Voice-Operated Television with Telephone, Digital Video Recording and Weather Alert Functions

• US 20060048207A1
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alexander Martin
• Original Assignee: Alexander Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/161,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20060048207A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91314 the copy protection signal being a pulse signal inserted in blanking intervals of the video signal, e.g. pseudo-AGC pulses, pseudo-sync pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91328 the copy protection signal being a copy management signal, e.g. a copy generation management signal [CGMS]
• 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 21/42222 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 21/47 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 21/4882 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 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/913 for scrambling ; for copy protection

Abstract

The present invention is a television set that is operated by voice commands without the use of a remote control as is typical in the art. The device also is multifunctional in combining television viewing capabilities, with voice telephone sending and receiving capabilities, digital video recording capabilities and weather alert indications. All of these functions are combined into a single device. The present invention makes improvements on those known in the art by eliminating the need for any second control device (e.g. remote control) and combining many devices into a single device that can be controlled by the user'"'"'s voice commands.

Claims

1. A voice-operated television device adapted for use in placing and receiving telephone calls, recording and playing-back television programming, viewing television programming, and receiving and viewing weather alert information, comprising:

A housing that supports and protects the other systems and parts of the device;

A television system that displays video information from a source;

A microphone that produces an output from a received sound;

A telephone system that receives and places telephone calls;

A weather alert system that receives broadcast signals and gives alerts regarding local weather conditions;

A digital video recorder system that records television programming for later review;

A central processing unit that processes input from the microphone and controls the other systems of the invention; and

One or more speakers.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said television system includes a cathode ray tube video screen.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said television system includes a flat screen technology video screen.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said television system includes a high definition video screen.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said weather alert system includes a weather radio that receives and reproduces broadcast weather alert radio programming.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said digital video recorder system includes a hard drive storage unit for storage of digitally recorded television programming.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said digital video recorder system includes a removable media writing system for storage of television programming on removable media.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said one or more speakers is two speakers.

9. A voice-operated television device adapted for use in placing and receiving telephone calls, recording and playing back television programming, viewing television programming, and receiving and viewing weather alert information, comprising:

A housing that supports and protects the other systems and parts of the device;

A television system that displays video information from a source and includes a flat screen technology video screen;

A microphone that produces an output from a received sound;

A telephone system that receives and places telephone calls by speakerphone technology;

A weather alert system that receives broadcast signals and gives alerts regarding local weather conditions;

A digital video recorder system that records television programming for later review including a hard drive storage medium;

A central processing unit that processes input from the microphone and controls the other systems of the invention; and

One or more speakers.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said weather alert system includes a weather radio that receives and reproduces broadcast weather alert radio programming.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said flat screen technology video screen is a liquid crystal display.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said flat screen technology video screen is a plasma screen.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein said flat screen technology video screen is a high definition video screen.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein said one or more speakers is two speakers.

15. A television receiver which is voice operated comprising a cabinet which houses a television system, a telephone system, a digital video recorder system, a weather alert system, a central processing unit, a microphone, and one or more speakers.

16. The television receiver according to claim 15, wherein said television system includes:

A video screen;

A means for receiving television programming signals;

A means for processing television programming signals;

A means for displaying television programming signals on said video screen; and

A means for controlling the channel and volume of displayed television programming signals.

17. The television receiver according to claim 15, wherein said telephone system includes:

A microphone;

A speaker;

A means for receiving sounds;

A means for processing sounds;

A means for producing sounds;

A means for receiving telephone calls from a telephone network;

A means for conducting telephone calls on a telephone network; and

A means for initiating telephone calls on a telephone network.

18. The television receiver according to claim 15, wherein said digital video recording system includes:

A digital recording medium for storage of digitally recorded television programming;

A means for recording a television programming signal; and

A means for replaying a recorded television programming signal.

19. The television receiver according to claim 15, wherein said weather alert system includes:

A means for detecting a broadcast weather alert signal;

A means for visually indicating the presence of the broadcast weather alert signal to a user; and

A means for aurally indicating the presence of the broadcast weather alert signal to the user.

20. The television receiver according to claim 15, wherein said central processing unit includes:

A processor;

A memory unit;

A software program;

A means for processing an input;

A means for decoding an input from the microphone;

A means for providing a user interface; and

A means for controlling the functions of the television system, telephone system, weather alert system, and digital video recording system of the television receiver.