Integrated remote controlled computer and television system

• US 6,377,861 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1998
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: X10 Wireless Technology Incorporated (X10)
• Original Assignee: X10 Wireless Technology Incorporated (X10)
• Inventors: York, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr., Ronald D
• Application Number:
  US09/210,462
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 700/83, 348/552, 348/734
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/641 Multi-purpose receivers, e.g. for auxiliary information H04N9/642 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention includes a Couch Link system which provides for a remote keyboard and a remote pointer to control a PC. The PC generates a PC monitor display and sounds, and the invention projects the same display image and play the sounds on a television. The remote keyboard and remote pointer may be in one room with the television, while the PC is in another room. The Relink system of the present invention further permits the PC to not merely generate and project its PC monitor display on the TV but, also, to control the TV'"'"'s functions, including program selection, viewing, recording, and scheduling.

Claims

1. A multimedia transceiver system for a computer having a monitor and a display device at a location remote from the computer, comprising:

a first user interface permitting first user to input a first control signal at a location remote from the computer;

a first transmitter operatively connected to said first user interface, said first transmitter transmitting the control signal from said first user interface;

a second user interface operatively connected to the computer and permitting a second user to input a second control signal at a location local to the computer;

a transceiver device operatively connected to the computer, said transceiver device including

a video input receiving a video signal from the computer,

a second transmitter operatively connected to said video input, said second transmitter receiving the video signal from said video input and transmitting the received video signal,

a first receiving device operatively connected to the computer and receiving the first control signal from said first user interface via said first transmitter, and

a sharing circuit operatively connected to said first receiving device and to said second user interface, said sharing circuit switching between the first and second control signals to output a final control signal to the computer, the final control signal controlling a function or device of the computer; and

a second receiving device operatively connected to the remotely located display device, said second receiving device receiving the video signal from said second transmitter and supplying the received video signal to the remotely located display device.

2. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 1,

wherein the display device is a television,

said transceiver device further including a format converter operatively connected to said video input and said second transmitter, said format converter converting the video signal from a first format to a second format,

said second transmitter operatively connected to said format converter,

said second receiving de vice receiving the second format video signal from said format converter via said second transmitter and supplying the second format video signal to the television.

3. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a privacy mode wherein the second transmitter does not transmit the video signal to the display device via said second receiving device.

4. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sharing mode in which said sharing circuit gives priority to the second control signal over the first control signal when switching therebetween to produce the final control signal.

5. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 1,

wherein the first and second control signals include a power-on command that turns the computer on,

said sharing circuit giving priority to the first control signal or the second control signal depending upon which of the first or second control signals included the power on command.

6. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an overlay generating device operatively connected to the computer, said overlay generating device generating an overlay display signal,

wherein the computer superimposes the overlay display signal onto the video signal.

7. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 1, wherein the video signal includes an audio component signal.

8. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 1, wherein the video signal is different from a display signal displayed on the monitor.

9. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 8, wherein the computer is a multi-tasking computer generating both the video signal and the display signal.

10. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a video signal source supplying the video signal to the computer.

11. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 10, wherein the video signal source is a device operatively connected to the computer.

12. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 10, wherein the video signal source is a content providing service providing the video signal to the computer via cable, satellite, broadcast or other transmission media.

13. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 1, wherein said first transmitter, said second transmitter, said first receiving device, and said second receiving device utilize electromagnetic radiation propagating through air for communication therebetween.

14. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 1, wherein said first transmitter, said second transmitter, said first receiving device, and said second receiving device utilize electromagnetic radiation propagating through a wire for communication therebetween.

15. The multimedia transceiver system according to claim 1, wherein said first transmitter, said second transmitter, said first receiving device, and said second receiving device utilize electromagnetic radiation propagating through an optical fiber for communication therebetween.