Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-01
2001-08-07
Luu, Matthew (Department: 2779)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C348S552000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271837
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to subscription television services which may be provided by cable or satellite, and more particularly to a television interface which may be provided as a personal computer (PC) peripheral that enables a PC to receive, select and process television signals for use by a conventional television appliance such as a television set, VCR, or the like.
To date, the provision of cable television and satellite television services has focused on the use of a stand-alone “set-top” converter which converts signals from the cable or satellite television system into signals that can be displayed on a standard television. Various approaches combining both the television and the set-top box have been considered in order to obviate the necessity for a stand-alone set-top box. Such approaches require the set-top box hardware to be incorporated into a television set, increasing the cost and complexity of the television. The use of a stand-alone set-top box also represents a significant cost, with current set-tops generally costing the system operator on the order of $250.00 to $350.00 each. This cost is generally an upfront expense which will only be paid back after a subscriber has subscribed to and paid for television services over a period of time.
Cable and satellite television system operators are in the process of implementing digital television distribution systems. Digital technology provides higher quality television reception as well as the availability of additional services such as electronic program guides and interactivity. However, the implementation of digital systems is costly and has various market drawbacks. These include the rapid change of digital technology and demands for more, faster and better services which challenge existing hardware. Providing new hardware to keep up with new services is costly, and may therefore be economically unattractive to the television system operators.
Moreover, digital set-top boxes are not typically backward compatible with present analog set-tops. In fact, there is a growing divergence between the two that will keep digital services at a compatability disadvantage as long as analog systems are in place.
Still further, multiple in-home digital set-tops are not economically viable. Thus, cable television system operators are not willing to provide digital services to more than one television set in a consumer's home for the standard monthly service fees.
Current digital set-top boxes have several hardware drawbacks as well. For example, the over-utilization of the microprocessor in presently available set-tops slows down the consumer interactivity for functions such as channel change and electronic program guide retrieval. Memory in digital set-tops is also limited due to its cost. This limits the electronic programs guide features as well as firmware/software updates. Present day digital set-tops also have a limited capability to handle multiple resident programs and applications. Moreover, graphics capability is limited by cost considerations in designing an economical digital set-top box.
It would be advantageous to provide a system for overcoming the drawbacks of current set-top boxes. Such a system should enable multiple services (e.g., television services and/or data services such as Internet access) to be accessed concurrently. The system should also be compatible with cable television, satellite television, and multichannel multipoint distribution services (MMDS).
It would be further advantageous to provide a system in which no stand-alone set-top box is required. This system should be less expensive than present day systems for providing subscription television services and should be versatile enough to enable new applications to be implemented without the need for new hardware. Moreover, it would be advantageous for such a system to utilize existing hardware, such as random access memory (RAM) data storage provided by a hard drive or the like, and communications capability, already provided in a user's PC. The expanded hardware capabilities of a PC, for example, would enable new and greatly enhanced features and services that are not currently available via a set top box.
The present invention provides a television system having the aforementioned and other advantages, wherein a personal computer is used to provide a television interface between a subscription television system and one or more subscriber television appliances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a peripheral device is provided for a personal computer. The peripheral includes a television interface for enabling the PC to receive, select and process television signals, which may be digital or analog. A communications port operatively associated with the television interface communicates the television signals processed by the interface to a television appliance such as a television set, VCR, or the like.
The television interface can comprise audio and/or video decompression means for decoding (e.g., digitally) the television signals. PC application software operatively associated with the peripheral device is adapted to run on the PC for controlling television functions provided by the television interface. For example, the software can provide an electronic program guide function to the television appliance via the television interface. The software is advantageously adapted to run in a multitasking mode with other unrelated applications in the PC. For example, the PC can run a Windows operating environment wherein the software associated with the peripheral device is multitasked with other applications. in this manner, television services provided on the television appliance and unrelated applications provided on the PC can be concurrently accessed. Thus, for example, one person may be watching a television program on a television set receiving signals from the television interface of the PC, while another person is concurrently running PC applications directly on the PC. The PC is thus shared by both users, whereby the person viewing television programs can interact with the television and television service provider without affecting the work being done by the second person on the PC. The PC monitor can also be used to independently display television programs in addition to having programs displayed (or recorded) on the separate television appliance.
The television interface can include means for converting video and audio data into a composite analog waveform complying with a conventional analog television standard, such as the National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) standard. The television interface can also convert graphics data for insertion into the composite analog waveform. Such graphics data can be used, for example, in providing an electronic program guide and/or for targeting text messages to subscribers.
The television interface can further include means for modulating the television signals on a carrier for output to the television appliance on a standard television channel frequency. In one embodiment, the television interface includes a communications port (e.g., coaxial cable connector) for coupling the modulated carrier to the television appliance.
In another embodiment, the communications port provides wireless communication with the television appliance. The wireless communication may be provided over a wireless link which comprises first and second transceivers. The first transceiver is operatively associated with the PC television interface for transmitting the television signals to the television appliance and receiving control signals from the television appliance, e.g., indirectly or directly from a remote control associated with and, for purposes of this disclosure, considered to be part of the television appliance. The second transceiver (which can comprise the transmitter built into the user's remote control and a separate receiver coupled to a television set, VCR or the like) is operatively associated with the television appli
General Instrument Corporation
Lipsitz Barry R.
Luu Matthew
McAllister Douglas M.
Sajous Wesner
LandOfFree
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