Sharing functions between a television-based information appliance and remote control devices

• US 7,266,834 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2000
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lund, Arnold M., Beecroft, Troy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, KIEU OANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/596,973
• Time in Patent Office: 2,632 Days
• Field of Search: 725/141, 725/133, 725/153, 725 39- 61, 725/28, 725/29, 725/106, 348/734, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/563, 455/415, 379/88.21, 379/211.02, 715/810
• US Class Current: 725/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• 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 21/4381 Recovering the multiplex stream from a specific network, e.g. recovering MPEG packets from ATM cells transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6137 involving transmission via a telephone network, e.g. POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6143 involving transmission via a satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

In an information system, caller identification information for incoming telephone calls can be selectively displayed on displays at any of the set top box, television, remote or keyboard. Further, microphones and speakers on each of the remote control and keyboard can be used for communication on a telephone call, at the user'"'"'s option, in place of a microphone on the main unit and a television speaker.

Claims

1. An information system comprising:

a display;

a video source sending video to be displayed on the display;

a remote generating a wireless signal for controlling the video source, the remote including a caller identification display for displaying caller identification information and at least one of a microphone and a speaker for telephone communication;

a menu to be displayed on the display, the menu including a plurality of options for a user to select one or more locations to display caller identification information, one of the options comprising displaying the caller identification information on the remote.

2. The information system of claim 1 wherein the remote is a wireless keyboard.

3. The information system of claim 1 wherein the remote selectively generates a wireless signal for changing the video to the display.

4. The information system of claim 1 wherein the remote includes the microphone and the speaker.

5. The information system of claim 1 further including a telephone base unit in wireless communication with the remote.

6. The information system of claim 5 wherein the telephone base unit is in communication with a telephone network.

7. The information system of claim 1 wherein the video source is a subscription television decoder.

8. The information system of claim 1 wherein the video source is a main unit providing video and telephone communication.

9. The information system of claim 8 wherein the main unit includes a subscription television decoder.

10. The information system of claim 9 wherein the main unit includes an internet connection.

11. A method for operating an information system including a display and a remote, the method including the steps of:

a) displaying video on the display;

b) providing an option to display caller identification information on the display and providing a second option to display caller identification information on the remote;

c) receiving a user selection to display the caller identification information on a selected one of the display or the remote;

d) determining that a telephone call is incoming to the information system;

e) receiving caller identification information from the incoming call; and

f) displaying the caller identification information on the selected one of the display or the remote.

12. The method of claim 11 further including the step of transmitting the caller identification information to the remote prior to said step f).

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step f) further includes the step of displaying the caller identification information on the remote.

14. The method of claim 11 further including the step of controlling the video on the display by sending a wireless signal from the remote.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

a) changing the video on the display with a wireless remote; and

b) communicating on the telephone call via an audio transducer on the remote.

16. The method of claim 15 further including the steps of:

a) providing an option to provide communication via the audio transceiver on the remote or an audio transceiver on the display; and

b) receiving a selection of one of the remote or display in response to said providing the option; and

c) communicating on the telephone call via the selected one of the audio transceiver on the display or the remote.

17. A remote input device for an information system comprising:

at least one user input device;

a transmitter for generating a wireless signal for controlling an information system component based upon activation of the at least one user input device;

a receiver for receiving a wireless signal including caller identification information received from a telephone system; and

a display for displaying the caller identification information received via the transceiver, wherein the display displays the caller identification information based on a user option configuring the display location of the caller identification information.