Method and apparatus for interactive television through use of menu windows

• US 5,561,708 A
• Filed: 08/01/1994
• Issued: 10/01/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raquel Velasco
• Original Assignee: Viscorp
• Inventors: Remillard, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/283,733
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90, 379/92, 379/93, 379/96-98, 379/110, 178/18, 178/19, 348/825.22, 348/2, 348/3, 348/6-18, 348/461, 348/468, 348/569, 348/552, 348/553, 348/734, 348/578, 348/584, 348/586, 348/588, 348/589
• US Class Current: 379/93.19
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/085 using a television receiver, e.g. viewdata system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00283 with a television apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44222 Analytics of user selections, e.g. selection of programs or purchase activity monitoring of user selections in data processing systems G06F11/34; arrangements for monitoring the user's behaviour or opinions in broadcast systems H04H60/33
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/002 Special television systems not provided for by H04N7/007 - H04N7/18 still pictures via a television channel H04N1/00098

Abstract

An electronic device and method for accessing remote electronic facilities and displaying associated information on a conventional television set. The electronic device self-configures itself upon power-up or reset by initiating a data call to a configuring facility. Information related to available facilities and programming, autonomous mail checking is downloaded to the electronic device. The electronic device displays a menu including several user selectable facilities on the display for a user. The user chooses one of the options from the menu by use of a remote keypad control, similar to a conventional television remote control. The options available include printing, electronic mail and other news and information services. Interfacing the electronic device with a stylus-type pointing device permits sketching and drawing on the television, including superposition of images on captured television images. Captured images of graphics or text are optionally stored or forwarded to a user through a mail facility accessed through operation of the system.

Claims

1. An interactivity appliance comprising:

a modem adapted to connect to a telephone line;

a user input device that accepts input from a user;

a memory device;

a communications processor coupled to said modem and said user input device that;

establishes a connection to a remote information source via the modem and telephone line;

queries the remote information source to obtain information selected by the user via the user input device;

retrieves said information selected by the user via the connection; and

stores said information in said memory device; and

a video processor, coupled to said memory device, having a video input that receives live video imagery modulated on an RF signal, and further adapted to connect to a broadcast input of a consumer television receiver, that;

retrieves said information from said memory device;

converts said information to a video display signal;

superimposes said video display signal on said RF signal synchronous to said live video imagery using genlock to obtain a modified RF signal; and

outputs said modified RF signal to the broadcast input, whereby the information selected by the user appears superimposed over the live video imagery on a display screen of the consumer television receiver.

2. A speakerphone interface for a television that receives video and audio signals as modulation superimposed on an external RF input signal, comprising:

a modulator that applies audio and video information as modulation to an RF signal and outputs the RF signal to the television for display of the video information and audiblization of the audio information by the television;

a telephone interface that exchanges audio information and dialing signals with a telephone network;

a remote entry device that accepts user input of a telephone number to be dialed;

a microphone that accepts audio input; and

a speakerphone controller that;

translates the user input of the telephone number to be dialed into video information and directs the video information to the modulator, whereby the telephone number is displayed on a screen of the television;

translates the user input of the telephone number to be dialed into dialing signals and directs the dialing signals to the telephone interface, whereby a call to the telephone number is established;

relays the audio input via the microphone to the telephone interface;

relays audio information received from the telephone network to the modulator, whereby a received audio portion of the call is audiblized via a speaker of the television; and

a housing external to the television, that contains the modulator and speakerphone controller.