Method, apparatus and system for incorporating voice or video communication into a television or compatible audio capable visual display
First Claim
1. A communication interface apparatus comprising:
- at least one television input for receiving a television signal from a television tuner;
at least one communication input for receiving a separate communication signal from a communication network;
at least one output for transmitting an output signal from said communication interface apparatus;
a controller coupled with said television input, said communication input, said output, anda non-transitory machine readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by the controller to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising instructions to;
monitor the communication input to detect a communication signal and associated data;
upon detection of a communication signal, combine the data associated with the communication signal with the television signal to produce a notification signal superimposing the associated data over the television signal, wherein said notification signal includes at least an identification of the originator of the communication signal;
displaying the content of the notification signal on a display in communication with the communications interface apparatus in a first area of the display which is less than the entire area of the display;
retrieve a call menu from a memory, and display the call menu on the display in a second area of the display which is physically separated from the first area of the display, wherein the call menu includes a plurality of selections including at least an open attachment selection; and
upon detection of a user input command to answer a communication signal comprising a telephone call, record the television signal on a digital video recorder in communication with the output and broadcast the audio portion of the communication signal from the display.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Voice or video communication is incorporated into a television or compatible audio capable visual display by routing a television signal through a communication interface apparatus connected to a voice or video communication network and switching between a call and at least the audio portion of the television signal when a call is detected and the user chooses to answer the call in response to an on-screen menu superimposed on the video portion of the television signal. The communication interface apparatus includes a controller that is configured to allow speed dialing using a wireless remote, as well as making calls from a user-defined contact list or a regional phone directory that is updatable from a remote source via the Internet.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A communication interface apparatus comprising:
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at least one television input for receiving a television signal from a television tuner; at least one communication input for receiving a separate communication signal from a communication network; at least one output for transmitting an output signal from said communication interface apparatus; a controller coupled with said television input, said communication input, said output, and a non-transitory machine readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by the controller to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising instructions to; monitor the communication input to detect a communication signal and associated data; upon detection of a communication signal, combine the data associated with the communication signal with the television signal to produce a notification signal superimposing the associated data over the television signal, wherein said notification signal includes at least an identification of the originator of the communication signal; displaying the content of the notification signal on a display in communication with the communications interface apparatus in a first area of the display which is less than the entire area of the display; retrieve a call menu from a memory, and display the call menu on the display in a second area of the display which is physically separated from the first area of the display, wherein the call menu includes a plurality of selections including at least an open attachment selection; and upon detection of a user input command to answer a communication signal comprising a telephone call, record the television signal on a digital video recorder in communication with the output and broadcast the audio portion of the communication signal from the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for incorporating voice or video communications into a television signal comprising:
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receiving a television signal at a communications interface apparatus; receiving a communication signal at the communications interface apparatus; detecting the communications signal at the communications interface apparatus, upon detection of the communication signal, combining data associated with the communication signal with the television signal to produce a notification signal superimposed over the television signal, wherein said notification signal includes at least an identification of the originator of the communication signal; displaying the content of the notification signal on a display in communication with the communications interface apparatus wherein the notification signal is displayed in a first area of the display which is less than the entire area of the display; retrieving a call menu from a memory, displaying the call menu on the display in a second area of the display which is physically separated from the first area of the display, wherein the call menu includes a plurality of selections including at least an open attachment selection; and upon detection of a user input command to answer a communication signal comprising a telephone call, record the television signal on a digital video recorder in communication with the communications interface apparatus and broadcast the audio portion of the communication signal from the display. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for incorporating voice or video communication into a television or compatible audio capable visual display comprising:
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a television tuner; a communication interface apparatus comprising; at least one television input for receiving a television signal from the television tuner; at least one communication input for receiving a separate communication signal from a communication network; at least one output for transmitting an output signal from said communication interface apparatus; an input port configured to receive a user input; a display in communication with the communication interface output; an input device in communication with the communication interface user input; a controller coupled with said television input, said communication input, said output; and a non-transitory machine readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by the controller to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising instructions to; monitor the communication input to detect a communication signal and associated data; upon detection of a communication signal, combine the data associated with the communication signal with the television signal to produce a notification signal superimposing the associated data over the television signal, wherein said notification signal includes at least an identification of the originator of the communication signal; displaying the content of the notification signal on the display in a first area of the display which is less than the entire area of the display; retrieve a call menu from a memory, and display the call menu on the display in a second area of the display which is physically separated from the first area of the display, wherein the call menu includes a plurality of selections including at least an open attachment selection; and upon detection of a user input command to answer a communication signal comprising a telephone call, record the television signal on a digital video recorder in communication with the communications interface apparatus and broadcast the audio portion of the communication signal from the display. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification