Interactive television system and remote control unit

• US 6,692,358 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast MO Group Incorporated (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MediaOne Group Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Stevens, J. Clarke, Lawrence, Lee G.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/885,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20010034269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463/12-13, 463/36, 463/39-40, 463/41, 463/42-44, 348/552, 348/734, 700/91, 700/92, 340/825, 340/825.72, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/3.03, 725/37-38
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• 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 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

An interactive television system includes a remote control unit and a set top box. The remote control unit includes an input device and control logic. The control logic processes input signals to transmit television control signals to control television programming. Further, the control logic is configured to execute game software instructions stored on a local medium, and process input signals to play the game. In some embodiments, the set top box interacts with the remote control unit during gaming.

Claims

1. An television remote control unit comprising:

a body;

in input device on the body;

control logic within the body, the control logic being configured to process input signals received from the input device and to transmit television control signals in accordance with the input signals to control programming on the television, the control logic being further configured to execute game software instructions stored in a local medium received by the body and to process input signals received from the input device to play the game software.

2. The remote control unit of claim 1 wherein the medium is a removable game card to allow the remote control unit to receive different game cards.

3. The remote control unit of claim 1 wherein the medium is a programmable memory and the remote control unit further comprises:

a receiver within the body, wherein the control logic and the receiver are configured to download game software from a set top box and store the software in the memory.

4. The remote control unit of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one expansion port at the body.

5. The remote control unit of claim 4 wherein the at least one expansion port is configured to accept a memory module.

6. The remote control unit of claim 4 wherein the at least one expansion port is configured as an expandable bus.

7. The remote control unit of claim 1 further comprising:

a display at the body, the control logic being further configured to provide a game view on the display.