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

• US 7,733,295 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• 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): Abdulselam; Abbas I
• Application Number:
  US11/519,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/2.3, 345/3.1, 345/156, 345/169, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/211.99, 348/569, 348/734, 725/38, 725/39, 725/146, 725/147, 455/556.1, 709/227
• US Class Current: 345/2.3
• 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 a base 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 display apparatus bi-directionally communicating with a base apparatus to receive from said base apparatus an information signal derived from a television signal or Internet data supplied to said base apparatus, said display apparatus comprising:

a user-operable selector unit operable by a user for producing a selection signal;

a storage unit for storing control panel image data containing base apparatus controlling information;

an image readout unit for reading out from said storage unit and in response to said selection signal the control panel image represented by said control panel image data;

a display unit for displaying said read out control panel image comprising a plurality of display items corresponding to user selectable operations;

an input unit for detecting user-generated operation inputs associated with said displayed control panel image items to form an operation signal corresponding to the detected operation inputs;

a transmission unit for transmitting said operation signal to said base apparatus;

a receiving unit for receiving from said base apparatus an information signal corresponding to said transmitted operation signal;

a processing unit for processing said received information signal for display by said display unit; and

a nonvolatile memory for storing said information signal received immediately prior to a power interruption and for providing said stored information signal for display upon resumption of said power.

2. A base apparatus being connected to receive a television signal or Internet data supplied thereto and to transmit to a physically separate and remotely located display device an information signal representing said television signal or Internet data, said base apparatus comprising:

a signal reception unit for receiving an operation signal transmitted from said display apparatus and representing user-selected operations performable at said base apparatus;

a selection unit responsive to said received operation signal to select said television signal or said Internet data to produce said information signal;

a transmission unit to transmit said information signal to said display device;

a communication unit for transmitting user-generated information received from said display device to a communication network; and

a nonvolatile memory for storing identifying information that identifies at least the television signal received immediately prior to a power interruption to supply to said display device the television signal identified by said stored identifying information upon resumption of said power.

3. A bi-directional communication system comprising a display apparatus and a base apparatus,

the display apparatus comprising:

a user-operable selector unit operable by a user for producing a selection signal;

a storage unit for storing control panel image data containing base apparatus controlling information;

an image readout unit for reading out from said storage unit and in response to said selection signal the control panel image represented by said control panel image data;

a display unit for displaying said read out control panel image comprising a plurality of display items corresponding to user selectable operations;

an input unit for detecting user-generated operation inputs associated with said displayed control panel image items to form an operation signal corresponding to the detected operation inputs and representing operations performable at said base apparatus;

a transmission unit for transmitting said operation signal to said base apparatus;

a receiving unit for receiving from said base apparatus an information signal;

a processing unit for processing said received information signal for display by said display unit; and

a first nonvolatile memory for storing said information signal received immediately prior to a power interruption and for providing said stored information signal for display upon resumption of said power;

the base apparatus comprising;

a signal reception unit for receiving said operation signal transmitted from said display apparatus;

a selection unit responsive to said received operation signal to select a television signal or Internet data supplied to said base apparatus to produce said information signal representative of the selection;

a transmission unit to transmit said information signal to said display device;

a communication unit for transmitting user-generated information received from said display device to a communication network; and

a second nonvolatile memory for storing identifying information that identifies at least the television signal received immediately prior to said power interruption to supply to said display device the television signal identified by said stored identifying information upon resumption of said power.