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;
transmit the notification signal to the output; 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 a display in communication with the output.
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.
7 Citations
20 Claims
-
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, 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; transmit the notification signal to the output; 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 a display in communication with the output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for incorporating voice or video communications into a television signal comprising:
-
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; displaying the content of the notification signal on a display in communication with the communications interface apparatus; 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 (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A system for incorporating voice or video communication into a television or compatible audio capable visual display comprising:
-
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; transmit the notification signal to the output; 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; and an input device in communication with the communication interface user input. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification