Television remote commander with data reception capability

• US 6,313,887 B1
• Filed: 03/11/1998
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gudorf, Gregory D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US09/038,238
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5445, H04/N.544, 340/825.26, 340/825.27, 340/825.44, 340/311.1, 348/734, 348/553, 348/725, 348/554, 348/906, 348/563, 348/552, 455/5.1
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44224 Monitoring of user activity on external systems, e.g. Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4524 involving the geographical location of the client retrieval from the Internet by querying based on geographical locations G06F16/9537; systems specially adapted for using geographical information in broadcast systems H04H60/70; protocols in which the network application is adapted for the location of the user terminal in communication control or processing H04L67/52; services making use of the location of users or terminals in wireless networks H04W4/02; locating users or terminals in wireless networks H04W64/00
• 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 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/165 Centralised control of user terminal subsequent to an upstream request signal H04N7/17345; Registering at central by two-way working H04N7/17309

Abstract

A novel television remote control unit receives transmissions from a paging system and incorporates a display device to provide data delivery to television viewers. Data may be gather for dissemination by a service provider from any public or proprietary source, preferably including the Internet. The receiver may also be incorporated into a television set and provide a display of received data on the display device of the television set.

Claims

1. A television remote control comprising:

a keypad for receiving user input;

a signal generator for generating and transmitting a signal to a television set in response to said user input;

a display;

an antenna for receiving transmissions from a paging system;

a processor for decoding said transmissions and displaying information contained in said transmissions on said display; and

a service provider for gathering said information to be included in said transmissions;

wherein said processor drives said antenna to signal said paging system to request or discontinue said transmissions from said paging system.

2. A remote control as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an alert device for alerting said user when one of said transmissions is received.

3. A paging system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a connection between said service provider and the Internet through which said service provider gathers said information.

4. A television remote control comprising:

a keypad for receiving user input;

a signal generator for generating and transmitting a signal to a television set in response to said user input;

a display;

an antenna for receiving transmissions from a paging system;

a processor for decoding said transmissions and displaying information contained in said transmissions on said display, wherein said processor also drives said antenna to signal said paging system;

a plurality of base stations for sending said transmissions and receiving a signal from said antenna; and

a service provider for gathering said information to be included in said transmissions,

wherein said service provider identifies one of said base stations which best receives said signal from said antenna and screens said information for information relevant to a location of said base station which best receives said signal from said antenna.

5. A television set comprising:

a display device;

an antenna for receiving transmissions from a paging system; and

a processor for decoding said transmissions and displaying information contained in said transmissions on said display device, wherein said processor also drives said antenna to signal said paging system;

a plurality of base stations for sending said transmissions and receiving a signal from said antenna; and

a service provider for gathering said information to be included in said transmissions,

wherein said service provider identifies one of said base stations which best receives said signal from said antenna and screens said information for information relevant to a location of said base station which best receives said signal from said antenna.

6. A television set as claimed in claim 5, further comprising an alert device for alerting said user when one of said transmissions is received.

7. A paging system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a connection between said service provider and the Internet through which said service provider gathers said information.

8. A method of delivering information to television viewers comprising:

providing a television remote control unit having a keypad for receiving user input and a signal generator for generating and transmitting a signal to a television set in response to said user input;

receiving transmissions from a paging system with an antenna of said remote control unit;

decoding said transmission with a processor of said remote control unit;

displaying information contained in said transmission on a display of said remote control unit; and

driving said antenna with said processor to signal said paging system to request or discontinue said transmissions.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising alerting said user when one of said transmissions is received with an alert device.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

sending said transmissions with a plurality of base stations; and

gathering said information to be included in said transmissions.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said gathering further comprises gathering information from the Internet.

12. A method of distributing information over a paging network through a paging unit located in the remote control unit of a television set, wherein the remote control unit comprises a keypad for receiving user input, an antenna for receiving transmissions from and making transmissions to a paging system, and a processor for decoding said transmissions and displaying information contained in said transmissions on a display, the method comprising:

determining which of a plurality of base stations of said paging system for communicating with said remote control unit best receives a signal from said antenna;

screening information gathered by a service provider for information relevant to a location of said base station which best receives said signal from said antenna; and

transmitting said relevant information to said remote control unit.

13. A method of distributing information over a paging network through a paging unit located in a television set, wherein the paging unit comprises an antenna for receiving transmissions from and making transmissions to a paging system, and a processor for decoding said transmissions and displaying information contained in said transmissions on a screen of said television set, the method comprising:

determining which of a plurality of base stations of said paging system for communicating with said remote control unit best receives a signal from said antenna;

screening information gathered by a service provider for information relevant to a location of said base station which best receives said signal from said antenna; and

transmitting said relevant information to said remote control unit.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising alerting a user when one of said transmissions is received.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising gathering said information from the Internet.