Integrating broadcast television pause and web browsing

• US 6,349,410 B1
• Filed: 08/04/1999
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Lortz, Victor B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, John W.
• Application Number:
  US09/368,211
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 725/109, 725/110, 725/112, 725/113, 725/134, 725/142
• US Class Current: 725/110
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• 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 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

Coordination of the display of an incoming signal stream (such as broadcast TV content or streaming web content) on a display with web browsing. The method includes storing a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the incoming signal stream being displayed, receiving a first signal to display web content associated with the URL, pausing display of the incoming signal stream while storing the incoming signal stream on a storage device, and obtaining and displaying the web content associated with the URL. The method further includes receiving a second signal to resume display of the incoming signal stream, removing the web content from the display, and resuming display of the incoming signal stream at the point that the pause occurred by obtaining the incoming signal stream from the storage device.

Claims

1. A method of coordinating the display of an incoming signal stream on a display with web browsing comprising:

storing a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the incoming signal stream being displayed;

receiving a first signal to display web content associated with the URL;

pausing display of the incoming signal stream;

automatically determining whether to store the incoming signal stream on a storage device based on at least one of a user'"'"'s viewing history, a user'"'"'s recording history, and a predetermined amount of time displaying a current program of the incoming signal stream, when the first signal is received;

storing the incoming signal stream on a storage device after pausing, when it is determined that the incoming signal stream is to be stored; and

obtaining and displaying the web content associated with the URL.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second signal to resume display of the incoming signal stream;

removing the web content from the display; and

resuming display of the incoming signal stream at the point that the pause occurred by obtaining the incoming signal stream from the storage device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the web content comprises displaying the web content on the entire display.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving another first signal and obtaining and displaying a web page linked to the web content.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving another second signal to return to the display of previously displayed web content.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving a third signal to return directly to display of the incoming signal stream at the point that the pause occurred by obtaining the incoming signal stream from the storage device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming signal stream comprises broadcast TV content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the incoming signal stream comprises streaming web content.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a visual cue on the display to a user when a URL associated with the incoming signal stream has been stored.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored URL may be used for obtaining web content only for a predetermined period of time.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining and displaying web content associated with any URL specified by a user.

12. An article comprising:

a machine readable medium having a plurality of machine readable instructions, wherein when the instructions are executed by a processor, the instructions coordinate the display of an incoming signal stream on a display with web browsing by;

storing a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the incoming signal stream being displayed;

receiving a first signal to display web content associated with the URL;

pausing display of the incoming signal stream;

automatically determining whether to store the incoming signal stream on a storage device based on at least one of a user'"'"'s viewing history, a user'"'"'s recording history, and a predetermined amount of time displaying a current program of the incoming signal stream, when the first signal is received;

storing the incoming signal stream on a storage device after pausing, when it is determined that the incoming signal stream is to be stored; and

obtaining and displaying the web content associated with the URL.

13. The article of claim 12, further comprising instructions for:

receiving a second signal to resume display of the incoming signal stream;

removing the web content from the display; and

resuming display of the incoming signal stream at the point that the pause occurred by obtaining the incoming signal stream from the storage device.

14. The article of claim 12, wherein instructions for displaying the web content comprise instructions for displaying the web content on the entire display.

15. The article of claim 12, further comprising instructions for receiving another first signal and obtaining and displaying a web page linked to the web content.

16. The article of claim 15, further comprising instructions for receiving another second signal to return to the display of previously displayed web content.

17. The article of claim 15, further comprising instructions for receiving a third signal to return directly to display of the incoming signal stream at the point that the pause occurred by obtaining the incoming signal stream from the storage device.

18. The article of claim 12, further comprising instructions for providing a visual cue on the display to a user when a URL associated with the incoming signal stream has been stored.

19. The article of claim 12, further comprising instructions for obtaining and displaying web content associated with any URL specified by a user.

20. An apparatus for coordinating the display of an incoming signal stream with web browsing comprising:

a storage device to store the incoming signal stream and a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the incoming signal stream;

a processor coupled to the storage device, the processor executing instructions for receiving a first signal to display web content associated with the URL, pausing display of the incoming signal stream, automatically determining whether to store the incoming signal stream on the storage device based on at least one of a user'"'"'s viewing history, a user'"'"'s recording history, and a predetermined amount of time displaying a current program of the incoming signal stream, when the first signal is received, storing the incoming signal stream on the storage device after pausing, when it is determined that the incoming signal stream is to be stored, and obtaining and displaying the web content associated with the URL.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the processor executes further instructions for receiving a second signal to resume display of the incoming signal stream, removing the web content from the display, and resuming display of the incoming signal stream at the point that the pause occurred by obtaining the incoming signal stream from the storage device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a remote control device for communicating with the processor, the remote control device having a first button for initiating the sending of the first signal to the processor, and a second button for initiating the sending of the second signal to the processor.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the remote control device further comprises a third button to initiate the sending of a third signal to the processor to cause the resumption of the display of the incoming signal stream at the point that the pause occurred.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the incoming signal stream comprises broadcast TV content.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the incoming signal stream comprises streaming web content.

26. A system for coordinating the display of an incoming signal stream with web browsing comprising:

a set top device, the set top device having a storage device to store the incoming signal stream and a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the incoming signal stream, and a processor coupled to the storage device, the processor executing instructions for receiving a first signal to display web content associated with the URL, pausing display of the incoming signal stream, automatically determining whether to store the incoming signal stream on the storage device based on at least one of a user'"'"'s viewing history, a user'"'"'s recording history, and a predetermined amount of time displaying a current program of the incoming signal stream, when the first signal is received, storing the incoming signal stream on the storage device after pausing, when it is determined that the incoming signal stream is to be stored, and obtaining and forwarding the web content associated with the URL; and

a hand held portable computing appliance communicatively coupled to the set top device, the appliance having a first display for displaying the web content received from the set top device, and a first user input indicator for causing the sending of the first signal.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a second display coupled to the set top device to display at least one of the incoming signal stream and the web content, and wherein the appliance selects one or more of the displays to receive the web content.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the web content comprises streaming web content and the appliance selects the second display to show the streaming web content.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the appliance further comprises a cursor control mechanism for receiving user input data to control a cursor shown on the second display.

30. A system for coordinating the display of an incoming signal stream with web browsing comprising:

a set top device, the set top device having a storage device to store the incoming signal stream and a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the incoming signal stream, and a processor coupled to the storage device, the processor executing instructions for receiving a first signal to display web content associated with the URL, pausing display of the incoming signal stream, automatically determining whether to store the incoming signal stream on the storage device based on at least one of a user'"'"'s viewing history, a user'"'"'s recording history, and a predetermined amount of time displaying a current program of the incoming signal stream, when the first signal is received, and storing the incoming signal stream on the storage device after pausing, when it is determined that the incoming signal stream is to be stored; and

a hand held portable computing appliance communicatively coupled to the set top device, the appliance having a first display for displaying the web content associated with the URL, and a first user input indicator for causing the sending of the first signal.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the web content associated with the URL is received by the appliance from the set top device.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the web content associated with the URL is received by the appliance from a cellular telephone/modem connection to the Internet.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the web content associated with the URL is received by the appliance from a radio frequency (RF) based home network coupled to the Internet.