Interactive control system for multiservice installations including a television program distribution server and a PABX

• US 5,717,452 A
• Filed: 09/08/1994
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel NV (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel NV (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Nardot, Jean-Claude, Janin, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US08/303,204
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 348/6, 348/7, 348/8, 348/10, 348/12, 348/13, 348/24, 348/461, 348/468, 348/552, 348/563, 348/564, 348/565, 455/3.1, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.3
• US Class Current: 725/131
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/085 using a television receiver, e.g. viewdata system

Abstract

A system for interactive control of applications by users to whom information can be communicated by televisions in a multiservice installation includes a television program distribution server, user modules, a PABX, and an operating system. The television program distribution server (4) has means (12,13) for transmitting television programs. The user modules (6) each include a telephone (2) with a control device connected to the PABX and a television (5) served by the server. The PABX (1) has a control and management system for controlling the individual connection of the television to the server in connection with first coded signals sent by the user through the control device of the telephone included in the same user module. The operating system includes an interactive television program from a computer and a device for producing control information usable by man or by machine from information transmitted by the PABX control and management system on reception of second coded signals sent through the control device included in the telephone in relation to specific interactive program information transmitted from the operating system and then sent to and displayed on the television of the same user module.

Claims

1. System enabling interactive control of applications by users to whom information can be communicated by televisions in a multiservice installation, comprising:

an operating system (11) based on at least one computer;

a PABX (1);

a television program distribution server (4);

user modules (6) each including at least a telephone (2) connected to the PABX and a personalized television (5) served by the server and provided with a remote control transmitter device (8) to be used by users, each server having means (11,

     13) to enable transmission of at least one interactive television program supplied by said operating system (11), wherein said operating system is connected by digital means (LT) to the PABX at a control and management system (0) of the PABX and has means (16,

     17) for producing control information usable by man or by machine from information transmitted in digital form by the control and management system of the PABX on reception of coded signals sent from the control device (18) of a module telephone in conjunction with specific interactive television program information previously sent by operating system to the television associated with this telephone in the same user module and displayed on that television at the time the coded control signals are sent via the telephone, the operating system (11) being divided into at least one local subsystem associated with a service and running a front-end application program (16) for implementing procedures for generating specific interactive television program information required for selection of options by the user and to be transmitted to specified televisions (5) of the installation and at least one host subsystem running a combined administration program (17) for responding to control action by any use of the installation means of a telephone (2) of a module (6) made available to the user, in conjunction with information relating to a service interactive television program displayed at this time by the television (5) of the module associated with the telephone (2) which the user is using, said host subsystem being connected by digital means to the control and management system (0) of the PABX to which the user module telephones are connected to any local subsystem of the installation.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the front-end application program is a videotex program.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the front end application program (16) and combined administration program are responsive to the control device (18) of the telephone (2) to remote control, at least in part, the television associated with the telephone (2).

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein telephones (2'"'"') are used to enable at least partial control of televisions associated therewith in the user modules and which individually include a control device (18'"'"') integrating a device (8B) enabling wireless remote control of the associated television from a remote control transmitter (8A) connected by wire to the telephone and preferably fixed at a short distance from the associated television.

2. A system for interactive control of applications by users to whom information can be communicated by televisions in a multiservice installation, comprising:

a television program distribution server (4) having means (12,13) for transmitting an interactive television program;

user modules (6) each including at least a telephone (2) and an identified television (5) which receives the interactive television program transmitted by the server, the telephone including a control device (18);

a PABX (1) with a control and management system which controls connection of the television to the server in connection with first coded signals sent by the user through the control device of the telephone included in the same user module, the telephone (2) being connected to said PABX; and

an operating system including;

means for supplying to said server the interactive television program from a computer;

means for producing control information usable to generate interactive television program information, said control information being produced in response to second coded signals transmitted by the user to the operating system via the control device and the PABX while the user is viewing on the television specific interactive program information which was previously transmitted to the television from said operating system via said server; and

means responsive to the control device (18) of the telephone (2) to remote control, at least in part, the television associated with the telephone (2).

6. System according to claim 2, wherein the operating system (11) has at least one videotex or similar type front-end application program (16) for implementing information generating procedures required for selecting options to be transmitted to televisions (5) of the installation and at least one combined administration program (17) for responding to commands input by any user by means of the telephone (2) of a user module (6) made available to the user, correlated with information relating to an interactive television program displayed at this time by the television (5) of the module associated with the telephone (2) which the user is using.

7. System according to claim 2, wherein the telephone is used to enable at least partial control of the television associated with the telephone in ones of the user modules, and wherein the control device includes a device (8B) enabling wireless remote control of the television from a remote control transmitter (8A) connected by wire to the telephone and preferably fixed at a short distance from the television.