Interactive video distribution systems – Video distribution system with upstream communication – Having link to external network
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-18
2001-08-07
Kostak, Victor R. (Department: 2611)
Interactive video distribution systems
Video distribution system with upstream communication
Having link to external network
C725S110000, C345S215000, C348S565000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272680
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to video display initiated by an internet module of a Web TV and, more particularly, to a Web TV having an internet module that is capable of initiating a PIP swap wherein a video television signal supplied by a tuner to a main area of a display is switched with a video signal supplied by the internet to a PIP area of the display and vice versa.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The internet has become an integral part in the way in which content is delivered to end users. For example, newspapers, magazines, and television and cable networks have web sites that are increasingly being used to deliver content. Content is delivered by on-line content providers which include, for example, web sites and on-line service providers such as AOL™.
Content is accessed by end users via on-line access devices. The on-line access device most often used currently is the personal computer. However, non-personal-computer on-line access devices are being, and have been, developed that enable end users to connect to the internet. For example, one type of non-personal-computer on-line access device is a web television.
A web television generally includes many of the components of a conventional television, such as a television controller, a video processor, an audio processor, and the like. However, unlike a conventional television, a web television also includes an internet module, which permits the web television to be used as an on-line access device, and an input device, which permits the user to interface with the internet module and the web television in order to communicate over the internet by way of the web television. Accordingly, a web television may be used in a manner similar to a personal computer in order to gain access to online content providers.
The television controller of a web television currently responds to inputs from the end user in order to control the web television in either a normal television mode or an internet mode. During the television mode, the television controller responds to instructions from the end user, usually by way of a remote control, in order to select and present television signals by way of the television's display and speakers. During the internet mode, the television controller transmits messages to the internet module permitting the internet module to be used in order to communicate over the internet.
However, the television controllers of existing web televisions do not receive messages from their corresponding internet modules. Accordingly, the television controllers cannot determine the status of their corresponding internet modules, the software version numbers and revision numbers of the software being executed by their corresponding internet module, and other characteristics of the internet module which would be useful to the television controller. Also, current web televisions do not have integrated PIP functions (i.e., PIP functions that are internal to the web television and that do not require a set top internet box) which permit internet video from the internet module to be displayed in the PIP and which permit internet video from the internet module in the PIP to be swapped with television video from the television tuner of the web television. Moreover, current web televisions do not permit internet audio from the internet module to be swapped with television audio from the television tuner of the web television from a single integrated control source such as a television controller.
The present invention solves one or more of the above noted problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a web television comprises a display; a tuner that is arranged to select television video for display on the display; an internet module that is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display, wherein the internet video is derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers; and a television controller that controls a main area and a PIP area of the display. The internet module is arranged to initiate a PIP control function to control the PIP area of the display by generating a PIP control function request signal.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a web television comprises a speaker; a tuner that is arranged to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television; an internet module that is arranged to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, wherein the internet audio is derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers; and a television controller arranged to control the speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to initiate a swap of the internet audio and the television audio supplied to the speaker of the web television by generating a swap request signal.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a web television comprises a display; a tuner, that is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television; an internet module, that is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, wherein the internet video and internet audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers; and a television controller. The television controller is arranged to swap the internet video and the television video between a PIP area and a main area of the display and to swap the internet audio and the television audio between the speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to initiate a video swap of the television video and the internet video between the PIP area and the main area of the display by generating a video swap request signal and is further arranged to initiate an audio swap of the internet audio and the television audio supplied to the speaker of the web television by generating an audio swap request signal.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, a web television comprises a display; a tuner that is arranged to select television video for display on the display; an internet module, that is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display, wherein the internet video is derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers; and a television controller that controls a main area and a PIP area of the display. The internet module is arranged to initiate a PIP swap function whereby the television video and the internet video are swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display.
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Gaughan Kevin J.
Zato Thomas J.
Kostak Victor R.
Zenith Electronics Corporation
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