Television receiver with two-way telephone conversation capability

• US 4,338,492 A
• Filed: 01/02/1980
• Issued: 07/06/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zenith Radio Corporation (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zenith Radio Corporation (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Snopko, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hecker, Stuart N.
• Application Number:
  US06/109,424
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 179/2 EA, 179/2 TV, 358/85, 455/344
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/26 Devices for calling a subscriber H04M1/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/085 using a television receiver, e.g. viewdata system

Abstract

A television receiver is disclosed comprising a cabinet which houses a television system having telephone network access means. The television receiver provides both for presentation of television programs and for conversing through the talk channel and listen channel of an associated telephone network while viewing a television picture. The receiver has at least one function control means including operational mode selection means for providing a television program mode, and alternately, a two-way telephone conversation with-television-picture mode. When the presence of a ringer signal from the telephone network is indicated, the television receiver user can activate the two-way telephone conversation mode and conduct a two-way conversation with the telephone caller through the television receiver while viewing a television picture. Upon termination of the conversation, the television receiver user can restore the television program mode.

Claims

1. A television receiver comprising a cabinet which houses a television system having telephone network access means, said receiver providing both for presentation of television programs and for conversing through the talk channel and listen channel of an embodied telephone network while viewing a television picture, said television system having function control means including operational mode selection means for providing a television program mode, and alternately, a two-way-telephone-conversation-with-television-picture mode,

A. said television system of said television receiver comprising:

(1) means for receiving broadcast or cable-carried television program signals;

(2) means for processing said signals effective to provide separate video and audio signals;

(3) cathode ray tube picture display means for receiving said video signal for displaying a television picture; and

(4) television audio signal processing means for receiving said audio-signal including dual-function audio amplifier-speaker means connectible to said telephone network during to said two-way-conversation-with-television-picture mode;

B. said telephone network access means of said television receiver comprising;

(1) ring detector means for detecting a ringer signal from said telephone network during said television program mode;

(2) alerting signal generating means for receiving said detected ringer signal and generating an audible and/or visible alerting signal;

(3) off-hook signaling means for providing an off-hook signal to the telephone network;

(4) microphone means for sensing user voice signals during a telephone conversation;

(5) audio send channel means for receiving and amplifying the output of said microphone means for routing to said talk channel of the telephone network; and

(6) audio receive channel means for accepting the listen signal from said telephone network for routing to audio amplifier-speaker means in said television system;

C. said function control means of said television receiver comprising;

(1) first means for routing, when said receiver is in said television program mode, and when said receiver is in an ON-hook condition, said ringer signal from said telephone network to said ring detector and to said alerting signals generator, and for connecting said TV audio signal processing means to said audio amplifier-speaker means for reproducing the audio portion of the television program signal;

(2) second means for disconnecting the aforesaid connections for muting said television program when said function control means is operated to place the receiver in said two-way-telephone conversation-with-television-picture mode, and when said telephone network is in an off-hook condition, said second means also providing for

(a) connecting said audio receive channel means to said listen channel for accepting caller voice audio signals;

(b) connecting said audio receive channel means to said audio amplifier-speaker means for rendering audible the voice of said caller;

(c) connecting said audio send channel means to said talk channel for conducting the voice audio signals of said television receiver user to said caller; and

,

(d) connecting said off-hook signalling means to the telephone network for indicating the line is in use;

(3) volume regulating means for regulating volume of said audio amplifier-speaker means;

such that when the television receiver user is alerted to the presence of a detected ringer signal, the user can activate the two-way-telephone-conversation-with-television-picture mode and conduct a two-way conversation with said telephone caller through the television receiver while viewing a broadcast or cable-carried television picture, and upon termination of the conversation, restore said television program mode.

2. A television receiver comprising a cabinet which houses a television system having telephone network access means, said receiver providing both for presentation of television programs and for conversing through the talk channel and listen channel of an embodied telephone network while viewing a television picture, said television system having at least one function control means including operational mode selection means for providing a television program mode, and alternately, a two-way-telephone-conversation-with-television-picture mode,

A. said television system of said television receiver comprising:

(1) means for receiving broadcast or cable-carried television program signals;

(2) means for processing said signals effective to provide separate video and audio signals;

(3) cathode ray tube picture display means for receiving said video signal for displaying a television picture;

and

(4) television audio signal processing means including dual-function audio amplifier-speaker means connectible to said telephone network during said two-way-conversation-with-television-picture mode;

B. said telephone network access means of said television receiver comprising;

(1) ring detector means for detecting a ringer signal from said telephone network during said television program mode;

(2) alerting signal generating means for receiving said detected ringer signal and generating an alerting signal;

(3) first means for receiving said alerting signal and providing an audible alerting signal through said audio amplifier-speaker means;

(4) second means for receiving said alerting signal including means for translating said signal into a flashing light on a panel of said receiver;

(5) off-hook signaling means for providing an off-hook signal to the telephone network;

(6) microphone means for sensing user voice signals during a telephone conversation;

(7) audio send channel means for receiving and amplifying the output of said microphone means for routing to said talk channel of the telephone network; and

(8) audio receive channel means for accepting the listen signal from said telephone network for routing to audio amplifier-speaker means in said television system;

C. said function control means of said television receiver comprising;

(1) first means for routing, when said receiver is in said television program mode, and when said receiver is in an on-hook condition, said ring signal from said telephone network to said ringer detector and to said alerting signals generator, and for connecting said TV audio signal processing means to said audio amplifier-speaker means for reproducing the audio portion of the television program signal;

(2) second means for disconnecting the aforesaid connections for muting said television program when said function control means is operated to place the receiver in said two-way-telephone-conversation-with-television-picture mode, and when said telephone network is in an off-hook condition, said second means also providing for

(a) connecting said audio receive channel means to said listen channel for accepting caller voice audio signals;

(b) connecting said audio receive channel means to said audio amplifier-speaker means for rendering audible said voice of said caller;

(c) connecting said audio send channel means to said talk channel for conducting the voice audio signals of said television receiver user to said caller; and

,

(d) connecting said off-hook signaling means to the telephone network for indicating the line is in use;

(3) volume regulating means for regulating the volume of said audio amplifier-speaker means;

such that when the television receiver user is alerted to the presence of a detected ringer signal, the user can activate the two-way-telephone-conversation-with-television-picture mode and conduct a two-way conversation with said telephone caller through the television receiver while viewing a broadcast or cable-carried television picture, and upon termination of the conversation, restores said television program mode.