Systems and devices for audio and video capture and communication during television broadcasts

• US 20020054206A1
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Allen, Paul G.
• Application Number:
  US09/967,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054206A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• 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 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/433 Content storage operation, e.g. storage operation in response to a pause request, caching operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/602 for digital sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A remote control for an interactive television system includes an integrated microphone and a wireless transmitter for transmitting audio signal captured by the microphone to the interactive television system. The remote control also includes a specifically-designated button or button sequence for activating the microphone. In alternative embodiments, the microphone is integrated with a set top box for the interactive television system.

Claims

1. A system for enabling communication between multiple individuals during television broadcasts, the system comprising:

a set top box for an interactive television system for selectively receiving a television signal;

a microphone integrated with the set top box for capturing an audio signal; and

a remote control for the interactive television system comprising at least one specifically-designated button sequence for activating the microphone.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control comprises at least one navigation button for entering the at least one specifically-designated button sequence.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the set top box is configured to display on a television an on-screen control for activating the microphone, and wherein the at least one specifically-designated button sequence is configured to activate the onscreen control.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the set top box comprises an activity indicator for visually indicating when the microphone is active.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote control comprises an activity indicator for visually indicating when the microphone is active.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the set top box comprises a digital recording device for recording the audio signal captured by the microphone.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the set top box comprises a converter for transforming the audio signal captured by the microphone into a network-compatible audio stream for transmission over a network.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a video camera integrated with the set top box for capturing a video signal, wherein the remote control comprises at least one specifically-designated button sequence for activating the video camera.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the set top box comprises an activity indicator for visually indicating when the video camera is active.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote control comprises an activity indicator for visually indicating when the video camera is active.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the set top box comprises a digital recording device for recording the video signal captured by the video camera.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the set top box comprises a converter for transforming the video signal captured by the video camera into a network-compatible audio stream for transmission over a network.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the set top box comprises a converter for transforming a network-compatible audio stream received from a remote system into an audio signal suitable for output by a speaker.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the set top box comprises a speaker for outputting the transformed audio signal.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the set top box comprises a converter for transforming a network-compatible video stream received from a remote system into a video signal suitable for display on a television.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the at least one button on the remote control comprises a navigation button.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the set top box comprises an activity indicator for visually indicating when the microphone is active.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote control comprises an activity indicator for visually indicating when the microphone is active.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the set top box comprises a digital recording device for recording the audio signal captured by the microphone.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the set top box comprises a converter for transforming the audio signal captured by the microphone into a network-compatible audio stream for transmission over a network.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the set top box comprises a video camera for capturing a video signal, and wherein the display controller is further configured to display on the television a specifically-designated on-screen control for activating the video camera.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the set top box comprises an activity indicator for visually indicating when the video camera is active.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the remote control comprises an activity indicator for visually indicating when the video camera is active.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the set top box comprises a digital recording device for recording the video signal captured by the video camera.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the set top box comprises a converter for transforming the video signal captured by the video camera into a network-compatible audio stream for transmission over a network.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the set top box comprises a converter for transforming a network-compatible audio stream received from a remote system into an audio signal suitable for output by a speaker.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the set top box comprises a speaker for outputting the transformed audio signal.

29. The system of claim 16, wherein the set top box comprises a converter for transforming a network-compatible video stream received from a remote system into a video signal suitable for display on the television.

16. A system for enabling communication between multiple individuals during television broadcasts, the system comprising:

a set top box for an interactive television system for selectively receiving a television signal, the set top box comprising;

a microphone for capturing an audio signal; and

a display controller for displaying on a television a specifically-designated on-screen control for activating the microphone; and

a remote control for the interactive television system comprising at least one button for selectively activating the specifically-designated on-screen control.

30. A system for enabling communication between multiple individuals during television broadcasts, the system comprising:

means for selectively receiving a television signal;

means, integrated with the selectively receiving means, for capturing an audio signal; and

means for remotely controlling the selectively receiving means comprising at least one specifically-designated button sequence for activating the audio signal capturing means.

31. A system for enabling communication between multiple individuals during television broadcasts, the system comprising:

means for selectively receiving a television signal comprising;

means for capturing an audio signal; and

means for displaying on a television a specifically-designated onscreen control for activating the audio signal capturing means; and

means for remotely controlling the interactive television system comprising at least one button for selectively activating the specifically-designated on-screen control.