Electronic system to make televisions interactive

• US 20070089155A1
• Filed: 06/17/2004
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tele Iletisim Teknolojileri San. Ve Tic. A.S.
• Original Assignee: Tele Iletisim Teknolojileri San. Ve Tic. A.S.
• Inventors: Saydam, Mehmet
• Application Number:
  US10/570,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20070089155A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2143 located in a single building, e.g. hotel, hospital or museum arrangements specially adapted for plural spots in a confined site in broadcast systems H04H20/63; adaptations for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution in television systems H04N7/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic system to make the current televisions interactive, such system comprising at least one micro-processor based TV module (1) with bi-directional communication means connectable to a television, at least one central server computer saving the required user data and evaluating received data and making outcomes thereof, and at least one microprocessor based central module (2) with bi-directional communication means to ensure the communication between said central server computer and said TV module.

Claims

1. A system to make current televisions interactive, such system comprising at least one micro-processor based TV module with bi-directional communication means connectable to a television, at least one central server computer, and at least one microprocessor based central module with bi-directional communication means to provide the communication between said central server computer and said TV module, wherein

said TV module delivers said central module the predetermined actions of the television it is connected to by utilizing its software, provides a menu allowing the relevant user to realize the system-related functions via the television, delivers the functions selected from this menu to the central module and applies the commands received from the central module to the television;

said central module ensures the communication between the TV module and the central server computer by performing necessary modulation/demodulation techniques by means of its software; and

said central server computer saves predetermined data of all users in connection with the system and responds to commands received from the TV module by further making an evaluation thereof, if necessary, according to said user data by utilizing its software;

transmits such responds to the TV module via said central module; and

allows handling the operation of TV modules connected to the system and/or receiving operation-related data from the modules.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said TV module comprises a transceiver circuit for bi-directional communication with the central module, a microprocessor unit to transfer all actions of TV to the central module and to apply the commands received from the central module to the television, and a memory unit to save certain data received from the television.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said TV module can be directly attached by connecting digital televisions'"'"' 12C bus terminals to said microprocessor'"'"'s selected legs/terminals.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said TV module is connectable also to an analog television, by connecting the television'"'"'s tuner terminals to the microprocessor unit through an ADC circuit within said TV module and by directly connecting the TV band terminal to the microprocessor unit.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said central module comprises a transceiver circuit for bi-directional communication with the TV module, and a microprocessor unit to transmit the data received from the TV module to the central server computer by performing necessary communication protocol conversions for the use of the data by said server computer and to transmit the data received from the central server computer to the TV module by performing necessary communication protocol conversions for the use of the data by said TV module.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein RF communication technique is employed between the TV module and central module and accordingly, the transceiver circuits in the modules are RF transceivers.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor units in said TV and central modules are micro-controllers.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said central module and central server computer communicates with the use of the RS232 serial communication technique and the central module comprises an RS232 communication interface to achieve this target.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein all data are sent in an encrypted form, and while sending data from the center to a TV module, the address data of a TV module of interest is further included in the data and all TV modules in the system evaluate the data upon receipt thereof and only the TV module conforming with the code and address data performs the desired operation.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central server computer controls the authority of a user to watch a channel, which he/she selects from the television by the TV module, and if he/she has the required authorization, such channel is activated and his/her user account is charged according to the period such channel is watched, or let active.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein on digital televisions, the user can participate in mutual messaging with a desired target point by using the menu for system functions appearing on the television.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein such target point can be another television within the system, the central server computer, or if a modem is used in the central server computer, any other computer on the Internet.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein on digital television, users can be informed and instructed with the use of teletext modules of televisions according to the data the TV module receives from the center.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein on digital televisions, the user is allowed to place orders via television, can learn his/her account remainder, receive wake-up services, change the menu language and/or the language for communication with the center, and play proper games by making a selection among those game machines in the center computer by making use of said system'"'"'s function-related menu appearing on the television and by means of the bi-directional communication of the TV module with the center.

15. A system according to any of the preceding claim 1, wherein it is possible to change the channel frequencies and channel orders of the televisions one by one or group by group from the central server computer, to make language option adjustments, and to reach all televisions via the same lime under addressing logic.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein advertisement and information broadcasts are activated before a user purchases a pay-program in payable broadcasts.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein all adjustments and info acquisition towards the system can be realized by anyone by means of the Internet from any location on the world, provided that such person holds the required authorization password.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein the preferred RF communication frequency is between 400-500 MHz, and this value is changed when desired, once the RF transceiver'"'"'s operating frequency are changed by means of micro-controllers on the TV and central modules with digital signals by the central server computer.

19. A system according to any of the preceding claim 1, wherein the transmitting power of RF signals can be changed, once the RF transceivers'"'"', signal transmitting power are changed by means of micro-controllers on the TV and central modules with digital signals by the central server computer.