Apparatus and method for electronic device for information services
First Claim
1. In a data communication system having a host computer coupled to a data communications medium and an electronic device coupled to said data communications medium, a method for providing access at said electronic device to a plurality of facilities, said method comprising the steps of:
- calling to said electronic device said host computer from said electronic device through said data communications medium, to establish a first data communication link between said electronic device and said host computer via said data communications medium;
transferring configuration data from said host computer to said electronic device via said first data communication link;
thereafterbreaking said first data communication link;
assembling from said configuration data a menu listing a plurality of titles identifying said plurality of facilities;
thereafterdisplaying said menu on a television coupled to said electronic device;
thereafteraccepting, at a remote keypad, an operator input specifying a selected one of said plurality of facilities;
transmitting, from said remote keypad to an IR detector coupled to said electronic device, an infrared signal responsive to said operator input;
detecting said infrared signal at said IR detector;
thereaftercalling said selected one of said plurality of facilities from said electronic device via said data communications medium, thereby establishing a second data communication link between said electronic device and said selected facility via said data communications medium; and
thereafterconnecting said electronic device to said selected facility via said second data communication link.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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. The captured images may subsequently be sent via facsimile transmission to other facsimile machines or receivers. The electronic device includes a speaker phone capability for providing audio information received over telephones to the television speaker. A microphone on the electronic device permits two-way communication. A menu item, selectable by the remote keypad, activates this option. The television speaker use permits access to audiotext and voice mail as well.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. In a data communication system having a host computer coupled to a data communications medium and an electronic device coupled to said data communications medium, a method for providing access at said electronic device to a plurality of facilities, said method comprising the steps of:
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calling to said electronic device said host computer from said electronic device through said data communications medium, to establish a first data communication link between said electronic device and said host computer via said data communications medium; transferring configuration data from said host computer to said electronic device via said first data communication link;
thereafterbreaking said first data communication link; assembling from said configuration data a menu listing a plurality of titles identifying said plurality of facilities;
thereafterdisplaying said menu on a television coupled to said electronic device;
thereafteraccepting, at a remote keypad, an operator input specifying a selected one of said plurality of facilities; transmitting, from said remote keypad to an IR detector coupled to said electronic device, an infrared signal responsive to said operator input; detecting said infrared signal at said IR detector;
thereaftercalling said selected one of said plurality of facilities from said electronic device via said data communications medium, thereby establishing a second data communication link between said electronic device and said selected facility via said data communications medium; and
thereafterconnecting said electronic device to said selected facility via said second data communication link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a data communication system having a host computer and an electronic device wherein said host computer and said electronic device are coupled to a data communications medium, a method for providing interactive access at said electronic device to data stored at a plurality of facilities coupled to the data communications medium, said method comprising the steps of:
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calling said host computer from said electronic device through said data communications medium, to establish a first data communication link between said electronic device and said host computer via said data communications medium; transferring configuration data from said host computer to said electronic device via said first data communication link; breaking said first data communication link; assembling from said configuration data a menu listing a plurality of titles identifying said plurality of facilities;
thereafterdisplaying said menu on a television coupled to said electronic device;
thereafteraccepting, at a remote keypad, a first operator input specifying a first selected one of said plurality of facilities; transmitting, from said remote keypad to an IR detector coupled to said electronic device, a first infrared signal responsive to said first operator input; detecting said first infrared signal at said IR detector;
thereaftercalling said first selected one of said plurality of facilities from said electronic device via said data communications medium to establish a second data communication link between said first selected one of said plurality of facilities and said electronic device via said data communications medium;
thereafteraccessing said first selected facility from said electronic device via said second data communication link; and
thereaftertransferring data associated with said first selected facility from said host computer to said electronic device via said second data communication link. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 22)
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17. An electronic device for providing access to a plurality of facilities coupled to a data communications medium, said electronic device comprising:
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means for interfacing to a television; a remote keypad for transmitting menu selection signals; a data interface coupled to said data communications medium; and a controller coupled to said television interfacing means and said data interface and in wireless communication with said remote keypad, for; initiating a first data call to said host computer through said data communications medium to obtain configuration data from said host computer; assembling a menu listing a plurality of titles of said plurality of facilities from said configuration data; displaying said menu on said television; accepting, via said remote keypad, a user selection of a selected one of said plurality of facilities; and initiating a second data call to said selected one of said facilities through said data communications medium to establish a connection between said electronic device and said selected facility. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification