Device and method for providing services to a user of a TV set

• US 10,110,845 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Jat Systems 2006 Ltd.
• Original Assignee: T-Jat Systems 2006 Ltd.
• Inventors: Golobrodsky, Oleg, Drori, Gideon, Peterburg, Yitzhak, Peterburg, Moshe
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, William J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fogg, Cynthia M
• Application Number:
  US13/319,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20120110630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,106 Days
• Field of Search: 725110
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/475 End-user interface for inputting end-user data, e.g. personal identification number [PIN], preference data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6181 involving transmission via a mobile phone network arrangements for providing broadcast or conference services to substation in data switching networks in combination with wireless systems H04L12/189; wireless uplink channel access H04W74/004
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/658 Transmission by the client directed to the server

Abstract

A communication device is provided for enabling a TV viewer to transmit signals towards a service provider. The communication device comprises: a user interface adapted to receive input signal from the TV viewer; a transceiver adapted to communicate wirelessly with a service provider via a remote server; and a TV interface adapted to allow forwarding of signals received from a TV source and of signals received from a service provider, towards a TV device of the TV viewer. Preferably the signals received from both sources are displayed simultaneously within different viewing windows at the screen of the TV device.

Claims

1. A method for providing a viewer of a TV device with a capability to display on said TV device one integrated TV signal that comprises signals received from at least two different sources, the method comprising the steps of:

at a first server, receiving from a communication device associated with said TV device and located at the TV viewer premises an indication that indicates a request to be provided with information, wherein said communication device is configured to communicate wirelessly with said first server;

at the first server, retrieving information which relates to capabilities of the TV device to enable unicasting signals to the communication device, the signals comprising information requested by the viewer in a format that is compatible with the capabilities of the TV device to allow integrating the information comprised in the unicasted signals with TV broadcasted signals for displaying one integrated TV signal thereof on the TV device;

establishing a communication path between said communication device and a source for said requested information via said first server;

forwarding said requested information in a format that is compatible with the capabilities of the TV device towards said communication device,

integrating information comprised in the signals unicasted from the first server to the communication device, with information comprised in signals broadcasted by a TV broadcaster, into one TV signal; and

forwarding the integrated TV signal directly to the TV device for display.