METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR INCORPORATING VOICE OR VIDEO COMMUNICATION INTO A TELEVISION OR COMPATIBLE AUDIO CAPABLE VISUAL DISPLAY
First Claim
1. A system for incorporating voice or video communication into a television or compatible audio capable visual display comprising:
- a television tuner configured to receive a television signal containing audio and video data from a remote source and to transmit a first digital video signal corresponding to the video data and a first audio signal corresponding to the audio data;
a communication interface apparatus including;
one or more television inputs for receiving said first audio and video signals from said television tuner;
one or more communication inputs for receiving from a communication network a voice communication signal containing audio data or a video communication signal containing both audio and visual data;
one or more outputs for transmitting a second digital video signal and a second audio signal from said communication interface apparatus;
a call detection device connected to said one or more communication inputs and configured to detect a voice or video communication signal and associated data and to generate a notification signal when a communication signal is detected;
a digital memory device for storing at least a user-defined contact list, a speed dial list and a call log based on said associated data;
a first wireless communication device configured to receive wireless command signals from a user; and
a controller coupled with said one or more television inputs, said one or more communication inputs, said one or more outputs, said call detection device, said memory device and said wireless communication device;
wherein said digital memory device stores at least one set of instructions executable by said controller to;
check for call notification and command signals;
if there is a call notification signal, combine data associated with the voice or video communication signal with at least one of said first audio and video signals to produce at least one combined signal superimposing said associated data over the video signal and transmit said at least one combined signal to said one or more outputs;
if a command is received to answer the call while said at least one combined signal is transmitted, substitute the voice or video communication signal for at least one of said first audio and video signals and transmit the substituted signal to said one or more outputs;
if a command is received to terminate the call, or if there is no notification signal, transmit said first audio and video signals from said television tuner to said one or more outputs;
a digital display configured to receive the second video signal from said communication interface apparatus and to display visual images based on the second video signal;
an audio system configured to receive the second audio signal from said communication interface apparatus and to generate audible sounds based on the audio signal;
a remote control unit including;
a remote control housing including a keypad; and
a second wireless communication device contained in said remote control housing and configured to transmit wireless signals to said first wireless communication device, wherein at least some of said wireless signals transmitted by said second wireless communication device include commands for remotely controlling said communication interface apparatus; and
a microphone coupled with one of said communication interface apparatus and said remote control unit and configured to generate a third audio signal in response to audible sounds, wherein said communication interface apparatus is configured to receive the third audio signal from said microphone and to transmit said third audio signal over the communication network.
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.
78 Citations
20 Claims
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1. 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 configured to receive a television signal containing audio and video data from a remote source and to transmit a first digital video signal corresponding to the video data and a first audio signal corresponding to the audio data; a communication interface apparatus including; one or more television inputs for receiving said first audio and video signals from said television tuner; one or more communication inputs for receiving from a communication network a voice communication signal containing audio data or a video communication signal containing both audio and visual data; one or more outputs for transmitting a second digital video signal and a second audio signal from said communication interface apparatus; a call detection device connected to said one or more communication inputs and configured to detect a voice or video communication signal and associated data and to generate a notification signal when a communication signal is detected; a digital memory device for storing at least a user-defined contact list, a speed dial list and a call log based on said associated data; a first wireless communication device configured to receive wireless command signals from a user; and a controller coupled with said one or more television inputs, said one or more communication inputs, said one or more outputs, said call detection device, said memory device and said wireless communication device; wherein said digital memory device stores at least one set of instructions executable by said controller to; check for call notification and command signals; if there is a call notification signal, combine data associated with the voice or video communication signal with at least one of said first audio and video signals to produce at least one combined signal superimposing said associated data over the video signal and transmit said at least one combined signal to said one or more outputs; if a command is received to answer the call while said at least one combined signal is transmitted, substitute the voice or video communication signal for at least one of said first audio and video signals and transmit the substituted signal to said one or more outputs; if a command is received to terminate the call, or if there is no notification signal, transmit said first audio and video signals from said television tuner to said one or more outputs; a digital display configured to receive the second video signal from said communication interface apparatus and to display visual images based on the second video signal; an audio system configured to receive the second audio signal from said communication interface apparatus and to generate audible sounds based on the audio signal; a remote control unit including; a remote control housing including a keypad; and a second wireless communication device contained in said remote control housing and configured to transmit wireless signals to said first wireless communication device, wherein at least some of said wireless signals transmitted by said second wireless communication device include commands for remotely controlling said communication interface apparatus; and a microphone coupled with one of said communication interface apparatus and said remote control unit and configured to generate a third audio signal in response to audible sounds, wherein said communication interface apparatus is configured to receive the third audio signal from said microphone and to transmit said third audio signal over the communication network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for incorporating voice or video communications into a television or compatible audio capable visual display comprising:
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one or more television inputs for receiving said first audio and video signals from said television tuner; one or more communication inputs for receiving from a communication network a voice communication signal containing audio data or a video communication signal containing both audio and visual data; one or more outputs for transmitting a second digital video signal and a second audio signal from said communication interface apparatus; a call detection device connected to said one or more communication inputs and configured to detect a voice or video communication signal and associated data and to generate a notification signal when a communication signal is detected; a digital memory device for storing at least a user-defined contact list, a speed dial list and a call log based on said associated data; a first wireless communication device configured to receive wireless command signals; and a controller coupled with said one or more television inputs, said one or more communication inputs, said one or more outputs, said call detection device, said memory device and said wireless communication device; wherein said digital memory device stores at least one set of instructions executable by said controller to; check for notification and command signals; if there is a notification signal, combine data associated with the voice or video communication signal with at least one of said first audio and video signals to produce at least one combined signal with a call notification feature and transmit said at least one combined signal to said one or more outputs; if a command is received to answer the call while said at least one combined signal is transmitted, substitute the voice or video communication signal for at least one of said first audio and video signals and transmit the substituted signal to said one or more outputs; and if a command is received to terminate the call, or if there is no notification signal, transmit said first audio and video signals from said television tuner to said one or more outputs. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for incorporating voice or video communications into a television or compatible audio capable visual display comprising:
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receiving at a communications interface apparatus a television broadcast from a tuner containing first audio and video signals; receiving at the communications interface apparatus a voice communication signal from a communications network containing audio data or a video communication signal containing both audio and video data; transmitting a second digital video signal and a second audio signal from the communication interface apparatus; detecting at the communications interface apparatus a voice or video communication signal and associated data and generating a notification signal when a communication signal is detected; storing at the communications interface apparatus at least a user-defined contact list, a speed dial list and a call log based on the associated data; receiving at the communications interface apparatus wireless command signals from a wireless remote; and using a controller in the communications interface apparatus to; check for notification and command signals; if there is a notification signal, combine data associated with the voice or video communication signal with at least one of the first audio and video signals to produce at least one combined signal with a call notification feature and transmit the at least one combined signal to the one or more outputs; if a command is received to answer the call while the at least one combined signal is transmitted, substitute the voice or video communication signal for at least one of the first audio and video signals and transmit the substituted signal to the one or more outputs; and if a command is received to terminate the call, or if there is no notification signal, transmit the first audio and video signals from the television tuner to the one or more outputs.
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Specification