Television – Receiver circuitry – Remote control
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-11
2001-11-06
Harvey, David E. (Department: 2614)
Television
Receiver circuitry
Remote control
C348S563000, C348S552000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06313887
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the fields of television remote control devices and wireless pagers. More particularly, the present invention relates to an application of wireless pager technology as a means of delivering data directly a television remote control unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Modern television programming is extremely popular. It is a communication medium that reaches billions of people all around the world every day. The average person spends several hours each day watching television for entertainment or for information.
Television watching is made easier and more enjoyable by the use of a remote control unit which allows the viewer to change channels, adjust the volume, or control other features of the television at a distance. Typically, remote control units send infra-red and/or radio frequency signals to a receiver on the television set. The receiver decodes the signals and implements the instructions conveyed by the signals.
Recently, developments have been announced to increase the capacity of the television as a medium for conveying information. For example, some recent products provide a computer processor and a connection over a standard phone line between the television and the Internet or other data source. With such a connection, the television screen can be used as a computer monitor while the viewer surfs the Internet or other data source for informational content. The viewer may also use the television and Internet to correspond with others via e-mail.
While useful, this system of delivering informational content to the viewer's television is relatively difficult to implement. The expense of a computer processor in the television or connected thereto must be incurred. Additionally computer peripherals such as a keyboard or other input device may be required.
Moreover, the connection between the television and the Internet requires use of the household phone line, excluding other income calls, or requires the expense of a second, dedicated phone line. Once the connection to the Internet is established, the Internet service provider will likely charge an additional monthly fee for Internet access.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a method and an apparatus that more easily and inexpensively makes the informational content of such databases as the Internet readily available to television viewers who are watching television.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to meet the above identified needs and others. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of using a paging system in connection with a television remote control unit or the television unit itself to provide information to the television viewer.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows or may be learned by those skilled in the art through reading these materials or practicing the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be achieved through the means recited in the attached claims.
To achieve the stated and other objects, the present invention may be embodied in a television remote control unit having a keypad for receiving user input, a signal generator for generating and transmitting a signal to a television set in response to the user input, a display, an antenna for receiving transmissions from a paging system, and a processor for decoding the transmissions and displaying information contained in the transmissions on the display. Preferably the remote control also has an alert device for alerting the user when one of the transmissions is received.
In an alternative embodiment, the present invention may be implemented in a television set having a display device (e.g. a cathode ray tube, a liquid crystal display, or a plasma addressed liquid crystal display, etc.), an antenna for receiving transmissions from a paging system, and a processor for decoding the transmissions and displaying information contained in the transmissions on the display device. The television may also have an alert device for alerting the user when one of the transmissions is received.
In support of the novel remote control unit or novel television set described above, the present invention includes a paging system having a system of base stations for sending the transmissions; and a service provider for gathering the information to be included in the transmissions for dissemination to television viewers. Preferably, the paging system includes a connection between the service provider and the Internet or other data source through which the service provider gathers the information to be disseminated.
Additionally, the processor in either the television set or the remote control unit described above may drive the antenna to which it is connected to signal the paging system. Where this is the case, the service provider can identify the base station in the paging system which best receives the signal from the antenna and can screen the information gathered for information relevant to the location of the identified base station.
The present invention also encompasses a method of delivering information to television viewers comprising the steps of: providing a television remote control unit having a keypad for receiving user input and a signal generator for generating and transmitting a signal to a television set in response to the user input, receiving transmissions from a paging system with an antenna of the remote control unit, decoding the transmission with a processor of the remote control unit, and displaying information contained in the transmission on a display of the remote control unit. The method may also include alerting the user when one of the transmissions is received with an alert device.
Alternatively, if it is desired that the invention be embodied in a television set, the method of the invention may include the steps of providing a television set having an antenna and a display device tube, receiving transmissions from a paging system with the antenna, decoding the transmission with a processor of the television set, and displaying information contained in the transmission on the display device.
Irrespective of whether a remote control unit or the television unit itself is used to receive the information transmissions, the method of the present invention may further include: sending the informational transmissions with a system of base stations of the paging system; and gathering the information to be included in the transmissions. Preferably, the gathering of information includes gathering information from the Internet.
If the television set or remote control unit have the capacity to signal to the paging system, the method of the present invention may include the steps of driving the antenna with the processor to signal the paging system. Consequently, the paging system can execute the steps of receiving the signal from the antenna with the system of base stations; gathering the information to be included in the transmissions; identifying the base station which best receives the signal from the antenna; and screening the information for information relevant to the location of the base station which best receives the signal from the antenna. The method may further include enabling two-way interaction between the user and the service or data source;
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Harvey David E.
Kananen Ronald P.
Rader & Fishman & Grauer, PLLC
Sony Corporation
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