DATA PROCESSING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY A SET-TOP BOX FOR CONNECTION TO A RECEIVER, INPUT DEVICE FOR THE CONTROL OF A DATA PROCESSING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A DATA PROCESSING DEVICE

• US 20100088420A1
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Glufke, Jens
• Application Number:
  US12/451,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20100088420A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• 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 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4758 for providing answers, e.g. voting
• 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 21/6187 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A data processing device, particularly a set-top box, is connected to a receiver and a communication network from which it receives data, including content data and at least one item of identification data. The data processing device processes the data and transmits the processed data to the receiver for the output thereof. The data processing device is further configured to receive and process a code sent by an input device of the data processing device and/or of the receiver, the code being associated with an item of the identification data. In response to the receipt of the code, a communication connection is established between the data processing device, or a communication terminal, and a unit of the communication network, which is associated with the item of the identification data.

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A data processing device, connected to a receiver and a communication network, capable of receiving a code from an input apparatus of the data processing device and/or the receiver, comprising:

a first component receiving and processing data, sent from the communication network, including data and at least one item of identification data, and transmitting processed data to the receiver for output;

a second component receiving and processing a code sent from the input apparatus of the data processing device and/or the receiver, the code being associated with an identification data item of the identification data; and

a communication unit, establishing, in response to receipt of the code, a communication connection between the data processing device or a communication terminal and a facility of the communication network with which the identification data item is associated.

20. The data processing device as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a processor determining, the identification data item and selection information corresponding to an input element of the input apparatus and associated with the identification data item, from the data sent from the communication network, and determining the code associated with the identification data item from the selection information.

21. The data processing device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first component transmits the at least one identification data item and the associated selection information to the receiver to be output.

22. The data processing device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the code is associated with the input element of the input apparatus and is sent out by the input apparatus upon actuation of the input element.

23. The data processing device as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a storage unit storing the identification data item and the code associated with the identification data item.

24. The data processing device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the communication unit establishes the communication connection directly to the facility of the communication network.

25. The data processing device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the communication unit transmits a message to a communication apparatus in the communication network to establish a communication connection with the facility of the communication network, the message including an identifier of the data processing device, information concerning the data transmitted to the receiver, information concerning the selection information or the identification data item, which is associated with the selection information, thereby enabling the communication apparatus to establish a communication connection between the data processing device and the facility of the communication network.

26. The data processing device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first component receives data based on the internet protocol.

27. The data processing device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the communication connection is set up to the facility of the communication network only when the code is received, if the data sent from the communication network and received by the data processing device, comprising the at least one identification data item and the respectively associated selection information, is transmitted to the receiver.

28. An input apparatus, as a remote control controlling a data processing device connected to a communication network having a facility, comprising:

at least one input element;

a monitor monitoring actuation of the at least one input element; and

a transmitter, coupled to the monitor, sending, in response to actuation of the at least one input element, a unique code associated with the at least one input element, where the data processing device, upon receipt of the unique code, initiates setting up a communication connection to a facility of the communication network associated with an identification data item associated with the unique code.

29. A method for operating a data processing device as a set-top box connected to a receiver and a communication network, comprising:

receiving and processing data sent from the communication network to the data processing device, the data including content data and identification data;

transmitting the data after said processing to the receiver to be output;

receiving and processing a code sent from an input apparatus of the data processing device and/or the receiver, the code being associated with an identification data item of the identification data; and

establishing, in response to receipt of the code, a communication connection between the data processing device or a communication terminal and a facility of the communication network with which the identification data item is associated

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the data processing device determines at least one identification data item and selection information corresponding to an input element of the input apparatus and associated with the identification data item based on the data received from the communication network.

31. The method as claimed in claim 30, wherein the data processing device determines the code associated with the identification data from the selection information.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the identification data item and the selection information associated therewith are stored in the data processing device.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said establishing establishes a communication connection directly with the facility of the communication network.

34. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said establishing comprises

transmitting a message to a communication apparatus of the communication network, the message including an identifier of the data processing device, information concerning the data transmitted to the receiver, and information concerning the selection information or the identification data item associated with the selection information;

and

establishing, by the communication apparatus of the communication network, a communication connection to the facility of the communication network, based on the message.

35. The method as claimed in claim 34, wherein the data is transmitted from the communication network to the data processing device according to an internet protocol.

36. A method for providing an interaction channel in a television program, comprising:

providing data to be output on a receiver, the data including content data, at least one identification data item and respective selection information associated with the at least one identification data item;

transmitting the data to a data processing device for processing and forwarding to a receiver connected to the data processing device;

transmitting the at least one identification data item and the respective selection information to a communication apparatus of a communication network; and

establishing a communication connection, when the communication apparatus receives a message sent from the data processing device, from which a specific identification data item of the identification data can be determined, the communication connection being established between a facility, with which the specific identification data item is associated, and a communication terminal of a viewer of the television program.