Networked television and method thereof

• US 9,278,283 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2012
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walter, Edward, Diroo, Yolius, Wollmershauser, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Jonathan V
• Application Number:
  US13/677,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20130079129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• 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 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6106 specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A television includes a display, a first network interface to a packet-based network, and a decoder operable to process a multimedia data stream received via the first network interface. The television is operable to display content of the multimedia data stream on the display promptly upon receipt of a user request to power up the television. A method includes receiving a multimedia data stream at a network interface of a television, processing the multimedia data stream to generate content, and providing the video content to a display of the television.

Claims

1. A television comprising:

a display;

a first network interface to a packet-based network, wherein the first network interface is configured to receive a multimedia data stream from the packet-based network, wherein the multimedia data stream comprises content representing a first list of available video games and video game data associated with a first video game of the first list;

a decoder operable to generate display data representative of the content at a first region of the display, the display data displayable on the display within ten seconds of receipt of a user request for the multimedia data stream, wherein the display data comprises a listing of titles of the available video games from the first list in a first column and an indicator associated with each game in the listing of the available video games in a second column adjacent to the first column; and

a game console modular card operable to receive the video game data from the decoder in response to user selection of the first video game via a remote control and operable to process the video game data to display game play content, wherein the game play content is based on user control signals received via a game controller coupled to a controller interface of the game console modular card.

2. The television of claim 1, further comprising a modular card interface coupled to the first network interface of the television, wherein the decoder includes a decoder modular card coupled to the modular card interface, and wherein the television is operable to display the display data on the display upon receipt of a user request to power up the television.

3. The television of claim 2, further comprising a wireless network interface card coupled to the modular card interface.

4. The television of claim 1, further comprising a second network interface, wherein the second network interface is a wireless network interface supported by a wireless network interface modular card coupled to the decoder via a modular card interface.

5. The television of claim 1, wherein the multimedia data stream includes protected multimedia data and wherein the decoder processes the protected multimedia data to generate unprotected multimedia data and provides the unprotected multimedia data to a networked device via the first network interface.

6. The television of claim 5, wherein the unprotected multimedia data is provided to a second networked device via a second network interface of the television.

7. The television of claim 6, wherein the second network interface comprises a wireless network interface that includes a wireless network interface modular card coupled to the decoder via a modular card interface.

8. The television of claim 1, wherein the game console modular card includes a second controller interface configured to receive a second game controller, and wherein the game play content is further based on second user control signals received via the second game controller.

9. The television of claim 1, wherein the display data representative of the content is displayed within five seconds of receiving the user request.

10. The television of claim 1, wherein the display data further comprises a screen shot for an available game of the available video games from the listing at a second region of the display separate from the first region.

11. The television of claim 1, wherein:

the first network interface is disposed at an exterior surface of a housing of the television, at least a portion of the first network interface exterior to the housing; and

the decoder is disposed interior to the housing.

12. The television of claim 1, further comprising a remote control interface to receive a remote control command communicated wirelessly, wherein an operation of the television is responsive to the remote control command.

13. A television comprising:

a television housing;

a display within the television housing;

a first network interface to a packet-based network, wherein the first network interface is within the television housing and wherein the first network interface is configured to receive multimedia data from the packet-based network, wherein the multimedia data comprises content representing a first list of available video games and corresponding identifiers;

a processor to process data transmitted via the first network interface, wherein the processor is within the television housing;

modular card interfaces coupled to the processor, wherein the modular card interfaces are within the television housing;

a game console modular card coupled to a first modular card interface of the modular card interfaces, the game console modular card operable to process second content to display game play content in response to selection of a video game via a remote control, wherein the game play content is based on user control signals received via a game controller coupled to a controller interface of the game console modular card; and

a multimedia decoder card coupled to a second modular card interface of the modular card interfaces, the multimedia decoder card to generate display data representative of the content, wherein the multimedia decoder is within the television housing;

wherein the television is operable to display the display data upon receipt of a request to power up the television.

14. The television of claim 13, further comprising a second network interface that comprises a wireless network interface card coupled to a third modular card interface of the modular card interfaces.

15. The television of claim 13, wherein the multimedia data comprises protected multimedia data and wherein the multimedia decoder card processes the protected multimedia data to generate unprotected multimedia data.

16. The television of claim 13, further comprising a remote control interface to receive a remote control command, wherein an operation of the television is responsive to the remote control command.

17. A method comprising:

receiving a multimedia data stream at a network interface of a television, wherein the network interface is coupled to a packet-based network, wherein the multimedia data stream comprises content representing a first list of available video games and corresponding identifiers and video game data associated with a first video game of the first list;

generating, at a decoder, display data representative of the content;

providing the display data to a display of the television;

generating, at the decoder, audio content from the multimedia stream;

providing the audio content for output by a speaker of the television;

receiving a selection of the first video game via a remote control; and

sending the video game data to a game console modular card in response to the selection of the first video game, wherein the game console modular card processes the video game data to display game play content, wherein the game play content is based on user control signals received via a game controller coupled to a controller interface of the game console modular card;

wherein the television displays the display data upon receipt of a request to power up the television.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving user input, wherein the multimedia stream is received in response to the request, and wherein the television displays the display data within ten seconds of receipt of the user input.

19. A method comprising:

receiving a first multimedia data stream at a first network interface of a television, wherein the first multimedia stream comprises a content representing a first list of available video games and corresponding identifiers and video game data associated with a first video game of the first list;

generating, at a decoder, display data representative of the content;

sending the display data to a display of the television in response to receipt of a request to power up the television, wherein the display data comprises a listing of the available video games from the first list and an indicator associated with each game in the listing of the available video games;

receiving, at the television, input corresponding to the first video game and identification of a number of separately located networked devices to receive the first video game;

receiving an indicator of a threshold number of devices authorized to receive the first video game; and

sending a second multimedia data stream of the first video game for reception by each of the separately located networked devices to receive the first video game via a second network interface of the television in response to determining that the number does not exceed the threshold number.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein generating the display data at the decoder comprises decrypting the first multimedia data stream.