APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SHARING TELEVISION SIGNALS VIA INSTANT MESSAGING SERVICES

• US 20100023991A1
• Filed: 10/29/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Chih-Hsiang, Chuang, Tzu-Lung
• Application Number:
  US12/260,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023991A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/121
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Provided is an apparatus for sharing television signals via an instant messaging service, which comprises an instant messaging module, a television receiver and a television sharing interface, wherein the instant messaging module is used to exchange information with outside networks via the instant messaging service. The television receiver is used to receive the television signals having video signals and audio signals, and the television sharing interface is used to connect the television receiver with the instant messaging module, wherein the television sharing interface further comprises a control module, a video capture module and an audio output module. The control module is for controlling the television receiver, the video capture module is for capturing the video signal for the instant messaging module to output under control of the control module, and the audio output module is for outputting the audio signal according to the control module.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sharing television signals via an instant messaging service,

comprising:

an instant messaging module, used to exchange information with outside networks via the instant messaging service;

a television receiver, used to receive the television signals having video signals and audio signals; and

a television sharing interface, used to connect the television receiver with the instant messaging module, further comprising;

a control module, for controlling the television receiver;

a video capture module, for capturing the video signals for the instant messaging module to output under control of the control module; and

an audio output module, for outputting the audio signals under control of the control module.

2. The apparatus for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a television playing interface for operating the television receiver and playing the television signals.

3. The apparatus for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control module operates the television receiver by controlling the television playing interface.

4. The apparatus for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 2, wherein the video capture module captures the video signals played in the television playing interface for the instant messaging module to output under control of the control module.

5. The apparatus for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio signals are outputted via the instant messaging module under control of the control module.

6. The apparatus for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio signals are outputted via an operating system under control of the control module.

7. The apparatus for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the television sharing interface further comprises an external signal receiver used to receive a control signal from outside networks via the instant messaging module to output the control signal to the control module.

8. The apparatus for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the video capture module further comprises a video encoding module for compressing the video signals.

9. The apparatus for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 1, wherein the instant messaging module further comprises a video signal buffer for buffering the video signals when the instant messaging module and the outside transmit information with each other.

10. The apparatus for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 7, wherein the instant messaging module further comprises a packet determining module for determining whether the outside network has issued the control signal via the instant messaging module.

11. The apparatus for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 10, wherein the instant messaging module further comprises an auto-reply module for determining whether to be controlled by the control signal when the packet determining module receives the control signal from the outside network.

12. The apparatus for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control signal is a text message.

13. The apparatus for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 12, wherein the outside signal receiver further comprises a text parsing module for transforming the test message into the control signal.

14. A method for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service, comprising:

providing an instant messaging module used to exchange information with outside networks via the instant messaging service,

providing a television receiver used to receive the television signals having video signals and audio signals; and

connecting the television receiver with the instant messaging module, wherein the method for connecting the television receiver with the instant messaging module further comprises;

controlling the television receiver;

capturing the video signals received by the television receiver for the instant messaging module to output; and

outputting the audio signals.

15. The method for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 14, further comprising providing a television playing interface for operating the television receiver to play the television signals.

16. The method for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 15, wherein the television receiver is controlled via the television playing interface.

17. The method for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 14, wherein the audio signals are outputted via the instant messaging module.

18. The method for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 14, wherein the audio signals are outputted via an operating system.

19. The method for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 14, wherein the television receiver is under control of outside networks via the instant messaging module.

20. The method for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 14, further comprising compressing the video signals.

21. The method for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 14, further comprising buffering the video signals when the instant messaging module and the outside transferring information with each other.

22. The method for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 14, further comprising, determining whether the outside network has issued a control signal via the instant messaging module.

23. The method for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 22, further comprising, determining whether to be controlled by the control signal when receiving the control signal from the outside network.

24. The method for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service as claimed in claim 22, wherein the control signal is a text message.

25. A machine readable medium, storing a computer program for performing a method for sharing television signals via the instant messaging service, wherein the method comprises:

connecting a television receiver of the machine with an instant messaging module of the machine;

controlling the television receiver;

capturing a video signal of the television signals received by the television receiver for the instant messaging module to output; and

outputting an audio signal of the television signals received by the television receiver.

26. The machine readable medium as claimed in claim 25, further comprising enabling the machine to be controlled by outside networks via the instant messaging service.