System for viewing multiple data streams simultaneously

• US 6,567,984 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Research Investment Network Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Research Investment Network Incorporated
• Inventors: Allport, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US09/614,510
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 725/131, 725/141, 725/139, 725/110, 725/151, 725/113, 725/119, 725/109, 725/78, 725/82, 725/85, 725/80, 348/552, 348/725, 348/553, 348/734, 455/3.06
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• 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 21/42209 for displaying non-command information, e.g. electronic program guide [EPG], e-mail, messages or a second television channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 the inserted signal being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/14 Systems for two-way working H04N7/12, H04N7/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

Systems and methods of viewing multiple data streams are disclosed. A base station receives a first data stream and a second data stream. The first data stream is transmitted to a first device. The first device is capable of displaying motion video. The first data stream is displayed on the first device. The second data stream is transmitted to a second device. The second device Is capable of displaying motion video. The second data stream is displayed on the second device.

Claims

1. The method comprising:

receiving a first data stream Into a base station;

receiving a second data stream into the base station;

transmitting the first data stream from the base station to a first device having a display capable of displaying motion video;

displaying the first data stream on the display of the first device;

transmitting the second data stream from the base station to a second device having a display capable of displaying full motion video; and

displaying the second data stream on the display of the second device, a command being sent from the second device to the base station;

wherein the second device is a hand-held remote control.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second data stream is transmitted from the base station to the hand-held remote control using radio frequency transmission.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising

discontinuing to display the first data stream on the display of the first device, displaying the second data stream on the display of the first device, discontinuing to display the second data stream on the display of the second device, and displaying the first data stream on the display of the second device, all substantially simultaneously in response to activation of a button on the second device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second data streams are contained within a primary data stream prior to entering the base station, and further comprising the step of processing the primary data stream within the base station to extract the first and second data streams from the primary data stream.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the primary data stream comprises an analog signal having a vertical blanking interval with data embedded within the vertical blanking interval, and wherein the second data stream comprises data in the vertical blanking interval.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the primary data stream comprises a TV signal.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the data within the vertical blanking interval comprises HTML data.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the primary data stream comprises a digital signal.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the second device is a hand-held remote control.

10. The method of claim 4 further comprising discontinuing to display the first data stream an the display of the first device, displaying the second data stream on the display of the first device, discontinuing to display the second data stream on the display of the second device, and displaying the first data stream on the display of the second device, all substantially simultaneously in response to activation of a button on the second device.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the primary data stream is a TV broadcast signal comprising multiple channels including a first channel and a second channel, and wherein the first data stream is associated with the first channel and the second data stream is associated with the second channel, further comprising the steps of:

tuning a tuner of the first device to the first channel; and

tuning a tuner of the base station to the second channel prior to transmitting the second data stream.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the second device is a portable hand-held device.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the second data stream is transmitted using radio frequency transmission.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first data stream comprises a TV signal.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the first data stream comprises HTML data.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the HTML data enters the base station from the Internet.

17. A system comprising:

a first device having a display capable of displaying motion video;

a second device having a display capable of displaying motion video, and having communications hardware for sending control infrared (IR) commands, and a radio frequency (RF) receiver for receiving RF transmissions; and

a base station connected to the first device via a wired connection, and having communications hardware for receiving control IR commands and for sending RF transmissions.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the second device is a hand-held remote control.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the remote control further comprises a communications port.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the base station further comprises a tuner.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the remote control comprises a tuner.