def METHOD_NAME(array, kwargs):
    from ligo.lw.ligolw import Time
    from ligo.lw.param import get_param
    parent = array.parentNode
    # pick out the epoch
    try:
        time, = parent.getElementsByTagName(Time.tagName)
    except ValueError:
        pass
    else:
        kwargs.setdefault('epoch', _get_time(time))
    # copy over certain other params, if they exist
    for key in ('channel',):
        try:
            kwargs[key] = get_param(parent, key)
        except ValueError:
            pass
    return kwargs