Television and computer capability integration

• US 5,790,201 A
• Filed: 08/08/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Beacon Fire Technology Group Company Limited
• Inventors: Antos, Jeffrey David
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US08/695,138
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 348/552, 348/718, 348/719, 395/200.3, 395/200.47, 395/200.48
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A television and computer integration system is provided that includes a coupler module electrically coupled to a remote keyboard and integral mouse. Coupler module is also electrically coupled to both a personal computer and to a conventional television. The personal computer has a conventional user interface which includes a keyboard, monitor and mouse. The coupler module enables the combination of the remote keyboard and mouse, and television to serve as a secondary user interface for the personal computer which may be operated in parallel with the primary user interface. A user may thus access and take advantage of substantially all of the capabilities of the personal computer (including computer games and Internet access) from the user'"'"'s television, in the comfort of the user'"'"'s living room or television room. The present invention thus advantageously provides efficient and inexpensive integration of television capabilities with personal computing, including Internet access.

Claims

1. An interconnect device adapted to link a television with a personal computer having a CPU and a user interface including a monitor and a keyboard, to integrate capabilities of the television and the personal computer, said interconnect device comprising:

at least one video input means for receiving a video output signal from the CPU;

first video output means for coupling the video output signal to the television for display on the television;

a first keyboard input means for receiving an output signal from an other keyboard; and

at least one keyboard output means for coupling the output signal from the other keyboard to the CPU;

wherein the other keyboard and the television serve as a remote user interface to the personal computer.

2. The interconnect device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a converter connected between the CPU and the television, said converter being adapted to convert the video output signal to a form capable of being displayed by the television.

3. The interconnect device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said converter further comprises a digital to analog converter adapted to convert the video output signal from digital to analog.

4. The interconnect device as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a transmitter connected between said converter and the television, wherein said interconnect device is wirelessly coupled to the television.

5. The interconnect device as set forth in claim 4, further comprising the other keyboard, a signal transmitter and a signal receiver connected between the CPU and said other keyboard, wherein said other keyboard is wirelessly coupled to the CPU.

6. The interconnect device as set forth in claim 5, where in said signal transmitter is disposed proximate said other keyboard and said signal receiver is disposed proximate the CPU.

7. The interconnect device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a mouse and a first mouse input means for receiving an output signal from said mouse and a mouse output means for coupling the output signal from said mouse to the CPU.

8. The interconnect device as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a joystick and a joystick input means for receiving an output signal from said joystick and a joystick output means for coupling the output signal from said joystick to the CPU.

9. The interconnect device as set forth in claim 8, wherein said mouse and said joystick are disposed integrally with said other keyboard.

10. The interconnect device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second video output means for coupling the video output signal to the monitor, wherein the video output signal is adapted for display on the monitor and the television.

11. The interconnect device as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a second keyboard input means for receiving an output signal from the keyboard and coupling the output signal from the keyboard to said at least one keyboard output means, wherein said at least one keyboard output means couples both the output signal from the keyboard and the output signal from the other keyboard to the CPU.

12. The interconnect device as set forth in claim 11, further comprising:

a mouse and a first mouse input means for receiving an output signal from said mouse and at least one mouse output means for coupling the output signal from said mouse to the CPU;

a second mouse input means for receiving an output signal from an other mouse and coupling the output signal from the other mouse to said at least one mouse output means, wherein said at least one mouse output means couples both the output signal from said mouse and the output signal from the other mouse to the CPU.

13. A method of integrating capabilities of a television and a personal computer having a CPU and a user interface including a monitor and a keyboard, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an other keyboard adapted for use proximate the television;

coupling a video output signal from the CPU with the television for display thereof on the television; and

coupling an output signal from the other keyboard to the CPU, wherein the other keyboard and the television serve as an other user interface of the personal computer.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein said step of coupling a video output signal from the CPU with the television further comprises the step of converting the video output signal to a form capable of being displayed by the television.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step of converting the video output signal further comprises the step of converting the video output signal from digital to analog.

16. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein said step of coupling a video output signal from the CPU with the television further comprises the step of wirelessly transmitting the video output signal from the CPU to the television.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said step of coupling an output signal from the other keyboard to the CPU further comprises the step of wirelessly transmitting the output signal from the other keyboard using a signal transmitter disposed proximate the other keyboard and receiving the output signal from the other keyboard with a signal receiver disposed proximate the CPU.

18. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

providing a mouse adapted for operation in combination with the other keyboard;

receiving a mouse output signal from the mouse; and

coupling the mouse output signal from the mouse to the CPU.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

providing a joystick adapted for operation in combination with the other keyboard;

receiving a joystick output signal from the joystick; and

coupling the joystick output signal from the joystick to the CPU.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the mouse and the joystick are disposed integrally with the other keyboard.

21. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising the step of coupling the video output signal to the monitor, wherein the video output signal is adapted for display on the monitor and the television.

22. The method as set forth in claim 21, further comprising the step of coupling an output signal from the keyboard to the CPU, wherein both the output signal from the keyboard and the output signal from the other keyboard are coupled to the CPU.

23. The method as set forth in claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

providing a mouse and a first mouse input means for receiving an output signal from the mouse and at least one mouse output means for coupling the output signal from the mouse to the CPU;

receiving an output signal from an other mouse and coupling an output signal from the other mouse to the CPU, wherein both the output signal from the mouse and the output signal from the other mouse are coupled to the CPU.

24. An interconnect device adapted to link a television with a personal computer having a CPU and a user interface including a monitor, keyboard and a mouse, to integrate capabilities of the television and the personal computer, the interconnect device comprising:

an other keyboard;

at least one video input means for receiving a video output signal from the CPU;

first video output means for coupling the video output signal to the television for display on the television;

second video output means for coupling the video output signal to the monitor;

a first keyboard input means for receiving an output signal from said other keyboard;

at least one keyboard output means for coupling the output signal from said other keyboard to the CPU;

a second keyboard input means for receiving an output signal from the keyboard and coupling the output signal from the keyboard to said at least one keyboard output means;

an other mouse;

a first mouse input means for receiving an output signal from said other mouse; and

at least one mouse output means for coupling the output signal from said other mouse to the CPU; and

a second mouse input means for receiving an output signal from the mouse and coupling the output signal from the mouse to said at least one mouse output means;

wherein said other keyboard, said other mouse and the television serve as a remote user interface for the personal computer.