Method of access using a television decoder and a decoder adapted to carry out the method

• US 20070011714A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul Fellows
• Original Assignee: Paul Fellows
• Inventors: Fellows, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/486,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20070011714A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/113
• 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 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17309 Transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A method of accessing services using a television decoder consists of the following steps. Initially storing a plurality of service locations is provided, so that services can be accessed in a data storage device. Each service location is associated with an internal channel number. The internal channel number corresponds to a desired service programmed in the decoder. The decoder obtains the service location associated with the internal channel number from the data storage device. Finally, the decoder accesses the service at the obtained service location.

Claims

1. A method of accessing services using a television decoder comprising the steps of:

storing a plurality of service locations at which services can be accessed in a data storage device, each service location being associated with an internal channel number, providing the internal channel number of a desired service to the decoder;

the decoder obtaining the service location associated with the internal channel number from the data storage device, and

the decoder accessing the service at the obtained service location.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data storage device is a memory device.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the television decoder is a set top box.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein in which the service location is a URL.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the internal channel numbers and service location are stored in a look up table.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is provided to the decoder from a remote control hand set.

7. A television decoder comprising:

a data storage device containing a plurality of service locations at which services can be accessed, each associated with an internal channel number;

a data input device arranged to received an internal channel number,

a processing device arranged to obtain the service location associated with the received internal channel number from the data storage device; and

a service accessing device arranged to access the service available at the obtained location.

8. A decoder according to claim 7 wherein the data storage device is a memory device.

9. A decoder according to claim 7, wherein the decoder is a set top box.

10. A decoder according to claims 7, wherein the service location is a URL.

11. A decoder according to claim 10, wherein the internal channel numbers and service locations are stored as a look up table.

12. A decoder according to claim 7, wherein the data input device is a receiver adapted to receive the identifier from a remote control hand set.