System for and method of interactive dialog between a user and a telematic server

• US 5,819,039 A
• Filed: 02/26/1996
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Metalogic Co.
• Original Assignee: Metalogic Co.
• Inventors: Morgaine, Sylvain
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US08/553,591
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14, 348/15, 348/734, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 395/200.47, 395/200.48, 395/200.49, 359/148
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof

Abstract

A method and a system for interactive dialogue between a user and a server includes an interactive device including a mechanism for sending data transmitted by the server as infrared signals decoded as hexadecimal character strings and receiving infrared signals. The system further includes a portable remote-control apparatus including a compact housing and a mechanism for receiving and transmitting infrared signals, a mechanism for storing in a read-write memory data corresponding to the signals transmitted by the device and received by the apparatus, a mechanism for displaying messages and a mechanism for manually controlling the transmission of infrared signals sent back. The message display mechanism is capable of displaying in real time and at locations determined by the device the messages derived from control instructions supplied by the device.

Claims

1. An interactive user interface system for accessing raw data from a telematic server connected to an outside telephone network, and addressing processed data in return to said server in relation with a broadcasting system, said interactive user interface system comprising:

a device arranged to be connected to said telephone network, said device including;

(a) means for storing and for processing the raw data into separate graphical information and command instructions,

(b) means for encoding said separate graphical information and command instructions into infra-red or radio first signals coded as hexadecimal character strings and for transmitting simultaneously said first signals corresponding to said graphical information and command instructions to a portable remote control apparatus,

(c) means for receiving and decoding infra-red or radio second signals emitted from said portable remote control apparatus, and

(d) means for processing said second signals into third signals and addressing said third signals to the telematic server; and

said portable remote control apparatus including;

(a) means for receiving and decoding the infra-red or radio first signals emitted from said device into said separate graphical information and command instructions,

(b) means for storing in a read/write memory said separate graphical information and command instructions,

(c) means for configuring said remote control apparatus in view of said command instructions, said means for configuring comprising message display means including a screen comprising a touch-sensitive plate arranged for displaying in real time graphics corresponding to said graphical information according to said command instructions at specified locations on the screen, said graphics being activated through pressure on said touch-sensitive plate by the user for delivering fourth signals corresponding to said command instructions, and

(d) means for encoding said fourth signals into said infra-red or radio second signals and transmitting said second signals to the device.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the screen is a liquid crystal screen.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein the read/write memory is a RAM memory.

4. System according to claim 1, further including a voice interface means.

5. System according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises two infrared signals emitters arranged for emitting graphical information and instruction commands simultaneously.

6. System according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus also includes means of permanent storages of command instructions, able to control an interactive reader, a video recorder, a television set, a high fidelity chain, or an electrodomestic appliance.

7. A remote control system for downloading and processing raw data from a telematic server connected to an outside telephone network, and controlling a domestic device such as a videorecorder, a TV set, a high fidelity stereo system or a home appliance, said remote control system comprising:

a device arranged to be connected to said telephone network, said device including;

(a) means for storing and for processing the raw data into separate graphical information and command instructions,

(b) means for encoding said separate graphical information and command instructions into infra-red or radio first signals coded as hexadecimal character strings and for transmitting simultaneously said first signals corresponding to said graphical information and command instructions to a portable remote control apparatus,

(c) means for receiving and decoding infra-red or radio second signals emitted from said portable remote control apparatus, and

(d) means for storing and processing said second signals into third signals and addressing said third signals, to the telematic server; and

said portable remote control apparatus including;

(a) means for receiving and decoding the infra-red or radio first signals emitted from said device into said separate graphical information and command instructions,

(b) means for storing in a read/write memory said separate graphical information and command instructions,

(c) means for configuring said remote control apparatus in view of said command instructions, said means for configuring comprising message display means including a screen comprising a touch-sensitive plate arranged for displaying in real time graphics corresponding to said graphical information according to said command instructions at specified locations on the screen, said graphics being activated through pressure on said touch-sensitive plate by the user for delivering fourth signals corresponding to said command instructions, and

means for encoding said fourth signals into said infra-red or radio fifth signals and transmitting said fifth signals for controlling said domestic device.

8. A method of interactive use for accessing raw data from a telematic server connected to an outside telephone network, and addressing processed data in return to said server in relation with a broadcasting system, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting a device to said telephone network via a modem,

storing and processing the raw data into separate graphical information and command instructions,

encoding said graphical information and command instructions into infra-red or radio first signals transmitted as hexadecimal character strings,

transmitting said first signals to a portable remote control apparatus,

receiving and decoding the infra-red or radio first signals emitted from said device into said separate graphical information and command instructions in said portable remote control apparatus,

storing in a read/write memory said separate graphical information and command instructions,

displaying in real time graphics corresponding to said graphical information according to said command instructions at specified locations on a screen comprising a touch-sensitive plate,

activating said graphics through pressure on said touch-sensitive plate by the user for delivering fourth signals corresponding to said command instructions,

encoding said fourth signals into said infra-red or radio second signals,

transmitting said second signals to the device,

receiving and decoding in said device said second signals emitted from said portable remote control apparatus, and

addressing said second signals to the telematic server.

9. Method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of processing the second signals, within the device into third signals and addressing said third signals to the telematic server.

10. Method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of manually controlling with the apparatus an interactive reader, a video recorder, a television set, a high-fidelity chain, or an electrodomestic appliance.

11. Method of interactive dialog according to claim 8, wherein the manual command of the transmission of infrared or radio signals is effected via a touch-sensitive plate overlaid on the screen and contrived so as to control the transmission of the signals by pressure on said touch-sensitive plate at locations specified by the device and corresponding to the messages displayed.

12. Method according to claim 8, wherein the first signals transmitted by the device and received by the apparatus, corresponding to graphical information and instruction commands, are stored in said apparatus, in two distinct read/write memories.

13. A method for downloading and processing raw data from a telematic server connected to an outside telephone network, and controlling a domestic device such as a videorecorder, a TV set, a high fidelity stereo system or a home appliance, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting a device to said telephone network via a modem,

storing and processing the raw data into separate graphical information and command instructions,

encoding said separate graphical information and command instructions into infra-red or radio first signals coded as hexadecimal character strings,

transmitting said first signals to a portable remote control apparatus,

receiving and decoding the infra-red or radio first signals emitted from said device into said graphical information and command instructions in said portable remote control apparatus,

storing in a read/write memory said graphical information and command instructions,

displaying in real time graphics corresponding to said graphical information according to said command instructions at specified locations on a screen comprising a touch-sensitive plate,

activating said graphics through pressure on said touch-sensitive plate by the user for delivering fourth signals corresponding to said command instructions,

encoding said fourth signals into infra-red or radio fifth signals, and

transmitting said fifth signals for controlling said domestic device.