Advanced set top terminal having a video call feature

• US 7,565,680 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast IP Holdings I LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Asmussen, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): Newlin; Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US09/609,316
• Time in Patent Office: 3,308 Days
• Field of Search: 725/132, 725/140, 725/152, 725/106, 725/121, 725/135, 725/126, 715/758
• US Class Current: 725/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4333 Processing operations in response to a pause request
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• 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 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A set top terminal equipped with a camera and microphone includes the capability to send and receive video calls through a cable television delivery system or other communications networks. In response to detection of the occurrence of a video call event or triggering event, a video program is automatically paused. In response to an incoming video phone call, message, web page, or other video communications information, the system pauses the video program and displays an indication of the occurrence of the communications event. The system also buffers the video program while paused, permitting a user to replay missed portions of it. Alternatively, the system waits for a triggering event, which includes the user'"'"'s access to the communications event, in order to pause the video program. The set top terminal also includes features for caller identification of video calls and dual display of video programs and video calls, such as picture in picture. A hardware upgrade for adding video call functionality to a set top terminal is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for upgrading a capability of a set top terminal (STT), the STT adapted to receive a data stream including a plurality of compressed television program signals over a cable television program delivery system, decompress a compressed television program signal and provide a corresponding output signal adapted for use by a display device, the apparatus comprising:

a STT interface, for enabling communication with the STT, wherein the STT includes a first decryption module, for decrypting a television program signal encrypted according to a first encryption format;

an upgrade decryption module, for decrypting an encrypted downstream communication signal to provide thereby a compressed downstream communication signal, wherein the upgrade decryption module decrypts the downstream communication signal encrypted according to a second encryption format for a combined audio and video encryption;

an upgrade encryption module, for encrypting an upstream communication signal comprising audio and video data;

wherein the apparatus prepares the upstream communication signal for transmission over a transmission network of the cable television program delivery system and provides the television program and a video of the downstream communication signal for simultaneous display of the television program and the video on the display device;

a means for multiplexing a non-video data signal with the upstream communication signal, wherein a non-video data signal comprises at least one of;

an electronic book, data file, document, spreadsheet, graphic, program, web page or interactive whiteboard; and

a means for simultaneously displaying the non-video data signal with the television program and the video on the display device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first encryption format comprises a video encryption.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a channel decoder, for selecting a channel including at least one encrypted downstream communication signal; and

a demultiplexer, for coupling a compressed downstream communication signal to an upgrade decompression module.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

an video decompressor, for decompressing the compressed downstream communication signal provided by said upgrade decryption module.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a demultiplexer, coupled to the upgrade decryption module, for demultiplexing audio and video signals from the decrypted downstream communication signal; and

a synchronizer, for synchronizing the demultiplexed audio and video signals.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the STT includes a first processor for controlling circuitry adapted to receive a data stream including a plurality of compressed video program signals, decompress a compressed video program signal and provide a corresponding output signal adapted for use by a display device, the apparatus further comprising:

an upgrade processor, for communicating with the first processor via the STT interface, the upgrade processor controlling the upgrade decryption module and the upgrade encryption module.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the STT is adapted to provide user interface menu imagery via the output signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is adapted to provide user interface menu imagery via the output signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the simultaneous display is in a picture-in-picture format.

9. A set top terminal (STT) architecture, comprising:

first circuitry adapted to receive a data stream including a plurality of compressed television program signals over a cable television program delivery system, decompress a compressed television program signal and provide a corresponding output signal adapted for use by a display device, wherein the first circuitry includes a first decryptor for decrypting the television program signal encrypted according to a first encryption format; and

upgrade circuitry, adapted to increase a capability of the first circuitry by providing;

an upgrade encryptor, for encrypting an upstream communication signal comprising audio and video data;

an upgrade decryptor, for decrypting an encrypted downstream communication signal to provide thereby a compressed downstream communication signal, wherein the upgrade decryptor for decrypting the downstream communication signal encrypted according to a second encryption format for a combined audio and video encryption,

wherein the upgrade prepares the upstream communication signal for transmission over a transmission network of the television program delivery system; and

a means for multiplexing a non-video data signal with the upstream communication signal, wherein a non-video data signal comprises at least one of;

an electronic book, data file, document, spreadsheet, graphic, program, web page or interactive whiteboard; and

an interface, for enabling communication between the first circuitry and the upgrade circuitry, wherein the architecture provides the television program of the output signal and a video of the downstream communication signal for simultaneous display of the television program, the video and the non-video data signal on the display device.

10. The architecture of claim 9, wherein:

the first encryption format comprises a video encryption format.

11. The architecture of claim 9, comprising:

an upgrade channel decoder for selecting a channel including at least one encrypted video communication signal; and

an upgrade demultiplexer coupling the compressed video communication stream to an upgrade decompression module.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, the upgrade circuitry further comprising:

a demultiplexer, coupled to the upgrade decryptor, for demultiplexing audio and video signals from the decrypted downstream communication signal; and

a synchronizer, for synchronizing the demultiplexed audio and video signals.

15. The STT architecture of claim 9, wherein the simultaneous display is in a picture-in-picture format.

13. A set top terminal (STT) adapted to receive a data stream including a plurality of compressed television program signals encrypted according to a first encryption format over a television program delivery system, decompress a compressed television program signal and provide a corresponding output signal adapted for use by a display device, the STT comprising:

an decryption module, for decrypting an encrypted downstream communication signal encrypted according to a second encryption format for a combined audio and video encryption to provide thereby a compressed downstream communication signal;

an encryption module, for encrypting an upstream communication signal comprising audio and video data;

a transmitter for transmitting the upstream communication signal over a transmission network of the television program delivery system;

a means for multiplexing a non-video data signal with the upstream communication signal, wherein a non-video data signal comprises at least one of;

an electronic book, data file, document, spreadsheet, graphic, program, web page or interactive whiteboard; and

a receiver for receiving the data stream including the encrypted downstream communication signal, the plurality of compressed television program signals and a non-video data signal with the downstream communication signal, wherein the STT provides a television program of the output signal and a video of the downstream communication signal for simultaneous display of the television program, the video and the non-video data signal on the display device.

16. The STT of claim 13, wherein the simultaneous display is in a picture-in-picture format.