Split personal computer system

• US 6,360,253 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Automated Business Companies
• Original Assignee: Automated Business Companies
• Inventors: Freeny, Charles C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Najjar, Saleh
• Application Number:
  US09/443,125
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 348/460, 348/723, 348/8, 348/13, 345/161, 345/327, 345/6, 345/10, 345/158, 345/156
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is a system which allows a personal computer system to be split into a local portion and a remote portion. The local portion of the split personal computer system is located in conjunction with the TV system located at homes or hotels. The remote portion of the split personal computer system is located in a remote location and normally maintained by a network service provider. The local portion includes a television display unit, and a television accessory unit in communication with the television display unit. An input unit is located adjacent the television display unit and is in communication with the television accessory unit to input data signals into the television accessory unit. Finally, communication means are provided for interfacing the television accessory unit of the local portion to the remote portion for permitting data signals received by the television accessory unit from the input unit to be transmittable from the television accessory unit to the remote portion of the split personal computer system. The data signals are processable by the remote portion to generate output signals. The output signals include video signals and are transmittable from the remote portion to the television accessory unit. The television accessory unit receives the output signals and transmits same to the television display unit as television signals. The system operates in such a manner that the user of the split personal computer system would not realize that the computer was split into two physical portions.

Claims

1. A split personal computer system for selectively processing video portions, input/output portions, computational portions and storage portions of personal computer tasks, comprising:

a remote portion adapted to selectively perform the computational portions and the storage portions of the personal computer tasks;

a local portion remotely located with respect to the remote portion and adapted to selectively perform the video portions and the input/output portions of the personal computer tasks, the local portion comprising;

a display unit located remotely from the remote portion of the split personal computer system;

an accessory unit in communication with the display unit, the accessory unit outputting video signals to the display unit so as to perform video and output portions of the personal computer tasks;

an output unit receiving data signals from the accessory unit to provide an output signal;

an input unit in communication with the accessory unit to input data signals into the accessory unit for performing input portions of the personal computer tasks;

communication means for interfacing the accessory unit with the remote portion of the split personal computer system for permitting data signals received by the accessory unit from the input unit to be transmittable from the accessory unit to the remote portion of the split personal computer system, the data signals being processable by the remote portion of the split personal computer system to generate output signals, the output signals including video signals and being transmittable from the remote portion of the split personal computer system to the accessory unit, and transmittable from the accessory unit to the display unit.

2. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the accessory unit of the local portion of the split personal computer system is disposed in a portable housing.

3. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the accessory unit of the local portion of the split personal computer system comprises:

a local computer;

an interface in communication with the local computer; and

a signal separator interface means in communication with the local computer and the interface for receiving at least two types of signals and for selectively transmitting the signals to one of the local computer and the interface based on an identifier included in the signals.

4. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein the communication means includes:

a first communication link means for transmitting data in between the accessory unit and the remote portion of the split personal computer system; and

a second communication link means for selectively transmitting video signals from the remote portion of the split personal computer system to the accessory unit.

5. A system as defined in claim 4, wherein the first communication link means are telephone communication links, and the second communication link means are television communication links.

6. A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the accessory unit of the local portion of the split personal computer system is included in a cable television interface box which is selectively connectable to a cable television connection.

7. A split personal computer system for selectively executing personal computer tasks, comprising:

a remote portion of the split personal computer system adapted to selectively perform the computational and storage portions of the personal computer tasks;

a plurality of local portions disposed remotely from the remote portion of the split personal computer system, each local portion of the split personal computer system being adapted to solely perform the video and input/output portions of the personal computer tasks and including;

a television display unit;

a television accessory unit in communication with the television display unit, the television accessory unit outputting video signals to the television display unit so as to perform video and output portions of the personal computer tasks;

an output unit receiving data signals from the television accessory unit to provide an output signal;

an input unit in communication with the accessory unit to input data signals into the accessory unit for performing input portions of the personal computer tasks;

communication means for interfacing the television accessory unit of each of the local portions of the split personal computer system with the remote portion of the split personal computer system for permitting data signals received by the television accessory units from the respective input units to be transmittable from the television accessory units to the remote portion of the split personal computer system, the data signals being processable by the remote portion of the split personal computer system to generate output signals, the output signals including video signals and being transmittable from the remote portion of the split personal computer system to respective television accessory units, and transmittable from the television accessory units to respective display units as television signals.

8. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein at least one television accessory unit of the local portions of the split personal computer system is disposed in a portable housing.

9. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein the television accessory units of the local portion of the split personal computer system comprise:

a local computer;

a television interface in communication with the local computer; and

a signal separator interface means in communication with the local computer and the television interface for receiving at least two types of television signals and for selectively transmitting the television signals to one of the local computer and the television interface based on an identifier included in the television signals.

10. A system as defined in claim 7 wherein the communication means includes:

a first communication link means for transmitting data in between the television accessory units and the remote portion of the split personal computer system; and

a second communication link means for selectively transmitting video signals from the remote portion of the split personal computer system to the television accessory units.

11. A system as defined in claim 10, wherein the first communication link means are telephone communication links, and the second communication link means are television communication links.

12. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein the television accessory units of the local portion of the split personal computer system are cable television interface boxes which are selectively connectable to respective cable television connections.

13. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein the remote portion of the split personal computer system includes:

a plurality of remote computer units; and

a remote system controller means for networking and controlling the remote computer units, the remote system controller means including means for receiving a remote logon command from the television accessory unit and for checking the validity of the remote logon command, the remote system controller means allowing connection to at least one of the remote computer units if the remote logon command is valid and prohibiting connection if the particular remote logon command is not valid.

14. A system as defined in claim 13, wherein the remote system controller is programmed with a billing program which counts the time periods in which the television accessory units are connected to respective remote computer units.

15. A split personal computer system for selectively processing video portions, input/output portions, computational portions and storage portions of personal computer tasks, comprising:

a remote portion comprising;

a remote system controller established on the World Wide Web;

a plurality of remote computer units selectively performing the computational portions and the storage portions of the personal computer tasks, each of the remote computer units being associated with a unique individual and having application programs and data associated with previous usage by the individual stored thereon;

a plurality of local portions located remotely from the remote computer units and adapted to selectively perform the video portions and the input/output portions of the personal computer tasks, each of the local portions being associated with an individual such that each individual is associated with one of the local portions and one of the remote computer units, each of the local portions comprising;

a television display unit adapted to receive television signals and output the television signals in a format perceivable by at least one individual located near the television display unit;

a television accessory unit in communication with the television display unit, the television accessory unit outputting television signals to the television display unit so as to perform video and output portions of the personal computer tasks;

an input unit in communication with the accessory unit to input data signals into the accessory unit for performing input portions of the personal computer tasks; and

wherein the remote system controller communicates with the local portions via the Internet, and interfaces each individual'"'"'s local portion with the individual'"'"'s remote computer unit of the split personal computer system for permitting data signals received by each individual'"'"'s local portion to be transmittable from each individual'"'"'s local portion to the individual'"'"'s remote computer unit of the split personal computer system, the data signals being processable by the individual'"'"'s remote computer unit of the split personal computer system to generate output signals, the output signals including video signals and being transmittable from the individual'"'"'s remote computer unit of the split personal computer system to the individual'"'"'s local portion.

16. A remote portion of a split personal computer system for selectively processing video portions, input/output portions, computational portions and storage portions of personal computer tasks wherein the split personal computer has a plurality of remote computer units selectively performing the computational portions and the storage portions of the personal computer tasks, each of the remote computer units being associated with a unique individual and having application programs and data associated with previous usage by the individual stored thereon, and a plurality of local portions located remotely from the remote computer units and adapted to selectively perform the video portions and the input/output portions of the personal computer tasks, each of the local portions being associated with an individual such that each individual is associated with one of the local portions and one of the remote computer units, the remote portion comprising:

a remote system controller established on the World Wide Web and communicating with the local portions via the Internet, and interfacing each individual'"'"'s local portion with the individual'"'"'s remote computer unit of the split personal computer system for permitting data signals received by each individual'"'"'s local portion to be transmittable from each individual'"'"'s local portion to the individual'"'"'s remote computer unit of the split personal computer system, the data signals being processable by the individual'"'"'s remote portion of the split personal computer system to generate output signals, the output signals including video signals and being transmittable from the individual'"'"'s remote computer unit of the split personal computer system to the individual'"'"'s local portion.

17. A split personal computer system for selectively processing video portions, input/output portions, computational portions and storage portions of personal computer tasks, comprising:

a remote portion adapted to selectively perform the computational portions and the storage portions of the personal computer tasks, the remote portion comprising;

a plurality of remote computer units; and

a remote system controller means for networking and controlling the remote computer units, the remote system controller means including means for receiving a remote logon command from the accessory unit and for checking the validity of the remote logon command, the remote system controller means allowing connection to at least one of the remote computer units if the remote logon command is valid and prohibiting connection if the particular remote logon command is not valid;

a local portion remotely located with respect to the remote portion and adapted to selectively perform the video portions and the input/output portions of the personal computer tasks, the local portion comprising;

a display unit located remotely from the remote portion of the split personal computer system;

an accessory unit in communication with the display unit, the accessory unit outputting video signals to the display unit so as to perform video and output portions of the personal computer tasks;

an input unit in communication with the accessory unit to input data signals into the accessory unit for performing input portions of the personal computer tasks;

communication means for interfacing the accessory unit with the remote portion of the split personal computer system for permitting data signals received by the accessory unit from the input unit to be transmittable from the accessory unit to the remote portion of the split personal computer system, the data signals being processable by the remote portion of the split personal computer system to generate output signals, the output signals including video signals and being transmittable from the remote portion of the split personal computer system to the accessory unit, and transmittable from the accessory unit to the display unit.

18. A system as defined in claim 17, wherein the remote system controller is programmed with a billing program which counts the time periods in which the accessory unit is connected to at least one of the remote computer units.