Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Programming control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-02-27
Cangialosi, Salvatore (Department: 2661)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Programming control
C455S420000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06195548
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to television systems and methods, and more particularly to remote control systems and methods for television.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The television (TV) has become ubiquitous in modern society. As a result, many additional services are being provided via television. One example of an additional service which is being provided via television is an online television program guide, wherein television program schedule information is displayed on a television for searching and selection by a television viewer. Online television program guides are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,578 to Reiter et al. entitled “System for Electronically Controllably Viewing on a Television Updateable Television Programming Information” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,357 to Hallenbeck entitled “Method and Apparatus for Controlling a Television Program Recording Device”, the disclosures of both of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Other services which are being provided or have been proposed in connection with television include interactive video, video games, online stock quotation and/or banking, and video-on-demand.
The telephone has also become ubiquitous in modern society. Audio telephone communications are almost universal and video telephones are now becoming widespread. With the widespread availability of the personal computer, it is also known to provide audio and video telephone communications on a personal computer which is connected to a telephone network, which may be the internet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides audio and/or video telephone communications using a personal computer as a relay. The present invention provides audio telephone communications by using a personal computer to process and relay audio telephone communications between external telephone networks and a unified television/personal computer wireless remote control. A personal computer may also be used to process and wirelessly relay audio and/or video telephone communications between external telephone networks and a television.
The invention stems from the realization that a large amount of computer power and memory is typically already present in the home, in the form of a personal computer. Accordingly, a personal computer is used to download and process audio and/or video telephone communications. The invention also stems from the realization that the television, rather than a personal computer, is often the focal point for individual and family gatherings. Accordingly, the television is used for audio and/or video telephone communications.
In particular, according to the present invention, a personal computer includes a housing containing therein a processor and memory. A computer display is responsive to the processor. A telephone interface is also contained in the housing, which obtains telephone communications from an external telephone network and which sends telephone communications to the external network. A wireless communications transceiver is also included in the housing.
The wireless communications transceiver is responsive to the processor and to the telephone interface. The wireless communications transceiver wirelessly transmits telephone communications which are obtained from the external network to external of the housing, and wirelessly receives telephone communications from external of the housing and provides the received telephone communications to the telephone interface. The wireless communications transceiver may also include a remote control receiver which is responsive to wireless television remote control signals, to control the processor and manipulate information in the memory. Accordingly, the personal computer is used to relay telephone communications. The telephone communications may be audio telephone or video telephone communications and may use an external wire telephone network or the internet.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, the personal computer is used in combination with a unified television/personal computer/telephone wireless remote control. The unified remote control transmits infrared television remote control commands to a television in response to user inputs. The unified remote control also transmits personal computer commands to the wireless communications transceiver in response to user inputs. The unified remote control also communicates telephone communications with the wireless communications transceiver. Accordingly, the unified remote control includes therein an audio telephone handset comprising a microphone and a speaker. Personal computer commands and audio telephone communications are preferably communicated between the personal computer and the unified remote control using radio frequency communications.
In a second embodiment according to the present invention, a personal computer is used to relay video telephone communications between a telephone network and a television. An integrated television/telephone/personal computer wireless remote control transmits personal computer commands, television remote control commands and telephone control commands to the personal computer, preferably using radio frequencies. A television interface unit is also provided. The television interface unit includes a wireless communications receiver which receives telephone communications from the personal computer and which also receives television remote control commands from the personal computer. A converter is responsive to the wireless communications receiver to convert the received television remote control commands into infrared television remote control commands.
The television interface unit also includes a video camera and a microphone which are used to produce a video telephone signal. A wireless communications transmitter in the television interface unit is responsive to the video camera and to the microphone to transmit video telephone communications to the personal computer. Thus, when a user or group of users is gathered around a television, the television interface unit allows the unified remote control to be used to control the personal computer and the television interface unit to provide audio and/or video telephone communications.
It will be understood that the unified remote control and the personal computer interface preferably use radio frequency (such as UHF) transceivers so that signals and commands may be transmitted from room to room without requiring direct line of sight. Typically, the personal computer may not be in a line of sight with the television. If commands are transmitted in a line of sight from the integrated remote control to the television, these commands may be transmitted using infrared signals.
The second embodiment of the present invention can provide a video telephone system using a personal computer and a television. The video telephone system includes a personal computer interface which is adapted for use with a personal computer. The personal computer interface includes a video telephone network interface and a radio frequency transceiver which transmits video telephone communications and receives video telephone communications. The system also includes a television interface which is adapted for use with a television. The television interface includes a radio frequency transceiver which receives video telephone communications from the personal computer interface, and which applies the received video telephone communications to a television for display. The television interface also includes a video camera and a microphone to provide video telephone communications to the television interface transceiver, for transmission to the personal computer interface.
A wireless remote control includes a user interface which accepts users input commands to remotely control a television. The wireless remote control also includes a radio frequency transmitter which transmits radio frequency remote control signals to the personal computer interface, to thereby remotely control the personal computer in response to user input commands at the u
Brown Douglas G.
Cangialosi Salvatore
Myers Bigel & Sibley & Sajovec
LandOfFree
Method and systems for providing audio and video telephone... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and systems for providing audio and video telephone..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and systems for providing audio and video telephone... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2615077