes? I assume
that the code numbers are an encoding of 1) the TV channel, 2) the length of
the TV program, and 3) the start time of the program.
A few observations: The same program seen on the same day of the week does not
have the same code week to week. The same program starting on the same
day/hour but on two different channels does not have the same code.
Listed below are some programs and times with their associated codes. I have
listed the same programs for four separate days. All times are Pacific
Standard Time (I wonder if Daylight Savings Time is a problem?) Is anyone able
to anyone come up with the algorithm? Also, is this available anywhere else
outside of Los Angeles?
Taken from the Dec 30, 1990 and Jan 13, 1991 TV Times section of the
_Los Angeles Times_
Time Chan Length Program Name 02-JAN-91 03-JAN-91 16-JAN-91 17-JAN-91
------- ---- ------ ------------ --------- --------- --------- ---------
12:30 pm 2 30 min Bold & Beautiful 43918 14222 23332 36678
1:00 pm 2 1 hour As the World Turns 31173 19777 28887 24833
1:00 pm 4 1 hour Another World 66869 87195 40055 19901
1:00 pm 7 1 hour One Life to Live 73173 75357 77177 73123
2:00 pm 2 1 hour Guiding Light 40918 19864 31210 17630
2:00 pm 7 1 Hour General Hospital 82918 60512 62158 51098
7:30 pm 4 30 min Hard Copy 53 83 245 475
7:30 pm 11 30 min Current Affair 8227 2067 4413 2611
Lance J. Gay (N6BKQ) Internet: gay@venice.sedd.trw.com
TRW Systems Engineering & Development Div. Phone: 213-764-9292
Redondo Beach, CA 90278