Communication system and method

• US 20040250285A1
• Filed: 12/27/2001
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Murphy, Thomas E., Watson, P. Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/026,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20040250285A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/75
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2849 Audio/video appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• 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 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for distributing information. The system can include one or more set top boxes that can function as normal set top boxes, but can also conduct two way communications with other set top boxes. Users can send text, audio, and/or video messages to other users. The set top boxes can include provisions that permit two way communications, using video cameras, microphones and other inputs that can receive keyboard or text information.

Claims

1. A network comprising:

a first set top box having a first output adapted to be received by a first television and a second output adapted to be received by a second set top box;

the first set top box further comprising an input adapted to receive input information from a user; and

the second set top box having a third output adapted to be received by a second television.

2. The network according to claim 1, wherein the input information comprises an audio and video information.

3. The network according to claim 1, wherein the input information comprises text.

4. The network according to claim 1, wherein the input information comprises pre-formatted messages.

5. The network according to claim 1, wherein the input information is retrieved from a memory device.

6. The network according to claim 1, wherein the second set top box receives the output information from the first set top box and wherein the second set top box sends second output information to the second television.

7. The network according to claim 6, wherein the second output information is displayed on a portion of the second television.

8. The network according to claim 1, wherein the second set top box sends second output information to the third output, wherein second output information is related to output information.

9. The network according to claim 8, wherein the second output information is formatted according to a preselected message format.

10. A network comprising:

a first set top box adapted to receive a broadcast signal, transmit a first television signal, and conduct two way communications with a second set top box; and

the second set top box adapted to receive the broadcast signal, transmit a second television signal, and conduct two way communications with the first set top box.

11. The network according to claim 10, wherein the second television signal is different than the first television signal.

12. The network according to claim 11, wherein the second television signal includes text.

13. The network according to claim 11, wherein the second television signal includes pre-formatted messages.

14. The network according to claim 11, wherein the second television signal includes information retrieved from a memory device.

15. The network according to claim 10, wherein the first set top box includes a video camera.

16. The network according to claim 10, wherein the first set top box includes a microphone.

17. The network according to claim 10, wherein the first set top box includes an input adapted to receive information from a keyboard.

18. The network according to claim 10, wherein the second set top box includes a video camera.

19. A set top box comprising:

a first output adapted to be received by a television;

a second output adapted to be received by a second set top box;

an input adapted to receive message information from a user; and

wherein the message information is sent out of the second output.

20. The set top box according to claim 19, wherein the message information includes audio information.

21. The set top box according to claim 19, wherein the message information includes video information.

22. The set top box according to claim 19, wherein the message information includes text information.

23. The set top box according to claim 19, wherein the message information includes a pre-formatted message.

24. The set top box according to claim 19, wherein the message information is retrieved from a memory device.

25. The set top box according to claim 19, further comprising a video camera.

26. The set top box according to claim 19, further comprising a microphone.

27. The set top box according to claim 19, further comprising an input adapted to receive information from a keyboard.

28. The set top box according to claim 19, further comprising an input adapted to receive information from a video camera.

29. The set top box according to claim 19, further comprising an input adapted to receive information from a microphone.