INFORMATION DEVICE

• US 20100303438A1
• Filed: 07/15/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: May Patents Ltd.
• Original Assignee: May Patents Ltd.
• Inventors: Binder, Yehuda
• Application Number:
  US12/836,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20100303438A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

A device for obtaining, storing and displaying information from a remote server, the device has a modem for establishing communication sessions with the remote server. A memory coupled to the modem stores the obtained information, and a display is coupled to the memory for displaying the stored information. The device automatically and periodically communicates with the remote server for obtaining the information.

Claims

1. A system for location-based weather forecast service over a communication medium, the system comprising:

a server connected to the Internet and identified in the Internet using a designated web site Uniform Resource Locator (URL), said server being configured to store updated weather forecasts associated with a plurality of geographical locations;

a device for connecting to said server over the Internet for obtaining, storing and displaying a location-based weather forecast, said device comprising;

a port couplable to a communication medium;

a transceiver coupled to said port for communication with said server of information represented by digital data over the communication medium;

a first memory coupled to said transceiver for storing digital data received by said transceiver;

a display for visually presenting information, said display being coupled to said first memory for displaying information stored in said first memory;

firmware and a processor for executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to control at least said transceiver and said display; and

a single enclosure housing said port, said transceiver, said first memory and said display,

wherein said device has an Internet address, and

said system is operative for automatically and periodically communicating said device with said server at all times when said device is in operation for displaying weather forecasts only associated with geographical location of said device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said single enclosure has dimensions and an appearance of a conventional flat, wall-mountable framed picture.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said device has a digital address.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the digital address is either a MAC address or an IP address.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein said device is configured for wall mounting in a residential building, and said server is located outside the residential building.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said single enclose in constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard picture frame;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard picture frame for hanging on a wall; and

a shape to at least in part substitute for a standard picture frame.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said device is a mobile handheld unit.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said mobile handheld unit is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a cellular telephone handset.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein:

said device further comprises a battery;

said device is operative to be at least in part powered from said battery; and

said battery is a primary or rechargeable battery.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said display is a video display.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said video display comprises a flat screen that is based on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said firmware includes at least part of a web client for communication with, and accessing information stored in, said server.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said at least part of a web client includes at least part of a graphical web browser.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said at least part of a graphical web browser is based on Windows Internet Explorer.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein communication with said server is based on Internet Protocol (IP) suite.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the communication with said server is based on TCP/IP.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein communication with the server is timed on a daily basis at a pre-set time of day (TOD).

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the pre-set time of day is at least one of:

set by the user;

set previously in the device; and

set by the server in a previous communication session.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the information received from said server and displayed on said device further include location based information relating to an ongoing or recent event, a current or recent activity, or an existing situation.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the information received from the server includes at least one of:

public news; and

traffic related information.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the communication medium is wiring;

said port is a connector for connecting to the wiring; and

said transceiver is a modem for transmitting digital data to, and for receiving digital data from, the wiring.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein:

the wiring is connected for concurrently carrying a power signal and an information signal over the same wires; and

said device is further operative to be at least in part powered from the power signal.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein:

the wiring is a telephone wire pair and the information signal is an analog telephone signal; and

said connector is a telephone connector and wherein said modem is a dial-up modem.

24. The device according to claim 21, wherein:

the wiring is a telephone wire pair and the information signal is an xDSL signal;

said connector is a telephone connector; and

said modem is an xDSL modem.

25. The system according to claim 21, wherein:

the wiring is an AC power cable;

said connector is an AC power plug connectable to an AC power source;

said modem is a powerline modem; and

said device further comprises a power supply connected to said AC power plug to be powered by power supplied by the AC power source and to provide DC power for DC powering at least said powerline modem and said display.

26. The system according to claim 21, wherein:

the wiring is a CATV coaxial cable;

said connector is a coaxial connector; and

said modem is a cable modem.

27. The system according to claim 21, wherein:

the wiring is a LAN (Local Area Network) cable connected for carrying a LAN signal;

said connector is a LAN connector; and

said modem is a LAN transceiver.

28. The system according to claim 27, wherein:

the cable and communication over the cable are based on IEEE802.3 standard; and

said transceiver is an Ethernet transceiver.

29. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the communication medium is over-the-air;

said port is an antenna for transmitting and receiving digital data over the air; and

said transceiver is a wireless transceiver coupled to said antenna for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication over the air, via said antenna, with another wireless transceiver of the same type.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the wireless server uses a license-free radio frequency band.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the license-free radio frequency band is one of:

900 MHz;

2.4 GHz; and

5.8 GHz.

32. The system according to claim 29, wherein:

the communication is WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) communication;

said port is a WLAN antenna for transmitting and receiving digital data over the air; and

said transceiver is a WLAN transceiver coupled to said antenna for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication over the air, via said WLAN antenna, with another wireless transceiver of the same type.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein said WLAN transceiver is operative to communicate substantially according to IEEE802.11 standard.

34. The system according to claim 29, wherein;

said device is a mobile telephone handset device for making and receiving telephone calls in a cellular telephone network;

the wireless communication is via the cellular network;

said antenna is a cellular antenna for transmitting and receiving digital data signals over the air; and

said wireless transceiver is a cellular transceiver.

35. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

the communication medium is a distinct and uniquely identifiable medium; and

wherein said server is operative for estimating the device geographical location based on the communication medium identification.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein:

the communication medium is a telephone wire pair;

said port is a telephone connector;

said transceiver is a dial-up modem; and

said server estimates the device geographical location using Call Identification (Caller-ID).

37. The system according to claim 36, wherein said dial-up modem is configured to transmit and receive substantially according to ITU-T V.90 or V.92 standard.

38. The system according to claim 1, wherein said server is associating the device physical geographical location based on the time of the communication.

39. The system according to claim 1 wherein said server estimates the device physical geographical location based on information received from the device.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein said server estimates the device physical geographical location based on the device address.

41. A Digital Video Disc (DVD) player device operative for playing video data stored on an optical storage disc, said device being further operative for obtaining digital data via the Internet from a first remote information server that is identified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and for storing and displaying the digital data, said device comprising:

an antenna for transmitting and receiving digital data over the air;

a wireless transceiver coupled to said antenna for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication in a wireless network;

a non-volatile memory coupled to said wireless transceiver for storing digital data received by said wireless transceiver;

a first memory for storing a website URL;

a display component coupled to said non-volatile memory for displaying an image based on the digital data stored in said non-volatile memory; and

a single enclosure housing said antenna, said wireless transceiver, said non-volatile memory, said first memory and said display component,

wherein said device has an Internet address.

42. The device according to claim 41, wherein:

the digital data is digital video data;

said display component is a video display component; and

said device is further operative for obtaining, storing and displaying the received digital video data.

43. The device according to claim 41, wherein said device is operative for automatically and periodically communicating with the first remote information server at all times when said device is in operation for receiving digital data from the first remote information server.

44. The device according to claim 41, wherein the wireless network is a cellular network, said antenna is a wireless cellular antenna, and said wireless transceiver is a cellular wireless transceiver.

45. The device according to claim 41, wherein said device has a digital address, and is further operative to send the digital address and a request for digital data to the first remote information server, and to obtain and display digital data received from the first remote information server in response to the sent request for information.

46. The device according to claim 41, wherein:

the wireless network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN);

said antenna is a WLAN antenna; and

said wireless transceiver is a WLAN transceiver.

47. The device according to claim 46, wherein said WLAN transceiver is operative to communicate substantially according to IEEE802.11 standard.

48. The device according to claim 41, further comprising firmware and a processor for executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to control at least said antenna and said display component.

49. The device according to claim 48, wherein said processor consists of one of a microprocessor;

and a microcomputer, and said device further comprises at least one user operated button or switch coupled to said processor, for user control of operation of said device.

50. The device according to claim 41, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on Internet Protocol (IP) suite.

51. The device according to claim 50, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on TCP/IP.

52. The device according to claim 41, wherein wireless communication between the first remote information server and said antenna is based on spread spectrum modulation.

53. The device according to claim 52, wherein the spread spectrum modulation is a DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) modulation.

54. The device according to claim 41, wherein wireless communication between the first remote information server and said antenna is using a license-free radio frequency band.

55. The device according to claim 54, wherein the license-free radio frequency band is one of:

900 MHz;

2.4 GHz; and

5.8 GHz.

56. The device according to claim 41, wherein said device is addressable using a digital address that is either a MAC address or an IP address.

57. The device according to claim 41, wherein said device is further operative to store and play digital audio data.

58. The device according to claim 41, further comprising a digital to analog converter coupled to said non-volatile memory for converting digital data stored in said non-volatile memory to an analog signal.

59. The device according to claim 58, wherein the analog signal in an analog video signal for connecting to an analog video display.

60. The device according to claim 59, wherein the analog video signal is an S-Video or a composite video signal in a PAL or NTSC format.

61. A disc player device for playing video data stored on an optical storage disc, said device being further operative for obtaining digital video data via the Internet from a first remote information server that is identified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and for storing and displaying the digital video data, said device comprising:

an antenna for transmitting and receiving digital video data over the air;

a wireless transceiver coupled to said antenna for bi-directional packet-based digital data communication in a wireless network;

a non-volatile memory coupled to said wireless transceiver for storing digital video data received by said wireless transceiver;

a first memory for storing a website URL;

a video display component coupled to said non-volatile memory for displaying an image based on the digital video data stored in said non-volatile memory; and

a single enclosure housing said antenna, said wireless transceiver, said non-volatile memory, said first memory and said video display component.

62. The device according to claim 61, wherein said device is operative for automatically and periodically communicating with the first remote information server at all times when said device is in operation for receiving digital video data from the first remote information server.

63. The device according to claim 61, wherein said device has an Internet address.

64. The device according to claim 63, further operative to send the Internet address and a request for digital video data to the first remote information server, and to obtain and display digital video data received from the first remote information server in response to the sent request for information.

65. The device according to claim 61, wherein the wireless network is a cellular network, said antenna is a wireless cellular antenna, and said wireless transceiver is a cellular wireless transceiver.

66. The device according to claim 61, wherein:

the wireless network is a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN);

said antenna is a WLAN antenna; and

said wireless transceiver is a WLAN transceiver.

67. The device according to claim 66, wherein said WLAN transceiver is operative to communicate substantially according to IEEE802.11 standard.

68. The device according to claim 61, further comprising firmware and a processor for executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to control at least said antenna and said video display component.

69. The device according to claim 68, wherein said processor is one of a microprocessor;

and a microcomputer, and said device further comprises at least one user operated button or switch coupled to said processor, for user control of operation of said device.

70. The device according to claim 61, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on Internet Protocol (IP) suite.

71. The device according to claim 70, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on TCP/IP.

72. The device according to claim 61, wherein wireless transmission to and from said antenna is based on spread spectrum modulation.

73. The device according to claim 72, wherein the spread spectrum modulation is a DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) modulation.

74. The device according to claim 61, wherein wireless transmission to and from said antenna uses a license-free radio frequency band.

75. The device according to claim 74, wherein the license-free radio frequency band is one of:

900 MHz;

2.4 GHz; and

5.8 GHz.

76. The device according to claim 61, wherein said device has a digital address and said digital address is either a MAC address or an IP address.

77. The device according to claim 61, wherein said device is further operative to store and play digital audio data.

78. The device according to claim 61, further comprising a digital to analog converter coupled to said non-volatile memory for converting digital data stored in said non-volatile memory to an analog signal.

79. The device according to claim 78, wherein the analog signal is an analog video signal for an analog video display.

80. The device according to claim 79, wherein the analog video signal is an S-Video signal, or a composite video signal in a PAL or NTSC format.

81. A Digital Video Disc (DVD) player device operative for playing video data stored on an optical storage disc, said device being further operative for displaying on an analog video display the digital video data received from a digital video storage unit and for powering the digital video storage unit, said device comprising:

a first connector for connecting to the digital video storage unit;

a transceiver coupled to said first connector for digital data communication with the digital video storage unit for receiving said digital video data therefrom;

an analog video connector connectable to an analog video display for transmitting analog video signals to the analog video display; and

a digital to analog converter connected between said transceiver and said analog video connector for converting the digital video data into the analog video signals;

an AC power connector for connecting to an AC power source;

firmware and a processor for executing said firmware, said processor being coupled at least to control said transceiver and to control the digital video storage unit via said first connector;

a power supply connected to said AC power connector to be powered by the AC power supplied from the AC power source, said power supply comprising an AC to DC converter for DC powering at least part of said device; and

a single enclosure housing said first connector, said transceiver, said processor, said analog video connector and said digital to analog converter,

wherein said power supply is coupled to said first connector for DC powering the digital video storage unit via said first connector.

82. The device according to claim 81, wherein the analog video signal is an S-Video signal or a composite video signal in a PAL or NTSC format.

83. The device according to claim 81, further comprising a cradle adapted so that the digital video storage unit is mechanically attachable to said device;

and wherein said power supply is operative to supply DC power to the digital video storage unit when the digital video storage unit is mechanically attached via said cradle.

84. The device according to claim 83, wherein the digital video storage unit is a wireless handheld unit.

85. The device according to claim 84, wherein the wireless handheld unit is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a cellular telephone handset.

86. The device according to claim 81, wherein said single enclosure has dimensions and an appearance of a conventional flat, wall-mountable framed picture.

87. The device according to claim 81, wherein said device is operative for automatically and periodically communicating with the digital video storage unit at all times when said device is in operation.

88. The device according to claim 81, wherein said device is addressable in a digital data network.

89. The device according to claim 88, wherein said device has a digital address uniquely identifying said device in a Local Area Network (LAN), and said device further comprises a memory for storing said digital address.

90. The device according to claim 89, wherein said device is operative to send the digital address and a request for information to the digital video storage unit, and to obtain the requested information from the digital video storage unit in response to the sent request for information.

91. The device according to claim 89, wherein the digital address is either a MAC address or an IP address.

92. The device according to claim 81, wherein said device is configured for wall mounting in a residential building.

93. The device according to claim 81, wherein said device is further connectable to a digital display, and said device further comprises a digital video connector connectable to the digital video display and coupled to said transceiver for transmitting digital video signals to the digital video display from said transceiver.

94. The device according to claim 93, wherein said display is an HDTV display.

95. The device according to claim 81, wherein the digital video storage unit further comprises a battery, and said device is operative to be at least in part charge said battery from said power supply via said first connector.

96. The device according to claim 81, wherein said single enclosure is constructed to have at least one of the following:

a form substantially similar to that of a standard picture frame;

wall mounting elements substantially similar to those of a standard picture frame for hanging on a wall; and

a shape to at least in part substitute for a standard picture frame.

97. The device according to claim 81, wherein said processor is one of:

a microprocessor; and

a microcomputer, and said device further comprises at least one user operated button or switch coupled to said processor, for user control of operation of said device.

98. The device according to claim 97, wherein the user control of operation of said device comprises at least one of:

turning said device on and off;

resetting said device to default values;

selecting a language; and

selecting the information to be presented on said video display.

99. The device according to claim 81, wherein said device is further operative to receive and play digital audio data from the digital video storage unit.

100. The device according to claim 81, wherein communication with the digital video storage unit via said first connecter is based on a standard serial digital data bus.

101. A disc player device operative for playing video data stored on an optical storage disc and for receiving and displaying digital video data from a home network over a wiring, said device comprising:

a video connector for delivering video data to a video display;

a second connector for connecting to the wiring;

a first home network transceiver coupled to said second connector for transmitting digital data to, and receiving digital data from, a second home network transceiver of the same type connected to the wiring;

firmware and a processor for executing said firmware, said processor being coupled to control at least said first home network transceiver; and

a single enclosure housing said video and second connectors, said first transceiver and said processor,

wherein said processor is coupled between said first home network transceiver and said video connector for conducting the digital video data received from the wiring to said video display.

102. The device according to claim 101, wherein said device is operative for communicating via the home network with a first remote information server via the Internet for receiving information from the first remote information server, and for displaying the received information on said video display.

103. The device according to claim 102, wherein said device is further operative for automatically and periodically communicating with the first remote information server at all times when said device is in operation.

104. The device according to claim 102, wherein said device further comprises a non-volatile memory coupled to said video connector and said device has a digital data network address, and wherein said device is operative for communicating via the home network with the first remote information server via the Internet for receiving information from the first remote information server and for storing the received information in said non-volatile memory for displaying the received information on said video display.

105. The device according to claim 104, wherein said non-volatile memory comprises a Flash memory.

106. The device according to claim 102, wherein said firmware includes at least part of a web client for communication with, and accessing information stored in, the first remote information server.

107. The device according to claim 106, wherein said at least part of a web client includes at least part of a graphical web browser.

108. The device according to claim 107, wherein said at least part of a graphical web browser is based on Windows Internet Explorer.

109. The device according to claim 102, wherein the first remote information server is organized as a website having a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and including web pages as part of the World Wide Web (WWW), and is further identified by said device using the website URL.

110. The device according to claim 102, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on Internet protocol suite.

111. The device according to claim 110, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on TCP/IP.

112. The device according to claim 102, wherein said device is further operative to initiate a communication with the first remote information server after a set period following a prior communication session.

113. The device according to claim 102, wherein said device is further operative to communicate with a second distinct remote information server via the Internet, when communication with the first remote information server cannot be properly executed in a selected time period or after a set delay.

114. The device according to claim 102, wherein said device further has a digital address, and is further operative to send the digital address and a request for information to the first remote information server, and to obtain and display information received from the first remote information server in response to the sent request for information.

115. The device according to claim 101, further comprising a non-volatile memory for storing a digital address uniquely identifying said device in at least one of:

a Wide Area Network (WAN);

a Local Area Network (LAN); and

on the Internet.

116. The device according to claim 115, wherein the digital address is either a MAC address or an IP address.

117. The device according to claim 101, wherein the wiring is a telephone wire pair, said second connector is a telephone connector, and said home network first transceiver is a telephone line modem.

118. The device according to claim 101, wherein the home network is based on. HomePNA standard, and said telephone line modem is a HomePNA compliant modem.

119. The device according to claim 101, wherein the wiring is AC power wiring, said second connector is an AC power connector, and said home first network transceiver is a powerline modem.

120. The device according to claim 119, wherein the home network is based on HomePlug standard, and said powerline modem is a HomePlug compliant modem.

121. The device according to claim 120, wherein the wiring is a coaxial cable, said second connector is a coaxial connector, and said first home network transceiver is a cable modem.

122. The device according to claim 101, wherein the wiring is Local Area Network (LAN) wiring, said second connector is a LAN connector, and first said home network transceiver is a LAN transceiver.

123. The device according to claim 122, wherein the home network is based on IEEE802.3 standard, and said LAN transceiver is an Ethernet compliant modem.

124. The device according to claim 101, wherein said processor is one of:

a microprocessor; and

a microcomputer, and said device further comprises at least one user operated button or switch coupled to said processor, for user control of operation of said device.

125. The device according to claim 101, wherein communication with the first remote information server is based on Internet Protocol (IP) suite.

126. The device according to claim 101, wherein the home network communication is based on spread spectrum modulation.

127. The device according to claim 126, wherein the spread spectrum modulation is a DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) modulation.

128. The device according to claim 101, further comprising a digital to analog converter coupled to said first home network transceiver for converting digital data from the home network to an analog signal.

129. The device according to claim 128, wherein the analog signal in an analog video signal and said video connector is an analog video connector for connecting to an analog video display.

130. The device according to claim 129, wherein the analog video signal is an S-Video signal, or a composite video signal in a PAL or NTSC format.