Method and apparatus for implementing a user interface for a videophone in a cable television network
First Claim
1. A videophone system for placing and receiving calls over a cable television network comprising:
- a remote control unit for generating input command signals;
a network interface for coupling the videophone system to a cable television network;
a remote control unit interface for receiving the input command signals;
a user interface, coupled to said network interface and said remote control unit interface, for transmitting outgoing call signals to said network interface for output to the cable television network, receiving incoming call signals from the cable television network via said network interface, and receiving the input command signal from said remote control unit via said remote control unit interface;
a graphics engine, coupled to said user interface, for generating display screens responsive to the input command signals and said user interface; and
a display monitor, coupled to said graphics engine, for displaying the display screens generated by said graphics engines,wherein a user inputs input command signals to select a mode of operation for displaying screens on said display monitor, a first mode providing step-by-step instructions to access videophone functions and a second mode providing access to videophone functions without step-by-step instructions.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A graphical user interface for a videophone in a cable television system allows the user to access the videophone functionalities with an input control device and a television monitor. The user can place a call, receive a call and store/access/call addresses using a remote in conjunction with the graphical user interface display screens. The videophone has several elements including a user interface, a graphics engine, a network interface, a remote control interface, and an output audio/video line connected to a television monitor. The user interface receives and processes control inputs using a microprocessor and the graphics engine generates the display screens using a DSP. Depending on processing requirements, the DSP may implement the user interface rather than the microprocessor. Also, anti-aliasing fonts are used to generate a high quality display. To save processing cycles, the anti-aliasing fonts may be retrieved from a look-up table rather than being generated in real time. The videophone may be implemented as a plug-in device to a set-top box, a standalone unit, or a standalone unit with a set-top box between the monitor and the videophone unit. When implemented with a set-top box the same remote control unit may be used to control the television and videophone functions.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A videophone system for placing and receiving calls over a cable television network comprising:
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a remote control unit for generating input command signals; a network interface for coupling the videophone system to a cable television network; a remote control unit interface for receiving the input command signals; a user interface, coupled to said network interface and said remote control unit interface, for transmitting outgoing call signals to said network interface for output to the cable television network, receiving incoming call signals from the cable television network via said network interface, and receiving the input command signal from said remote control unit via said remote control unit interface; a graphics engine, coupled to said user interface, for generating display screens responsive to the input command signals and said user interface; and a display monitor, coupled to said graphics engine, for displaying the display screens generated by said graphics engines, wherein a user inputs input command signals to select a mode of operation for displaying screens on said display monitor, a first mode providing step-by-step instructions to access videophone functions and a second mode providing access to videophone functions without step-by-step instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In a video phone system including a videophone unit, a remote control unit, and a display monitor, a method of receiving a call comprising the steps of:
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inputting via said remote control unit a number from which a call is to be blocked; receiving videophone call data via a cable television network; comparing, in said videophone unit, an originating number of an incoming call with the blocked number; and if the incoming call is not from the blocked number, performing the steps of; generating a notification of a call; displaying a call answer screen on said display monitor; and selecting a call response option identified on the call answer screen using said remote control unit. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A videophone system for placing and receiving calls over a cable television network comprising:
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a remote control unit for generating input command signals; a network interface for coupling the videophone system to a cable television network; a remote control unit interface for receiving the input command signals; a user interface, coupled to said network interface and said remote control unit interface, for transmitting outgoing call signals to said network interface for output to the cable television network, receiving incoming call signals from the cable television network via said network interface, and receiving the input command signal from said remote control unit via said remote control unit interface; a graphics engine, coupled to said user interface, for generating display screens responsive to the input command signals and said user interface; and a display monitor, coupled to said graphics engine, for displaying the display screens generated by said graphics engine; wherein help instructions can be displayed to guide a user through display screens using said input command signals. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification