Parallel television docking adapter

• US 7,932,959 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, James D., Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold; Jefferey
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, JEAN WICEL
• Application Number:
  US11/289,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,973 Days
• Field of Search: 348/734, 348/552, 348/730, 348/836, 348/838, 348/839, 348/14.05, 348/14.04, 348/825, 340/426.13, 340/815.6, 340/815.82, 725/80, 725/81, 725/141, 725/153
• US Class Current: 348/734
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4184 providing storage capabilities, e.g. memory stick
• 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 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• 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 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

A docking adapter that interacts with an entertainment system and a parallel television device. The docking adapter may comprise a housing shaped for removable insertion of the parallel television device. The docking adapter may deliver power to the parallel television device. The docking adapter may comprise a communication pathway that carries media flow disposed on the housing. At least one module may receive a user input identifying a video selection. The communication pathway may carry the user input to the parallel television device. The parallel television device may generate a control signal that causes display of video information corresponding to the video selection on the entertainment system. The docking adapter may alternately or in addition receive the video information for display on a built-in screen of the docking adapter. The docking adapter may also deliver the video for display on a screen of the parallel television device.

Claims

1. A home entertainment system that receives a channel guide and content from a plurality of television channels, the home entertainment system comprising:

a television having a first screen that displays content from a first one of the plurality of television channels;

a remote control device having a second screen that selectively displays the channel guide and content from a second one of the plurality of television channels; and

a docking adapter configured to receive the remote control device, the docking adapter comprising;

a communication interface configured to communicatively couple the docking adapter to the remote control device in response to at least a portion of the remote control device being inserted into the docking adapter; and

a communication pathway configured to deliver to the remote control device via the communication interface the channel guide and the content from the second one of the plurality of television channels.

2. The home entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the docking adapter further comprises a user input interface adapted to receive a user input specifying a channel selection.

3. The home entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the docking adapter further comprises a power interface through which power is delivered to the remote control device from a battery of the docking adapter.

4. The home entertainment system of claim 1, wherein the docking adapter further comprises a wireless interface, and the docking adapter is adapted to receive the channel guide and the content from the second one of the plurality of television channels through the wireless interface.

5. A docking adapter for utilization with an entertainment system, the docking adapter comprising:

a housing shaped for removable insertion of a parallel television device;

a power input interface disposed on the housing;

a power output interface, disposed on the housing, through which power is delivered to the parallel television device;

a communications interface configured to communicatively couple the docking adapter to the remote control device in response to at least a portion of the parallel television device being inserted into the docking adapter; and

a communication pathway configured to deliver to the parallel television device via the communication interface media flow comprising television channel broadcast content to the parallel television device.

6. The docking adapter of claim 5, wherein the communication pathway comprises an audio pathway, and the media flow comprises audio flow.

7. The docking adapter of claim 6, further comprising a speaker communicatively coupled to the audio pathway.

8. The docking adapter of claim 5, wherein the television channel broadcast content is formatted differently from television content presented on a television being controlled by the parallel television device.

9. The docking adapter of claim 5, further comprising an interface through which a media element is delivered from an IP-addressable device to the parallel television device.

10. A docking adapter for utilization with an entertainment system having a television and a parallel television device, the parallel television device controlling the television, the docking adapter comprising:

a housing shaped for removable insertion of the parallel television device, the housing supporting an adaptable mounting angle of the parallel television device;

a power input interface disposed on the housing that receives input power; and

,

a power output interface through which output power is delivered to the parallel television device.

11. The docking adapter of claim 10, further comprising:

a communication interface configured to communicatively couple the docking adapter to the remote control device in response to at least a portion of the parallel television device being physically inserted into the docking adapter; and

a communication pathway configured to deliver media flow to the parallel television device via the communication interface.

12. The docking adapter of claim 11, further comprising an interface through which the docking adapter receives content from a television channel and sends control commands from the parallel television device to control display on the television.

13. The docking adapter of claim 11, further comprising a headphone port.

14. The docking adapter of claim 11, further comprising a screen.

15. A home entertainment system that receives content from a plurality of television channels, the home entertainment system having a television with a first screen, the home entertainment system comprising:

a control device configured to deliver commands causing the television to display content from a first one of the plurality of television channels on the first screen, wherein the control device comprises a second display that displays content from a second one of the plurality of television channels; and

a docking adapter that couples with the control device upon insertion of the control device into the docking adapter, wherein the docking adapter comprises a power interface that supports power delivery to the control device and a communication interface that provides television channel content to the control device.

16. The home entertainment system of claim 15, wherein the docking adapter comprises a communication pathway, and the communication pathway supports delivery of the commands from the control device to the television causing the television to display the content from the first one of the plurality of television channels on the first screen.

17. The home entertainment system of claim 15, wherein the docking adapter comprises a wireless interface, and an audio portion of the second one of the plurality of television channels is delivered to a wireless speaker via the wireless interface.

18. A method performed by a docking adapter that is coupled with a remote control device that comprises a first screen and a television that comprises a second screen, the method comprising:

receiving and communicating channel guide information to the remote control device for display on the first screen, where the channel guide information identifies a first television channel and a second television channel;

receiving and communicating a control signal from the remote control device that requests display of content from the first television channel on the second screen;

receiving and communicating a control signal from the remote control device that requests display of content from the second television channel on the first screen; and

receiving and communicating the content from the second television channel to the remote control device for display on the first screen.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising delivering power to the remote control device from a battery of the docking adapter.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the received content from second television channel communicated to the remote control device has a different video format than the received content from the first television channel.

21. A method performed by a docking adapter in an entertainment system comprising a television and a parallel television device, wherein the parallel television device comprises a screen and is adapted to send control signals regarding the television, the method comprising:

receiving the parallel television device into an inserted position such that, when in the inserted position, the screen is not covered;

receiving input power through a power input interface;

delivering output power to the parallel television device;

receiving a television channel;

operatively coupling a communication interface of the docking adapter to the parallel television device upon insertion of the parallel television device, and

delivering content from the television channel to the parallel television device via the operatively coupled communication interface.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising receiving content from a second television channel and presenting the content from the second television channel on a display of the docking adapter.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising delivering audio signals to a speaker of the docking adapter.