Bi-directional communication system, display apparatus, base apparatus and bi-directional communication method

• US 6,930,661 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2001
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takeda, Kasumi, Uchida, Mami, Mizobuchi, Ayumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Xiao
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdulselam, Abbas
• Application Number:
  US09/906,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20020054028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-176, 345863-864, 345/158, 345/169, 345/87, 345/825.69, 345/629, 345/2.1, 345/2.2, 345/2.3, 345/768, 348/554, 348/734, 348/552, 725131-133, 725 80- 81, 725/40, 725 43- 44, 725/139, 725/141, 455/557, 455/3.06, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 345/87
• 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 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42226 Reprogrammable remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4363 Adapting the video stream to a specific local network, e.g. a Bluetooth® network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• 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 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 TPC

Abstract

A bi-directional communication system comprising a base apparatus and a display apparatus. The display apparatus is a portable liquid crystal display for viewing video programs and browsing the internet. The base apparatus contains a television tuner for receiving broadcast signals and wirelessly transmits programming to the display apparatus. An infrared remote control device connected to the base apparatus is used to control various external input devices (e.g., a VCR or DVD player). Control menus for the base apparatus and the external input device can be displayed on the display apparatus. The display apparatus contains a touch screen, so that a user can select operational commands for controlling the base apparatus and external input devices. The display apparatus wirelessly transmits selected operational commands to the base apparatus, which then retransmits the commands to the appropriate external input device using the infrared remote control device.

Claims

1. A bi-directional communication system comprising a display apparatus and base apparatus:

the display apparatus, including;

information signal receiving means for wirelessly receiving an information signal;

a display screen for displaying an image corresponding to said information signal;

operation display means for displaying an operation display on said display screen;

said operation display comprising a plurality of display items corresponding to user selectable operations and a control panel representing a remote control of an external input apparatus to be connected to the base apparatus;

a touch screen provided on said display screen for detecting a touched position on said display screen corresponding to a location at which a user touches said display screen;

operation signal means for generating an operation signal corresponding to the display item displayed at the touched position on said display screen; and

operation signal transmission means for wirelessly transmitting said operation signal; and

the base apparatus, including;

information signal transmission means for wirelessly transmitting said information signal to said display apparatus;

operation signal receiving means for wirelessly receiving said operation signal from said display apparatus;

a communication line connection for transmitting and receiving communication signals through a communication line;

control signal means for generating a control signal when said operation signal corresponds to an operation of an external input apparatus;

said control signal being the same as a signal from said remote control corresponding to said operation; and

control signal transmission means for transmitting in the infrared said control signal to said external input apparatus;

whereby said external input apparatus executes said operation;

said base apparatus transmitting the received communication signal as the information signal to said display apparatus when the operation signal is an instruction for transmitting the received communication signal to the display apparatus; and

said base apparatus transmitting a transmission information through the communication line when the operation signal from said display apparatus contains said transmission information for transmittal to an object party connected to said communication line.

2. The bi-directional communication system according to claim 1, wherein said display screen is a liquid crystal display.

3. The bi-directional communication system according to claim 1, wherein said external input apparatus is a set-top box.

4. The bi-directional communication system according to claim 1, wherein said external input apparatus is a video tape recorder.

5. The bi-directional communication system according to claim 1, wherein said external input apparatus is a digital versatile disk apparatus.

6. The bi-directional communication system according to claim 1, wherein said operation display is translucently superimposed on said display screen.

7. The bi-directional communication system according to claim 1, wherein said control signal is transmitted to said external input apparatus as an infrared signal which is the same infrared signal transmitted from a remote control of said external input apparatus.

8. The bi-directional communication system according to claim 1, wherein said base apparatus further includes:

broadcast signal receiving means for receiving broadcast signals;

channel selection means for selecting a channel of the received broadcast signals in response to said operation signal when the operation signal is an instruction for selecting the channel; and

said information signal transmission means transmits the selected channel as said information signal to said display apparatus when the operation signal is an instruction for transmitting the selected channel.

9. The bi-directional communication system according to claim 1, wherein said base apparatus is connected to a plurality of external input apparatus, each external input apparatus being a source for said information signal;

said control signal corresponding to operations of each external input apparatus; and

said operation display means sequentially displaying operation displays corresponding to each external input apparatus when said touched position on said display screen is outside a currently displayed operation display.

10. A display apparatus, comprising:

information signal receiving means for wirelessly receiving an information signal from a base apparatus;

a display screen for displaying a video corresponding to said information signal;

operation display means for displaying an operation display on said display screen;

said operation display comprising a plurality of display items corresponding to user selectable operations and a control panel representing a remote control of an external input apparatus to be connected to the base apparatus;

a touch screen provided on said display screen for detecting a touched position on said display screen corresponding to a location at which a user touches said display screen;

operation signal means for generating an operation signal corresponding to the display item displayed at the touched position on said display screen; and

operation signal transmission means for wirelessly transmitting said operation signal to said base apparatus.

said base apparatus including a communication line connection for transmitting and receiving communication signals through a communication line;

said base apparatus transmitting the received communication signal as the information signal to said display apparatus when the operation signal is an instruction for transmitting the received communication signal to the display apparatus; and

said base apparatus transmitting a transmission information through the communication line when the operation signal from said display apparatus contains said transmission information for transmittal to an object party connected to said communication line.

11. The display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said display screen is a liquid crystal display.

12. The display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said operation display is translucently superimposed on said display screen.

13. The display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said base apparatus is connected to a plurality of external input apparatus, each external input apparatus being a source for said information signal;

said control signals corresponding to operations of each external input apparatus; and

said operation display means sequentially displaying operation displays corresponding to each external input apparatus when said touched position on said display screen is outside a currently displayed operation display.

14. A base apparatus, comprising:

information signal transmission means for wirelessly transmitting an information signal to a display apparatus;

operation signal receiving means for wirelessly receiving an operation signal from said display apparatus;

a communication line connection for transmitting and receiving communication signals through a communication line;

control signal means for generating a control signal when said operation signal corresponds to an operation of an external input apparatus to be connected to the base apparatus;

said control signal being the same as a signal from a remote control of the external input apparatus corresponding to said operation; and

control signal transmission means for transmitting said control signal to said external input apparatus;

whereby said external input apparatus executes said operation;

said base apparatus transmitting the received communication signal as the information signal to said display apparatus when the operation signal is an instruction for transmitting the received communication signal to the display apparatus; and

said base apparatus transmitting a transmission information through the communication line when the operation signal from the display apparatus contains said transmission information for transmittal to an object party connected to said communication line.

15. The base apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said external input apparatus is a set-top box.

16. The base apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said external input apparatus is a video tape recorder.

17. The base apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said external input apparatus is a digital versatile disk apparatus.

18. The base apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said control signal is transmitted to said external input apparatus as an infrared signal which is the same infrared signal transmitted from a remote control of said external input apparatus.

19. The base apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

broadcast signal receiving means for receiving broadcast signals;

channel selection means for selecting a channel of the received broadcast signals in response to said operation signal when the operation signal is an instruction for selecting the channel; and

said information signal transmission means transmitting the selected channel as said information signal to said display apparatus when the operation signal is an instruction for transmitting the selected channel.

20. The base apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said base apparatus is connected to a plurality of external input apparatus, each external input apparatus being a source for said information signal;

said control signal corresponding to operations of each external input apparatus; and

said control signal transmission means transmitting said control signal to a respective external input apparatus.

21. A bi-directional communication method for a bi-directional communication system including a display apparatus and a base apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly transmitting an information signal from said base apparatus to said display apparatus;

wirelessly receiving at said display apparatus the information signal from said base apparatus;

displaying a video corresponding to said information signal on a display screen of said display apparatus;

displaying an operation display on said display screen, said operation display comprising a plurality of display items corresponding to user selectable operations and a control panel representing a remote control of an external input apparatus to be connected to the base apparatus

detecting a touched position corresponding to a location at which a user touches a touch screen provided on said display screen;

generating an operation signal corresponding to the display item displayed at the touched position on said display screen;

wirelessly transmitting said operation signal from said display apparatus to said base apparatus;

wirelessly receiving at said base apparatus said operation signal from said display apparatus;

generating a control signal when said operation signal corresponds to an operation of the external input apparatus;

said control signal being the same as a signal from said remote control corresponding to said operation;

transmitting said control signal from said base apparatus to said external input apparatus;

whereby said external input apparatus executes said operation.

receiving at said base apparatus a communication signal through a communication line;

transmitting the received communication signal as the information signal to said display apparatus when the operation signal is an instruction for transmitting the received communication signal; and

transmitting transmission information by said base apparatus through the communication line when the operation signal from said display apparatus contains said transmission information for transmittal to an object party connected to said communication line.

22. The bi-directional communication method according to claim 21, wherein said operation display is translucently superimposed on said display screen.

23. The bi-directional communication method according to claim 21, wherein said control signal transmitted to said external input apparatus as an infrared signal that is the same infrared signal transmitted from a remote control of said external input apparatus.

24. The bi-directional communication method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

receiving broadcast signals at said base apparatus;

selecting at said base apparatus a channel of the received broadcast signals in response to said operation signal when the operation signal is an instruction for selecting the channel; and

transmitting the selected channel as said information signal to said display apparatus when the operation signal is an instruction for transmitting the selected channel.

25. The bi-directional communication method according to claim 21, wherein said base apparatus is connected to a plurality of external input apparatus, each external input apparatus being a source for said information signal;

said control signal corresponding to operations of respective external input apparatus; and

operation displays corresponding to each external input apparatus are sequentially displayed when said touched position on said display screen is outside a currently displayed operation display.