US Patent 7412150 Method and apparatus for facilitating program data acquisition

Methods and apparatus for facilitating program data acquisition. In one embodiment, a set-top box is set to enter an auto-off state based on a user-defined auto-off time. Once the set-top box has entered the auto-off state, a channel from which program guide data may be obtained may be automatically tune to. The auto-off state may be automatically exited in order to either respond to a user interaction or to avoid missing previously-programmed recordings. Upon exiting the auto-off state, the set-top box may be tuned back to the channel that it was tuned to prior to entering the auto-off state.