Method and apparatus for displaying internet content on a television

• US 20020170066A1
• Filed: 08/10/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leadtek Research, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Leadtek Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Liu, Meng-Hsien
• Application Number:
  US09/927,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20020170066A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/109
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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 21/4355 involving reformatting operations of additional data, e.g. HTML pages on a television screen optimising the visualization of content for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/9577; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/066; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV

Abstract

An internet-television system includes a web appliance that adds graphical lines and identifiers to internet content displayed on a television. Internet content is often difficult to view on a television screen due to factors such as poor resolution, further viewing distance, high definition graphics etc. The invention provides a web appliance with means to add graphical lines and identifiers to displayed internet content. The graphical lines breaks the internet content into a plurality of sections each with a corresponding identifier. A user can then input an identifier using a device such as a remote control. A section corresponding to the identifier can then be enlarged for easier viewing. In another embodiment of the invention a link appearing in a section can be selecting by inputting a corresponding identifier.

Claims

1. A television-based internet viewing system, comprising:

a web appliance with an internet connection;

a television screen displaying internet content from the web appliance;

a plurality of lines interposed on the internet content displayed on the television screen dividing the viewing area into a plurality of selectable areas each with an identifier, wherein the web appliance is responsive to the identifier entered to perform steps of;

if an identifier is properly entered the corresponding viewing area being enlarged.

2. The television-based internet viewing system of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a number.

3. The television-based internet viewing system of claim 1, wherein the web appliance is responsive to an identifier inputted by a remote control device.

4. The television-based internet viewing system of claim 1, wherein the lines are added to the visual signal by the web appliance.

5. The television-based internet viewing system of claim 1, wherein the lines are an external overlay to the surface of the television screen.

6. The television-based internet viewing system of claim 1, wherein the identifiers are added to the visual signal by the web appliance.

7. A method for viewing internet content on a television screen, the method comprising:

adding a plurality of graphical lines to an internet content display dividing the internet content into a plurality of sections;

adding a corresponding identifier to each of the sections;

enlarging a selected sections along with bordering areas to the size of the previous displayed internet content responsive to an inputted identifier.

9. The television-based internet viewing system of claim 7, wherein the identifier is a number.

10. The television-based internet viewing system of claim 7, wherein the lines are added to the visual signal by the web appliance.

11. The television-based internet viewing system of claim 7, wherein the lines are an external overlay to the surface of the television screen.

12. The television-based internet viewing system of claim 7, wherein the identifiers are added to the visual signal by the web appliance.

15. The web appliance of claim 14, wherein the identifier is a number.

16. The web appliance of claim 14, wherein the lines are added to the visual signal by the web appliance.

17. The web appliance of claim 14, wherein the lines are an external overlay to the surface of the television screen.

18. The web appliance of claim 14, wherein the identifiers are added to the visual signal by the web appliance.

8. A television-based internet viewing system comprising:

a web appliance with an internet connection;

a television screen displaying internet content from the web appliance;

a plurality of graphical lines interposed on the internet content displayed on the television screen dividing the viewing area into a plurality of selectable areas each with an identifier;

a remote control device in which a desired identifier can be transmitted by the user, the web appliance being responsive to the identifier entered, if an identifier is properly entered a link in the corresponding selectable area being chosen.

13. A method for viewing internet content on a television screen comprising the steps of:

adding a plurality of graphical lines to an internet content display dividing the internet content into a plurality of sections;

adding a corresponding identifier to each of the sections; and

selecting a link appearing in a selected section of the internet content responsive to an inputted identifier.

14. A web appliance, comprising:

a means to add a plurality of graphical lines and identifiers to internet content;

a means to display the modified internet content on a television screen;

a means to enlarge a desired area of the internet content as selected by a user and display the enlarged area on the television screen; and

a means to select a link appearing in a defined area of the internet content as selected by a user.