Two-way communication protocol for a web television

• US 6,073,171 A
• Filed: 01/23/1997
• Issued: 06/06/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Gaughan, Kevin J., Zato, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US08/787,660
• Time in Patent Office: 1,230 Days
• Field of Search: 345/327, 345/328, 709/217-219, 348/12, 348/13, 348/7, 348/565, 455/4.2, 455/5.1
• US Class Current: 725/110
• 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 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

A web television includes (i) a display, (ii) an internet module for supporting internet communications between the web television and internet content providers, (iii) a PIP module for providing a PIP area of the display, (iv) a video processor module for supplying video to the display, (v) an audio processor module for supplying audio to a speaker of the web television, (vi) an video/audio switch for switching outputs from a tuner of the web television and from the internet module between the PIP module, the video processor, and the audio processor, (vii) a television controller, and (viii) a two-way communication bus interconnecting the internet module, the PIP module, the video processor module, the audio processor module. The television controller controls the internet module, the PIP module, the video processor module, the audio processor module, and the video/audio switch so as to selectively display the internet communications and television signals on the display. The television controller also transmits messages to, and to receive messages from, the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

Claims

1. A communication system for a web television comprising:

internet transmitting and receiving means for transmitting and receiving internet communications; and

,

television controlling means for controlling a television so as to display the internet communications and television video to a user, wherein the television controlling means is arranged to transmit information to, and receive information from, the internet transmitting and receiving means, wherein at least some of the information includes information regarding the operation of a remote control, wherein the information is transmitted and received in messages, wherein the messages have an address portion, and wherein the address portion indicates whether the television controlling means is writing or reading.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the television controlling means is arranged to receive an acknowledgement following transmission of the address portion.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the address portion indicates an address of the internet transmitting and receiving means.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the address portion of one message indicates that the one message is a write message, wherein the one message further has a command portion and an information portion, and wherein the command portion indicates a type of information in the information portion written to the internet transmitting and receiving means.

5. The communication system of claim 4 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is status information, and wherein the information portion contains the status information written to the internet transmitting and receiving means.

6. The communication system of claim 4 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is click information relating to a click of the remote control, and wherein the information portion contains the click information written to the internet transmitting and receiving means.

7. The communication system of claim 4 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is displacement information relating to displacement information transmitted by the remote control, and wherein the information portion contains the displacement information written to the internet transmitting and receiving means.

8. The communication system of claim 4 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is character information relating to character selections by use of the remote control, and wherein the information portion contains the character information written to the internet transmitting and receiving means.

9. The communication system of claim 8 wherein the character information includes a last selected character and a current selected character.

10. The communication system of claim 4 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is software version information relating to a version of software executed by the television controlling means, and wherein the information portion contains the software version information written to the internet transmitting and receiving means.

11. The communication system of claim 4 wherein the television controlling means is arranged to receive an acknowledgement following transmission of each of the address portion, the command portion, and the information portion written to the internet transmitting and receiving means.

12. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the address portion of one message indicates that the one message is a read message, wherein the one message further has a type portion and an information portion, and wherein the type portion indicates a type of information in the information portion read from the internet transmitting and receiving means.

13. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the type portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is status information, and wherein the information portion contains the status information read from the internet transmitting and receiving means.

14. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the type portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is software version information relating to a version of software executed by the internet transmitting and receiving means, and wherein the information portion contains the software version information read from the internet transmitting and receiving means.

15. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the television controlling means is arranged to receive an acknowledgement following transmission of the address portion and to transmit an acknowledgement following reception of each of the type portion and the information portion.

16. A web television comprising:

a display;

a two-way communication bus;

an internet module coupled to the two-way communication bus, wherein the internet module is arranged to support internet communications between the web television and internet content providers; and

,

a television controller coupled to the two-way communication bus, wherein the television controller is arranged to selectively control display of the internet communications and television signals on the display, and wherein the television controller is arranged to transmit messages to, and to receive messages from, the internet module over the two-way communication bus, wherein the messages indicate whether the television controller is writing to, or reading from, the two-way communication bus.

17. The web television of claim 16 wherein the messages have an address portion, and wherein the address portion indicates whether the television controller is writing to, or reading from, the two-way communication bus.

18. The web television of claim 17 wherein the television controller is arranged to receive an acknowledgement following transmission of the address portion by the television controller.

19. The web television of claim 17 wherein the address portion indicates an address of the internet module.

20. The web television of claim 17 wherein the address portion of one message indicates that the one message is a write message, wherein the one message further has a command portion and an information portion, and wherein the command portion indicates a type of information in the information portion written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

21. The web television of claim 20 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is status information, and wherein the information portion contains the status information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

22. The web television of claim 20 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is click information relating to a click of a remote control, and wherein the information portion contains the click information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

23. The web television of claim 20 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is displacement information relating to displacement information transmitted by a remote control, and wherein the information portion contains the displacement information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

24. The web television of claim 20 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is character information relating to character selections by use of a remote control, and wherein the information portion contains the character information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

25. The web television of claim 24 wherein the character information includes a last selected character and a current selected character.

26. The web television of claim 20 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is software version information relating to a version of software executed by the television controller, and wherein the information portion contains the software version information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

27. The web television of claim 20 wherein the television controller is arranged to receive an acknowledgement following transmission of each of the address portion, the command portion, and the information portion written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

28. The web television of claim 17 wherein the address portion of one message indicates that the one message is a read message, wherein the one message further has a type portion and an information portion, and wherein the type portion indicates a type of information in the information portion read from the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

29. The web television of claim 28 wherein the type portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is status information, and wherein the information portion contains the status information read from the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

30. The web television of claim 28 wherein the type portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is software version information relating to a version of software executed by the internet module, and wherein the information portion contains the software version information read from the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

31. The web television of claim 28 wherein the television controller is arranged to receive an acknowledgement following transmission of the address portion and to transmit an acknowledgement following reception of each of the type portion and the information portion.

48. The web television of claim 16 wherein the message has a command portion and an information portion, and wherein the command portion indicates a type of information in the information portion written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

49. The web television of claim 48 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is status information, and wherein the information portion contains the status information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

50. The web television of claim 48 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is click information relating to a click of a remote control, and wherein the information portion contains the click information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

51. The web television of claim 48 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is displacement information relating to displacement information transmitted by a remote control, and wherein the information portion contains the displacement information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

52. The web television of claim 48 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is character information relating to character selections by use of a remote control, and wherein the information portion contains the character information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

53. The web television of claim 52 wherein the character information includes a last selected character and a current selected character.

54. The web television of claim 16 wherein the message has a type portion and an information portion, and wherein the type portion indicates a type of information in the information portion read from the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

55. The web television of claim 54 wherein the type portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is status information, and wherein the information portion contains the status information read from the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

32. A web television comprising:

a display;

an internet module, wherein the internet module is arranged to support internet communications between the web television and on-line content providers;

a PIP module, wherein the PIP module is arranged to supply video to a PIP area of the display;

a video processor module, wherein the video processor module is arranged to supply video to the display;

an audio processor module, wherein the audio processor module is arranged to supply audio to a speaker of the web television;

a two-way communication bus interconnecting the internet module, the PIP module, the video processor module, the audio processor module, and a television controller; and

,

wherein the television controller is arranged to control the internet module, the PIP module, the video processor module, and the audio processor module so as to selectively display the internet communications and television signals on the display, and wherein the television controller is arranged to transmit messages to, and to receive messages from, the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

33. The web television of claim 32 wherein the messages have an address portion, and wherein the address portion indicates whether the television controller is writing to, or reading from, the two-way communication bus.

34. The web television of claim 33 wherein the television controller is arranged to receive an acknowledgement following transmission of the address portion by the television controller.

35. The web television of claim 33 wherein the address portion indicates an address of the internet module.

36. The web television of claim 33 wherein the address portion of one message indicates that the one message is a write message, wherein the one message further has a command portion and an information portion, and wherein the command portion indicates a type of information in the information portion written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

37. The web television of claim 36 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is status information, and wherein the information portion contains the status information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

38. The web television of claim 36 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is click information relating to a click of a remote control, and wherein the information portion contains the click information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

39. The web television of claim 36 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is displacement information relating to displacement information transmitted by a remote control, and wherein the information portion contains the displacement information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

40. The web television of claim 36 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is character information relating to character selections by use of a remote control, and wherein the information portion contains the character information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

41. The web television of claim 40 wherein the character information includes a last selected character and a current selected character.

42. The web television of claim 36 wherein the command portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is software version information relating to a version of software executed by the television controller, and wherein the information portion contains the software version information written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

43. The web television of claim 36 wherein the television controller is arranged to receive an acknowledgement following transmission of each of the address portion, the command portion, and the information portion written to the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

44. The web television of claim 33 wherein the address portion of one message indicates that the one message is a read message, wherein the one message further has a type portion and an information portion, and wherein the type portion indicates a type of information in the information portion read from the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

45. The web television of claim 44 wherein the type portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is status information, and wherein the information portion contains the status information read from the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

46. The web television of claim 44 wherein the type portion indicates that the type of information in the information portion is software version information relating to a version of software executed by the internet module, and wherein the information portion contains the software version information read from the internet module over the two-way communication bus.

47. The web television of claim 44 wherein the television controller is arranged to receive an acknowledgement following transmission of the address portion and to transmit an acknowledgement following reception of each of the type portion and the information portion.