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

• US 7,038,663 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• 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): Awad, Amr A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDULSELAM, ABBAS I
• Application Number:
  US11/108,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20050188418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/87, 345/158, 345/169, 345/100, 725/38, 725/135, 725131-133, 348/734, 348/554, 348/552, 455/557, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 709/200
• US Class Current: 345/158
• 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 abase 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 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 a website to said display apparatus;

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

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 an external input apparatus;

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

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; and

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

whereby said external input apparatus executes said operation.