Television receiver, receiver and program execution method

• US 7,552,463 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2001
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ebisu, Koji, Takeda, Kasumi, Uchida, Mami, Mizobuchi, Ayumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury; Sumaiya A
• Application Number:
  US09/911,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20020042925A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,892 Days
• Field of Search: 725/51, 725/54, 725/59, 725/80, 725/32, 725/34, 725/50, 725/38, 725/39, 725/109, 725/110, 725/112
• US Class Current: 725/151
• 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 21/431 Generation of visual interfaces for content selection or interaction; Content or additional data rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4786 e-mailing message switching systems, e.g. electronic mail systems H04L51/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A television receiver includes an LCD unit and an EEPROM in which broadcasting program selection information for controlling a tuner section and channel numbers are stored in a coordinated relationship and program-relating information for executing object processing programs and the channel numbers are stored in a coordinated relationship. A control section accepts a selective input of a channel number from a user through a key operation section and reads out information corresponding to the accepted channel number from the EEPROM. When the read out information is the broadcasting program selection information, the tuner section is controlled based on the information, but when the readout information is the program-relating information, a program corresponding to the program-relating information is executed.

Claims

1. A television receiver, comprising:

a selector for receiving television broadcasting signals,

wherein the selector selects one of the television broadcasting signals;

a display element for displaying a video based on a video signal of the television broadcasting signal selected by said selector;

a storage device for storing program selection information to be used to control said selector and channel numbers in a coordinated relationship and storing program-related information,

said program-related information used for execution of object processing programs and the channel numbers in a coordinated relationship;

an acceptance device for accepting a selective input of a channel number from a user;

a readout device for reading out information corresponding to the channel number accepted by said acceptance device from said storage device;

an index key for assisting the user to choose a channel by causing the display element to display an index table showing information of each channel;

a selection control device for controlling, when the information read out by said readout device is the program selection information, said selector based on the program selection information; and

a program execution device for executing, when the information read out by said readout device is the program-related information, a program in response to the program-related information;

wherein the television receiver is adapted to specify one or more channels associated with;

a predetermined ISP;

a processing program for preparation, transmission or reception of electronic mail;

a transmission list that pertains to electronic mail to be transmitted;

a reception list of electronic mails; and

one or more accessed web pages;

wherein when a channel associated with one or more accessed web pages is selected, the most recently viewed portion of the associated one or more accessed web pages is displayed in an off-line mode first and then is updated according to a user'"'"'s operation,

wherein when a program is not associated with a channel and an icon displayed on a display screen that displays the program is operated, a control means detects a free channel and associates the free channel with the program by storing the free channel number and program-relating information of the program as channel setting information,

wherein information used upon connection to a network is set to a first information setting table separate from a second information table containing channel setting information,

wherein said selection control device, upon changing of a channel, executes a program associated with said channel, and

wherein a FLG is used to indicate whether a channel number is for selection of a television broadcasting signal or for selection of a program-related information or for selection of an external input terminal.

2. The television receiver according to claim 1, wherein said acceptance device includes channel up/down keys for accepting selective inputs of the channel number in forward and reverse directions, respectively.

3. The television receiver according to claim 1, wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a processing program which can be executed by said television receiver.

4. The television receiver according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication device for connecting said television receiver to a communication network,

wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a program to be executed to allow at least said television receiver to transmit or receive information through said communication device.

5. The television receiver according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication device for connecting said television receiver to a communication network, and

a received information storage device for storing received information received through said communication device,

wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a program to be executed to cause at least display information of the received information stored in said received information storage device to be displayed on said display element.

6. The television receiver according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication device for connecting said television receiver to a communication network, and

a transmission information storage device for storing transmission information to be transmitted through said communication device,

wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a program to be executed to cause at least display information of the transmission information stored in said transmission information storage device to be displayed on said display element.

7. The television receiver according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display information storage device for storing display information to be displayed on said display element,

wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a program to be executed to cause at least a video corresponding to the display information stored in said display information storage device to be displayed on said display element.

8. The television receiver according to claim 1, further comprising:

an instruction input acceptance device for accepting a display instruction input of a list of the information stored in said storage device; and

a list display signal formation device for forming, when an instruction to display the list is accepted by said instruction input acceptance device, a displaying signal for displaying the list of the information stored in said storage device on said display element.

9. The television receiver according to claim 8, further comprising:

a touched position detection device provided on a display screen of said display element for detecting a touched position of said display screen touched by a user,

wherein said readout device uses a channel number corresponding to a display item of the list displayed at the touched position of said display screen detected by said touched position detection device as a channel number selected by the user.

10. A television receiver according to claim 1, wherein said program execution device executes the program from a process which was being executed upon switching from a channel number to which the program is allocated to another channel number.

11. A receiver, comprising:

a selector for receiving broadcasted signals and selecting one of the broadcasted signals;

a signal outputting device for outputting a displaying signal of the broadcasted signal selected by said selector;

a storage device for storing program selection information to be used to control said selector and channel numbers in a coordinated relationship and storing program-related information to be used for execution of object processing programs and the channel numbers in a coordinated relationship;

an acceptance device for accepting a selective input of a channel number from a user;

a readout device for reading out information corresponding to the channel number accepted by said acceptance device from said storage device;

an index key for assisting the user to choose a channel by causing the display element to display an index table showing information of each channel;

a selection control device for controlling, when the information read out by said readout device is the program selection information, said selector based on the program selection information; and

a program execution device for executing, when the information read out by said readout device is the program-related information, a program in response to the program-related information;

wherein the television receiver is adapted to specify one or more channels associated with;

a predetermined ISP;

a processing program for preparation, transmission or reception of electronic mail;

a transmission list that pertains to electronic mail to be transmitted;

a reception list of electronic mails; and

one or more accessed web pages;

wherein when a channel associated with one or more accessed web pages is selected, the most recently viewed portion of the associated one or more accessed web pages is displayed in an off-line mode first and then is updated according to a user'"'"'s operation,

wherein when a program is not associated with a channel and an icon displayed on a display screen that displays the program is operated, a control means detects a free channel and associates the free channel with the program by storing the free channel number and program-relating information of the program as channel setting information,

wherein information used upon connection to a network is set to a first information setting table separate from a second information table containing channel setting information,

wherein said selection control device, upon changing of a channel, executes a program associated with said channel, and

wherein a FLG is used to indicate whether a channel number is for selection of a television broadcasting signal or for selection of a program-related information or for selection of an external input terminal.

12. The receiver according to claim 11, wherein said acceptance device includes channel up/down keys for accepting selective inputs of the channel number in forward and reverse directions, respectively.

13. The receiver according to claim 11, wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a processing program which can be executed by said receiver.

14. The receiver according to claim 11, further comprising:

a communication device for connecting said receiver to a communication network,

wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a program to be executed to allow at least said receiver to transmit or receive information through said communication device.

15. The receiver according to claim 11, further comprising:

a communication device for connecting said receiver to a communication network;

a received information storage device for storing received information received through said communication device, and

wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a program to be executed to cause a displaying signal corresponding to at least display information of the received information stored in said received information storage devices to be outputted from said signal outputting device.

16. The receiver according to claim 11, further comprising:

a communication device for connecting said receiver to a communication network; and

a transmission information storage device for storing transmission information to be transmitted through said communication device,

wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a program to be executed to cause a displaying signal corresponding to at least display information of the transmission information stored in said transmission information storage device to be outputted from said signal outputting device.

17. The receiver according to claim 11, further comprising:

a display information storage device for storing display information to be displayed on a display element,

wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a program for causing a displaying signal at least corresponding to the display information stored in said display information storage device to be outputted from said outputting device.

18. The receiver according to claim 11, further comprising:

an instruction input acceptance device for accepting a display instruction input of a list of the information stored in said storage device; and

a list display signal formation device for forming, when an instruction to display the list is accepted by said instruction input acceptance device, a displaying signal for displaying the list of the information stored in said storage device and allowing the displaying signal to be outputted from said signal outputting device.

19. The receiver according to claim 11, wherein said program execution device executes the program from a process which was being executed upon switching from a channel number to which the program is allocated to another channel number.

20. A computer-readable medium storing an executable program, when executed, causing an electronic apparatus to process signals according to the program, said program comprising the steps of:

storing program selection information to be used to control channel selection and channel numbers in a coordinated relationship and program-related information to be used for execution of object processing programs and the channel numbers being stored in a coordinated relationship in a predetermined memory of said electronic apparatus;

accepting a selective input of a channel number from a user;

reading out information corresponding to the channel number accepted in the acceptance step from said predetermined memory;

assisting the user to choose a channel by causing the display element to display an index table showing information of each channel;

controlling, when the information read out in the readout step is the program selection information, the channel selection based on the program selection information; and

executing, when the information read out in the readout step is the program-related information, a program in response to the program-related information;

wherein the predetermined memory includes a table adapted to specify one or more channels associated with;

a predetermined ISP;

a processing program for preparation, transmission or reception of electronic mail;

a transmission list pertaining to electronic mail to be transmitted;

a reception list of electronic mails; and

one or more accessed web pages;

wherein when a channel associated with one or more accessed web pages is selected, the most recently viewed portion of the associated one or more accessed web pages is displayed in an off-line mode first and then is updated according to a user'"'"'s operation,

wherein when a program is not associated with a channel and an icon displayed on a display screen that displays the program is operated, a control means detects a free channel and associates the free channel with the program by storing the free channel number and program-relating information of the program as channel setting information,

wherein information used upon connection to a network is set to a first information setting table separate from a second information table containing channel setting information,

wherein said controlling step, upon changing of a channel, executes a program associated with said channel, and

wherein a FLG is used to indicate whether a channel number is for selection of a television broadcasting signal or for selection of a program-related information or for selection of an external input terminal.

21. The program execution method according to claim 20, wherein, in the step of accepting, selective inputs of the channel number are accepted successively in a forward or reverse direction of the channel number.

22. The program execution method according to claim 20, wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a processing program which can be executed by said receiver.

23. The program execution method according to claim 20, wherein said electronic apparatus includes:

a communication section for connecting said electronic apparatus to a communication network,

wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a program to be executed to allow at least said electronic apparatus to transmit or receive information through said communication section.

24. The program execution method according to claim 20, wherein said electronic apparatus includes:

a communication section for connecting said electronic apparatus to a communication network; and

a received information memory for storing received information received through said communication section, and the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a program to be executed to cause at least the received information stored in said received information memory to be outputted.

25. The program execution method according to claim 20, wherein said electronic apparatus includes:

a communication section for connecting said electronic apparatus to a communication network; and

a transmission information memory for storing transmission information to be transmitted through said communication section, and the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a program to be executed to cause at least the transmission information stored in said transmission information memory to be outputted.

26. The program execution method according to claim 20, wherein said electronic apparatus includes:

a display information memory for storing display information,

wherein the program-related information coordinated with at least one of the channel numbers relates to a program to be executed to cause at least the display information stored in said display information memory to be outputted.

27. The program execution method according to claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

accepting a display instruction input of a list of the information stored in said predetermined memory; and

forming, when an instruction to display the list is accepted in said instruction input acceptance step, a displaying signal for displaying a list of the information stored in said memory on a display element.

28. The program execution method according to claim 27,

wherein said electronic apparatus includes a display element and touched position detection device provided on a display screen of said display element for detecting a touched position of the display screen touched by a user, said program execution method further comprising:

an operation input acceptance step of accepting an operation input from a user through said touched position detection device, a channel number which corresponds to a display item of the list displayed at the touched position of the display screen accepted in the instruction input acceptance step being used as a channel number selected by the user.

29. The program execution method according to claim 20, wherein, in the program execution step, the program is executed from a process which was being executed upon switching from a channel number to which the program is allocated to another channel number.