On-remote-control email and other service indicator methods, systems, and devices

• US 20020104095A1
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Digeo Incorporated (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Loc, Allen, Paul G.
• Application Number:
  US09/894,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20020104095A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234363 by altering the spatial resolution, e.g. for clients with a lower screen resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• 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 21/42204 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 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4331 Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• 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 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4751 for defining user accounts, e.g. accounts for children
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• 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 21/654 Transmission by server directed to the client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 : Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

An apparatus for providing notification to user in an interactive television system includes: a customer premise equipment capable to receive information from a data communication network and transmit an alert signal in response to receiving the information; and a notification device capable to receive the alert signal and to provide notification to a user in response to the alert signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing notification to a user of an interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:

a customer premise equipment capable to receive information from a data communication network and transmit an alert signal in response to receiving the information; and

a notification device capable to receive the alert signal and to provide notification to a user in response to the alert signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the customer premise equipment includes a set top box.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the notification device comprises a remote control device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information includes an electronic mail.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the received information includes an instant message.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the notification includes a light signal from the notification device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the notification includes a sound signal from the notification device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the notification includes vibration from the notification device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the alert signal is capable to penetrate a wall or barrier.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the customer premise equipment includes a transmitter capable to transmit the alert signal.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the notification device includes a receiver capable to receive the alert signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the notification device is capable to transmit a control signal that permits execution of an application for processing the received information.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the customer premise equipment includes an application capable to detect the received information.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the customer premise equipment includes an application capable to display the received information.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a display device communicatively coupled to the customer premise equipment and capable to display the received information.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the notification device is communicatively coupled to the customer premise equipment by a wireless link.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the notification device is communicatively coupled to the customer premise equipment by a wired link.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the wired link is cable wiring.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

transmitting a command signal from the notification device to the customer premise equipment to execute an application capable to process the received information.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the customer premise equipment includes a set top box.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the notification device comprises a remote control device.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the received information includes an electronic mail.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the received information includes an instant message.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein providing notification comprises:

providing a light signal from the notification device.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein providing the notification comprises:

providing a sound signal from the notification device.

27. The method of claim 19 wherein providing the notification comprises:

providing vibration from the notification device.

19. A method of notifying a user of an interactive television system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a customer premise equipment, information from a data communication network;

in response to the received information, sending an alert signal to a notification device; and

in response to the alert signal, providing notification by the notification device about the received information.

28. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions to;

receive, by a customer premise equipment, information from a data communication network;

in response to the received information, send an alert signal to a notification device; and

in response to the alert signal, provide notification by the notification device about the received information.

29. An apparatus for notifying a user of an interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving information from a data communication network;

communicatively coupled to the receiving means, means for sending an alert signal in response to the received information; and

communicatively coupled to the receiving means, means for providing notification about the received information in response to the alert signal.

30. An apparatus for providing notification to a user of an interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:

a customer premise equipment capable to receive information from a data communication network and transmit an alert signal in response to receiving the information, the customer premise equipment including a set top box capable to process the received information;

a notification device capable to receive the alert signal and to provide notification to a user in response to the alert signal; and

a display device communicatively coupled to the customer premise equipment and capable to display the received information;

wherein the customer premise equipment includes an application capable to detect the received information, and an application capable to display the received information;

wherein notification is provided by using at least one signal from a group of signals comprising a light signal, a sound signal, and a vibration signal.

31. An apparatus for providing notification to a user of an interactive television system, the apparatus comprising:

a customer premise equipment capable to receive information transmitted from a data communication network, the customer premise equipment capable to transmit an alert signal in response to receiving the information;

a notification device capable to provide control signals to control the customer premise equipment, the notification device capable to receive the alert signal and process the alert signal to generate a notification related to the received information; and

a display device communicatively coupled to the customer premise equipment and capable to display the received information;

wherein the customer premise equipment includes an application capable to detect the received information, and an application capable to display the received information;

wherein notification is provided by using at least one signal from a group of signals comprising a light signal, a sound signal, and a vibration signal.

32. A method of notifying a user of an interactive television system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a customer premise equipment, information from a data communication network, and storing the received information;

in response to the received information, sending an alert signal to a notification device;

receiving and processing the alert signal; and

based upon the alert signal, providing notification by the notification device about the received information;

wherein notification is provided by using at least one signal from a group of signals comprising a light signal, a sound signal, and a vibration signal.