Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-02
2001-06-12
Grant, Chris (Department: 2711)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C348S014160, C455S001000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246400
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for controlling a remote interactive receiver unit and, more particularly, to a remote control device which transmits user financial information or programming information to an interactive receiver unit positioned at a remote location.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the copending parent application, a transactional processing system is disclosed for purchasing products and services from a plurality of available products and services, and for processing corresponding financial transactions in real time. A transmitter broadcasts and updates a plurality of transaction information sets associated with a plurality of available products and services via a first communication channel. This first communication channel has a plurality of subchannels, each corresponding to a transaction information set in the first channel.
A plurality of receiver units, e.g., receivers positioned in difference households, serve a respective plurality of users, and simultaneously receive the identical transaction information sets broadcast from the transmitter. Each receiver unit includes a user interactive mechanism for selecting and storing a desired information set and for selecting a desired transaction for purchasing a product and services associated with a selected set.
A second communication channel originates at the receiver units and financial information of a respective user is transmitted from a receiver unit through the channel to a transaction processor, which receives the financial information of respective users. The transaction processor generates an authorization signal through the second communication channel to respective receivers to authorize a desired transaction in a real time for the selected products and services. The receiver unit could be incorporated within a television set.
In one aspect of the disclosed invention in the copending parent application, the receiver unit is a tabletop unit having a credit card slot for receiving a card and recording financial information of the user. The receiver unit also includes a keypad and other switches and functions for controlling television station selections. The receiver unit could also include phone components and be formed as a phone handset.
The use of remote devices for controlling television, video recorders/players, and other devices, however, is becoming more commonplace, and in some instances, required. Accordingly, it is desirable if the receiver unit of the transactional processing system could be controlled from a remote control device, and more preferably, a handheld remote control device. A remote control device should not only control processing instructions at the receiver unit, but also receive financial information of a user, such as by a smart card or credit card. Additionally, it is desirable to have a remote control device which can control operation of a receiver unit positioned at a remote location in which the remote control device not only transmits desired programming selections, but also receives and transmits to the receiver unit financial information of a user for further transactions by the receiver unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention now allows transmission from a remote control device of desired programming selections to a receiver unit positioned at a remote location so as to choose a desired programming instruction set and interact therewith through a manually actuable keypad. The remote control device also transmits financial information of the user to the receiver unit. The receiver unit selects, stores and displays on a screen, such as television, the desired information set from these sets that are simultaneously received in the receiver unit.
A housing forms an enclosure and has a manually actuable keypad mounted on the housing. A processor is mounted in the enclosure and operatively connected to the manually actuable keypad for receiving data input from the keypad corresponding to desired programming selections at the remote receiver unit. The remote control device also stores financial information of the user. A transmitter is operatively connected to the processor for transmitting the desired programming selections to the receiver unit corresponding to the selected keypad sequence so as to choose a desired programming and interact therewith. The remote control device also transmits financial information of the user to the receiver unit.
In one aspect of the invention, the remote control device comprises the handset of the phone. Phone numbers are dialed from the keypad, and phone data is transmitted and received to and from a phone receiver unit positioned at the receiver unit. The phone receiver unit is connected to the local office. The phone receiver unit also may be an integral part of the receiver unit.
The remote control device also includes a switch for switching between use as a phone handset and use as a controller which interacts with the receiver unit. The remote control device in another aspect of the invention includes a switch for selecting between use as a controller for keypad selection of television channels and keypad selection of subchannels of the transaction information sets. Financial information can be input by wiping a card containing the financial information of the user within a slot positioned on the remote control device housing. The slot can include a magnetic-strip/IC reader. In still another aspect of the invention, the keypad is a qwerty keypad.
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Grant Chris
Sofer & Haroun LLP
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