Interactive TV using remote control with built-in phone

• US 6,741,684 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sisvel S.p.A. (Fineur International S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kaars, Peter Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US09/893,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20030002638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 379/110.01, 379/93.12, 379/102.01, 379/102.02, 379/102.03, 379/90.01, 379/93.17, 379/93.19, 379/93.05, 348/554, 348/584, 348/734
• US Class Current: 379/110.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2407 Monitoring of transmitted content, e.g. distribution time, number of downloads arrangements for monitoring programmes for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4722 for requesting additional data associated with the content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47815 Electronic shopping payment schemes, payment architectures or payment protocols for electronic shopping systems G06Q20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6137 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8126 involving additional data, e.g. news, sports, stocks, weather forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8358 involving watermark protecting executable software by watermarking G06F21/16; image watermarking in general G06T1/0021; watermarks inserted in still images for transmission purposes H04N1/32144; inserting watermarks during video coding H04N19/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8545 for generating interactive applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/858 Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot

Abstract

A remote control device comprises a telephone and a touch screen functionality to enable the user to participate in interactive TV programs and interact with advertisements. This approach is independent of the infrastructure delivering traditional content, and independent of the configuration of an STB.

Claims

1. A standalone remote control device for control of home entertainment equipment that receives content from a first infrastructure for delivery of content the equipment, the standalone device comprising a telecom device for bi-directional communication of data via a second infrastructure for delivery of data related to the content delivered to the entertainment equipment via the first infrastructure, the telecom device of the standalone device communicating via the second infrastructure separately from the home entertainment equipment, the standalone device including a display monitor for the rendering of the data delivered from the second infrastructure.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication is controlled by a control signal in the content.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the telecom device comprises at least one of the following:

a telephone, a pager.

4. The device of claim 1, comprising a GUI with touch screen functionality.

5. The device of claim 1, comprising a detector for detecting a signal in the content when played out via the equipment the signal being used for controlling a rendering at the device of the data received.

6. A method of enabling a consumer to receive data under control of content information being played out at home equipment of the consumer and having been supplied vie a supply infrastructure, the method comprising:

supplying the data via a data network, independent of the supply infrastructure and the home equipment, to a standalone bi-directional telecom device at the consumer, the standalone device including a user interface and display monitor; and

enabling the standalone device to render the data after the device receives a control signal caused by the content information being played out on the home equipment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the data comprises graphics information when rendered.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising personalizing the data according to a user-profile based on an identity of the telecom device.