PC/TV usage tracking and reporting device

• US 5,819,156 A
• Filed: 01/14/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Compaq Computer Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Belmont, Brian V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Chris
• Application Number:
  US08/783,608
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 455/2, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 455/6.3, 348/1, 348/2, 348/3, 348/4, 348/5, 348/6, 348/7-13, 348/552
• US Class Current: 725/14
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/125 wherein one of the images is motion video
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV

Abstract

A TV/PC convergence device, operable in a television mode, a computer mode and a combination television/computer mode, includes a display, a computer and a tracking device. The display receives and displays images in all three modes. The computer executes programs and is operable in the computer mode and the combination television/computer mode. The tracking device, which is coupled to the display and computer, tracks, records, and reports select uses of the display and the computer during each of the television mode, the computer mode and the combination television/computer mode.

Claims

1. A PC/TV convergence device operable in a television mode, a computer mode, and a combination television/computer mode, said PC/TV convergence device comprising:

a display for receiving and displaying images;

a computer coupled to said display, said computer for executing programs and for generating images to be displayed on said display, said computer operable at least in the computer mode and the combination television/computer mode; and

a tracking device coupled to said display and said computer, said tracking device for tracking select uses of said display and said computer during each of the television mode, computer mode and the combination television/computer mode.

2. The PC/TV convergence device as recited in claim 1, wherein said tracking device includes a data storage device for storing data corresponding to the tracking of select uses of said display and said computer during each of the television mode, computer mode and the combination television/computer mode.

3. The PC/TV convergence device as recited in claim 2, wherein said tracking device further includes a time stamp device for generating time and date information corresponding to said data storage device storing data.

4. The PC/TV convergence device as recited in claim 3, wherein said tracking device further includes a clock for generating starting and stopping information corresponding to said tracking device starting and stopping the tracking of the select uses.

5. The PC/TV convergence device as recited in claim 4, wherein said tracking device further includes an interface for interfacing said data storage device with a data collection agent so that the data collection agent can retrieve said data stored in said data storage device.