ACCESS TO INTERNET DATA THROUGH A TELEVISION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A television system comprising:
- a receiver for receiving a television signal including a television program, an address for a data site, and a schedule of the television program;
a decoder for extracting the data site address from the television signal;
a memory for storing the extracted address and the schedule of the television program;
a communication device in two-way communication with the data service provider;
a user input device for receiving user input; and
a microprocessor coupled to the memory and the communication device and configured to;
store data for an icon representative of the data site address and superimpose the icon over the television program on a display device;
receive a user selection of the icon from the user input device;
retrieve the data site address and the schedule of the television program from the memory in response to the user selection; and
control the communication device to retrieve data corresponding to the data site address from the data service provider in response to the user selection; and
a television monitor for simultaneously displaying the television program, the data retrieved from the data service provider, and the retrieved schedule of the television program in three non-overlapping regions on the display screen.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A television system provides access to Internet data simultaneously with a displayed television program. Data units including data address sites available through a networked computer system such as the Internet are embedded in a television signal along with a television program. Information representing the data address site, such as an icon or descriptive text, is displayed simultaneously with the television program on the television. If the user selects the data address site, a data retrieval terminal in two-way communication with the network and associated with the television establishes a connection with the network and requests the data corresponding to the selected data address site. The retrieved information is then formatted for display.
40 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A television system comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a television signal including a television program, an address for a data site, and a schedule of the television program; a decoder for extracting the data site address from the television signal; a memory for storing the extracted address and the schedule of the television program; a communication device in two-way communication with the data service provider; a user input device for receiving user input; and a microprocessor coupled to the memory and the communication device and configured to; store data for an icon representative of the data site address and superimpose the icon over the television program on a display device; receive a user selection of the icon from the user input device; retrieve the data site address and the schedule of the television program from the memory in response to the user selection; and control the communication device to retrieve data corresponding to the data site address from the data service provider in response to the user selection; and a television monitor for simultaneously displaying the television program, the data retrieved from the data service provider, and the retrieved schedule of the television program in three non-overlapping regions on the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 37)
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7. (canceled)
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13. A method for enhancing viewing of a television program with interactive information retrieval comprising:
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receiving a television signal including a television program, an address for a data site, and a schedule of the television program; extracting the data site address from the television signal by a decoder; storing the extracted address and the schedule of the television program in a memory; receiving user input; storing data for an icon representative of the data site address and superimposing the icon over the television program on a display device; receiving a user selection of the icon; retrieving the data site address and the schedule of the television program from the memory in response to the user selection; and retrieving data corresponding to the data site address from the data service provider in response to the user selection; and simultaneously displaying the television program, the data retrieved from the data service provider, and the retrieved schedule of the television program in three non-overlapping regions on the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 38)
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19. (canceled)
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21. A method for enhancing viewing of a television program with interactive information comprising:
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receiving a television signal including a television program and an address for a data site; extracting the data site address from the television signal; establishing a connection with a data site corresponding to the data site address; displaying information about a related television program from the data site; and selecting the displayed information about the related television program from the data site to schedule a recording or viewing of the related television program. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A television system for enhancing viewing of a television program with interactive information comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a television signal including a television program and an address for a data site; a decoder for extracting the data site address from the television signal; a microprocessor configured to establish a connection with a data site corresponding to the data site address and display information about a related television program from the data site in a display monitor; and a user input device for selecting the displayed information about the related television program from the data site to schedule a recording or viewing of the related television program. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for enhancing viewing of a television program with interactive information comprising:
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establishing a connection with a remote data site; linking an article at the data site with data related to a television program; displaying the article from the data site; and selecting an identifier in the displayed article to schedule a recording or viewing of the television program. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. A television system for enhancing viewing of a television program with interactive information comprising:
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means for establishing a connection with a remote data site; means for linking an article at the data site with data related to a television program; means for displaying the article from the data site; and means for selecting an identifier in the displayed article to schedule a recording or viewing of the television program. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification