Remote control device for television signal receiver capable of receiving emergency alert signals

• US 20050166222A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing SA (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Anthony, Michael, Douglas, John, Tully, Timothy Joseph Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/513,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20050166222A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/33
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/085 using central distribution transmission lines
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/008 with transmission via TV or radio broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• 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 21/42222 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 21/4622 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 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/814 comprising emergency warnings arrangements specially adapted for emergency or urgency in broadcast systems H04H20/59; arrangements for providing alarms, notifications, alerts to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A remote control device for a television signal processing system is capable of receiving a signal indicating an emergency event and providing alert outputs to notify individuals of emergency events, while simultaneously transmitting control signals which control the television signal receiver. According to an exemplary embodiment, the remote control device includes a tuner operative to tune a frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event, and a transmitter operative to transmit a control signal which controls the television signal processing system.

Claims

1. A remote control device for a television signal processing system, comprising:

a tuner operative to tune a frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event; and

a transmitter operative to transmit a control signal which controls the television signal processing system.

2. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the tuner is operative to tune the frequency including the signal indicating the emergency event while the transmitter transmits the control signals.

3. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein an alert output is provided responsive to the signal indicating the emergency event.

4. The remote control device of claim 3, further comprising a display, and wherein the alert output comprises a visual output provided via the display.

5. The remote control device of claim 3, further comprising a speaker, and wherein the alert output comprises an aural output provided via the speaker.

6. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the signal indicating the emergency event is provided from the television signal processing system.

7. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the signal indicating the emergency event is provided from a source other than the television signal processing system.

8. A remote control device for a television signal processor, comprising:

tuning means for tuning a frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event; and

transmitting means for transmitting a control signal for controlling the television signal receiver.

9. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein the tuning means tunes the frequency including the signal indicating the emergency event while the transmitting means transmits the control signal.

10. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein an alert output is provided responsive to the signal indicating the emergency event.

11. The remote control device of claim 10, further comprising display means, and wherein the alert output comprises a visual output provided via the display means.

12. The remote control device of claim 10, further comprising aural output means, and wherein the alert output comprises an aural output provided via the aural output means.

13. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein the signal indicating the emergency event is provided from the television signal processor.

14. The remote control device of claim 8, wherein the signal indicating the emergency event is provided from a source other than the television signal processor.

15. A method for controlling a remote control device for a television signal processing system, comprising:

tuning a frequency including a signal indicating an emergency event; and

transmitting a control signal which controls the television signal receiver while tuning the frequency including the signal indicating the emergency event.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprised of providing an alert output responsive to the signal indicating the emergency event.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the alert output comprises a visual output.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the alert output comprises an aural output.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the emergency alert signals are provided from the television signal processing system.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the emergency alert signals are provided from a source other than the television signal processing system.

21. A television signal processing system comprising:

a tuner for tuning a frequency including a first signal indicating an emergency event; and

a transmitter included in the television signal processing system for transmitting a second signal indicating the emergency event to a remote control device.

22. The television signal processing system of claim 21, wherein the transmitter transmits the second signal to the remote control device for activating an emergency alert function of the remote control device.

23. The television signal processing system of claim 22, wherein the transmitter transmits the second signal to the remote control device during any one of a plurality of modes of operation of the television signal processing system.

24. The television signal processing system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of modes of operation comprises an on mode of the television signal processing system.

25. The television signal processing system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of modes of operation comprises an off/standby mode of the television signal processing system.

26. The television signal processing system of claim 23, wherein the plurality of modes of operation comprises a playback mode of the television signal processing system.