Interactive television system and remote control unit

• US 20010034269A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast MO Group Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MediaOne Group Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Stevens, J. Clarke, Lawrence, Lee G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,692,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

An interactive television system includes a remote control unit and a set top box. The remote control unit includes an input device and control logic. The control logic processes input signals to transmit television control signals to control television programming. Further, the control logic is configured to execute game software instructions stored on a local medium, and process input signals to play the game. In some embodiments, the set top box interacts with the remote control unit during gaming.

Claims

1. An interactive television system comprising:

a remote control unit for controlling a television set and for playing interactive video games, the unit including an input device, a transmitter for transmitting television control signals and for transmitting gaming signals, a receiver for receiving gaming signals, a medium storing game software, and control logic configured to process signals received from the input device and the receiver, to execute the game software, and to cause the transmitter to transmit television control signals and gaming signals to control the television and play the game software; and

a set top box connected to the television and in two-way communication with a programming network, the set top box including a receiver for receiving television control signals and gaming signals from the remote control unit, and including a transmitter for transmitting gaming signals to the remote control unit, the set top box further including control logic configured to process television control signals and control programming on the television and to process gaming signals and communicate game information over the network to allow network gaming using the remote control unit.

2. The system of

claim 1

wherein the remote control unit transmitter and receiver and the set top box transmitter and receiver are configured for infrared frequency communication.

3. The system of

claim 1

wherein the remote control unit control logic is configured to download game software from the set top box and store the software in the remote control unit medium.

4. The system of

claim 1

wherein the remote control unit medium is a removable game card to allow the remote control unit to receive different game cards.

8. The system of

claim 1

wherein the set top box in configured to transmit gaming signals to the remote control unit that are based on the television programming such that the gaming is related to the television programming.

9. The system of

claim 1

wherein the remote control unit further comprises:

a display, the remote control unit control logic being further configured to provide a game view on the display.

10. The system of

claim 9

wherein the set top box control logic is further configured to provide a group game view on the television, and wherein the remote control game view is an individual game display to allow multi-player network gaming in which each player has an individual view in addition to the group view available to all players.

11. The system of

claim 1

wherein the set top box control logic is further configured to provide an individual game view and a group game view on the television to allow multi-player network gaming in which each player has an individual view in addition to the group view available to all players.

12. The system of

claim 1

wherein the set top box control logic is further configured to provide at least one game view along with the television programming on the television.

5. The system of claim I wherein the remote control unit is configured with at least one expansion port.

6. The system of

claim 5

wherein the expansion port is configured to accept a memory module.

7. The system of

claim 5

wherein the expansion port is configured as an expandable bus.

13. An television remote control unit comprising:

a body;

an input device on the body;

control logic configured to process input signals received from the input device and to transmit television control signals in accordance with the input signals to control programming on the television, the control logic being further configured to execute game software instructions stored in a local medium and process input signals received from the input device to play the game software.

14. The remote control unit of

claim 13

wherein the medium is a removable game card to allow the remote control unit to receive different game cards.

15. The remote control unit of

claim 13

wherein the medium is a programmable memory and the remote control unit further comprises:

a receiver, wherein the control logic and the receiver are configured to download game software from a set top box and store the software in the memory.

16. The remote control unit of

claim 13

further comprising:

at least one expansion port.

17. The remote control unit of

claim 16

wherein the expansion port is configured to accept a memory module.

18. The remote control unit of

claim 16

wherein the expansion port is configured as an expandable bus.

19. The remote control unit of

claim 13

further comprising:

a display, the control logic being further configured to provide a game view on the display.