Method and apparatus for internet TV

• US 6,978,475 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2000
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ecable, LLC
• Inventors: Freidson, Robert, Tolkachev, Sergey, Kunin, David, Vinogradov, Boaz
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/686,114
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 725/51, 725/106, 725/109, 725/110, 725/112, 725/60, 704/246, 704/257, 704/270, 704/270.1, 704/275, 379/88.1
• US Class Current: 725/106
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/233 Processing of audio elementary streams monitoring, identification or recognition of audio in broadcast systems H04H60/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6187 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A telephone interface and voice recognition driven Internet browser system and method for accessing/browsing the Internet on a cable or satellite television includes a phone for receiving a voice signal from a user. The voice signal controls a telephone interface which displays Internet contents on the television via a cable or satellite television channel. The system also includes a voice recognizer, preferably operated on a supercomputer, for recognizing/interpreting/analyzing the voice signal and generating command signals to access/browse the Internet. The voice recognizer is capable of recognizing/interpreting/analyzing voice signals transmitted from a plurality of users in real time. The system further includes a stack of computers and an Internet browser. Each of the stack of computers is capable of accessing/browsing the Internet and retrieving/organizing requested Internet contents via the Internet browser. The requested Internet contents are sent to the user via a cable or satellite television channel.

Claims

1. A method for viewing data retrieved over the Internet on a television system, the method comprising:

receiving a voice signal transmitted from a user over a phone network, the voice signal including an instruction for browsing the Web;

identifying, at a location remote to the user, a Web browsing instruction corresponding to the instruction included in the received voice signal;

retrieving data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction; and

transmitting the retrieved data to the user over a television network;

whereby at least portions of the retrieved data can be displayed on the television system associated with the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the voice signal transmitted from the user over the phone network comprises:

receiving, at a cable hub, the voice signal transmitted from the user over the phone network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the voice signal transmitted from the user over the phone network comprises:

receiving, at a phone hub, the voice signal transmitted from the user over the phone network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice signal transmitted from the user over the phone network is transmitted over a digital phone network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal comprises:

analyzing the voice signal with a natural language representation system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction comprises:

sending a request to a Web server for data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction comprises:

sending a request to a remote Web server for data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the retrieved data to the user over the television network comprises:

including a unique identifier with the transmitted data;

wherein the unique identifier is associated with the user and unable to direct the transmitted data to the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the retrieved data to the user over the television network comprises:

including a unique identifier with the transmitted data;

wherein the unique identifier is associated with a particular set top box.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal comprises:

identifying, at a cable hub, the Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal comprises:

identifying, at a phone hub, the Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the retrieved data to the user over the television network comprises:

transmitting the retrieved data to the user over a satellite television network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the retrieved data to the user over the television network comprises:

transmitting the retrieved data to the user using a digital television network.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the retrieved data to the user over the television network comprises:

transmitting the retrieved data to the user over a particular television channel.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a phone number associated with the origination of the voice signal;

identifying an address associated with the phone number; and

including the address in the transmitted data;

whereby the included address can be used to direct the transmitted data to the user.

16. The method of claim 15;

wherein the included address phone number comprises;

is unable to prevent other users from receiving the transmitted data.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying an address associated with the phone number comprises:

identifying an identifier for equipment associated with the user.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein identifying an address associated with the phone number comprises:

identifying a unique identifier for the user.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the phone network comprises a PSTN.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the television system comprises a cable box.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the television system comprises a television.

22. A method for viewing data retrieved over the Internet on a television, the method comprising:

receiving a voice signal delivered over a telephone network at a location remote from a user;

identifying a Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal;

retrieving data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction; and

transmitting the retrieved data to the user over a television network;

whereby the retrieved data can be displayed on the television.

23. A method for viewing data retrieved over the Internet on a television, the method comprising:

receiving a voice signal transmitted from a user over a data transmission network;

identifying, at a location remote to the user, a Web browsing instruction corresponding to the received voice signal;

retrieving data corresponding to the Web browsing instruction; and

transmitting the retrieved data to the user over a television network;

whereby at least portions of the retrieved data can be displayed on the television.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving the voice signal transmitted from the user over the data transmission network comprises:

receiving the voice signal transmitted from a user over a phone network.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving the voice signal transmitted from the user over the transmission network comprises:

receiving the voice signal transmitted from the user over a cable network.