PDA television module

• US 20030192950A1
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Published: 10/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Muterspaugh, Matthew Ward
• Application Number:
  US10/121,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20030192950A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• 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 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

A plug-in module for a handheld personal computer includes a receiver for receiving television broadcasts and a processor coupled to the receiver and adapted to convert signals received by the receiver into a format capable of being displayed on a handheld personal computer. A mechanical interface of the module is configured and dimensioned to be received in an expansion slot of a handheld personal computer such that when coupled to the handheld personal computer a real-time television broadcast can be displayed on a display of the handheld personal computer.

Claims

1. A plug-in module for a handheld personal computer comprising:

a receiver for receiving television broadcasts;

a processor coupled to the receiver and adapted to convert signals received by the receiver into a format capable of being displayed on a handheld personal computer; and

a mechanical interface configured and dimensioned to be received in an expansion slot of a handheld personal computer such that when coupled to the handheld personal computer a real-time television broadcast is displayed on a display of a handheld personal computer.

2. The module as recited in claim 1, further comprising a speaker coupled to the processor to acoustically render audio of the television broadcast.

3. The module as recited in claim 1, further comprising a tuner coupled to the receiver for adjusting channels to receive the television broadcast.

4. The module as recited in claim 1, further comprising memory coupled to the processor to buffer data to permit a refresh rate for a display on the handheld personal computer.

5. The module as recited in claim 1, further comprising an operating system for the processor which is adapted to interact with an operating system of the personal handheld computer.

6. The module as recited in claim 1, wherein the mechanical interface is configured to be attached and detached from the expansion slot of the handheld personal computer.

7. The module as recited in claim 1, further comprising a display, which outputs information.

8. The module as recited in claim 1, further comprising user interface controls to provide at least one of tuning the receiver, programming the module and adjusting volume of a speaker.

9. The module as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a radio receiver for receiving radio broadcasts.

10. A television system, comprising:

a handheld personal computer having an expansion slot and a display;

a plug-in module dimensioned and configured to be received in the expansion slot, the module further comprising;

a receiver for receiving television broadcasts;

a processor coupled to the receiver and adapted to convert signals received by the receiver into a format capable of being displayed on the handheld personal computer; and

an interface adapted to communicate with the handheld personal computer such that when coupled to the handheld personal computer a real-time television broadcast is displayed on the display of the handheld personal computer.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising a speaker coupled to the processor to acoustically render audio of the television broadcast.

12. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising a tuner coupled to the receiver for adjusting channels to receive the television broadcast.

13. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising memory coupled to the processor to buffer data to permit a refresh rate for a display on the handheld personal computer.

14. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising an operating system for the processor, which is adapted to interact with an operating system of a personal handheld computer.

15. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the interface is mechanically configured to be attached and detached from the expansion slot of the handheld personal computer.

16. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising a display, which outputs information.

17. The module as recited in claim 10, further comprising user interface controls to provide at least one of tuning the receiver, programming the module and adjusting volume of a speaker.

18. The module as recited in claim 10, wherein the receiver includes a radio receiver for receiving radio broadcasts.