User interface for entertainment system setup

• US 6,829,779 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1998
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: WebTV Networks Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Perlman, Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koenig, Andrew Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/154,605
• Time in Patent Office: 2,274 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.716, H04/N.5445, G09/G.500, G06/F.300, G06/F 1.300, 348/734, 348/552, 348/706, 348/569, 725/37, 725/80, 725/133, 725/141, 725/153, 725/82, 725/85, 725/131, 725/60, 345/705, 345/706, 345/708, 345/709, 345/771, 345/839, 345/965, 434/307.R, 434/365, 705/1, 705/26, 705/27, 705/28, 705/29, 705/16
• US Class Current: 725/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• 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 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG 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 21/47214 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing interactive instructions directing a user how to establish interactivity between multiple consumer electronics devices. A first consumer electronics device is connected to the television set. The user is requested to identify another consumer electronics device to be connected to the first consumer electronics device or to the television set. The first consumer electronics device identifies the cables needed to establish the connection and then determines whether the user has the cables. If the user does not have the cables, they may be purchased online by the first consumer electronics device. Connection instructions describing how to establish the connection are displayed on the television set. After the user attempts to establish the connection, the first consumer electronics device optionally tests the connection to determine whether it is reliable and fully operable. If not, further instructions are displayed. In addition, establishing the connection may include coupling a cable to one of several identical, interchangeable connectors at the first consumer electronics device. Furthermore, establishing connectivity can involve configuring a remote control system to control multiple consumer electronics devices.

Claims

1. In a system including a display screen and a plurality of consumer electronics devices, at least one of which is to be connected to the display screen, a method for connecting two or more of said plurality of consumer electronics devices comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a first consumer electronics device, input from a user, said input identifying at least one other consumer electronics device that is to be connected to said first consumer electronics device;

displaying, on said display screen, information instructing said user bow to connect said at least one other consumer electronics device to said first consumer electronics device, said first consumer electronics device also being connected to said display screen;

connecting said at least one other consumer electronics device to said first consumer electronics device according to said information;

prior to the step of displaying said information, identifying, by said first consumer electronics device, a cable to be used to connect said at least one other consumer electronics device to said first consumer electronics device;

recognizing, by said first consumer electronics device, that said user has not obtained said cable; and

initiating, by said first consumer electronics device, an electronic request to a remote site to purchase said cable.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of recognizing that said user has not obtained said cable comprises the step of determining that said cable is not included in a list of standard cables that are sold with said first consumer electronics device.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the step of recognizing that said user has not obtained said cable comprises the step of receiving, at said first consumer electronics device, user input indicating that said user has not obtained said cable.

4. A computer program product for implementing a method of instructing a user of an entertainment system how to connect a plurality of consumer electronics devices, wherein said method is implemented in said entertainment system, said entertainment system including a display screen and a first consumer electronics device connected to said display screen, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium carrying computer-executable instructions for implementing said method, wherein said computer-executable instructions comprise;

program code means for receiving input from a user, said input identifying at least one other consumer electronics device to be connected to said first consumer electronics device;

program code means for displaying, on said display screen, instructions describing an appropriate configuration for connecting said at least one other consumer electronics device to said first consumer electronics device;

program code means for determining whether said user has obtained a cable to be used for connecting said at least one other consumer electronics device with said first consumer electronics device; and

program code means for initiating an electronic request to a remote site to purchase said cable if said program code means for determining whether said user has obtained said cable determines that said user has not obtained said cable.

5. A computer program product as defined in claim 4, wherein said program code means for determining whether said user has obtained said cable comprises program code means for determining whether said cable is included in a list of standard cables that are sold with said first consumer electronics device.

6. A computer program product as defined in claim 4, wherein said program code means for determining whether said user has obtained said cable comprises program code means for determining whether input has been received indicating whether said user his obtained said cable.