Polling internet module of web TV

• US 6,785,906 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2000
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Zenith Electronics Corporation (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Gaughan, Kevin J., Zato, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US09/551,410
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 348/554, 348/553, 348/565, 370/463, 725/112, 725/52, 725/109, 725/51, 725/110, 725/24, 725/133, 725/142, 725/153, 345/718, 345/734, 345/736-738, 709/219, 709/217
• US Class Current: 725/112
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• 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 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

A web television includes a display, a tuner, an internet module, and a PIP module. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display and to select television audio for display by a speaker of the web television. The internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display and to supply internet audio for display by the speaker of the web television, and the internet video and audio are derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers. The PIP module is arranged to provide a PIP area within a main area of the display. The internet video and the television video may be swapped between the PIP area and the main area of the display, and the speaker of the web television may be swapped between the internet audio and the television audio.

Claims

1. A web television comprising:

a display;

a tuner, wherein the tuner is arranged to select television video for display on the display;

an internet module, wherein the internet module is arranged to supply internet video for display on the display, and wherein the internet video is derived from internet communications between the web television and internet content providers; and

a television controller that controls the display, wherein the television controller is arranged to poll the internet module; and

wherein the internet module is arranged to respond to the poll by providing information to the television controller.

2. The web television of claim 1, wherein the internet module operates in one or more modes and wherein the information comprises mode information that indicates the mode in which the internet module is operating.

3. The web television of claim 2, wherein the mode information comprises an indication that the Internet module is active and has been initialized.

4. The web television of claim 2, wherein the mode information comprises an indication that the internet module is connected to a communication network.

5. The web television of claim 4, wherein the communication network comprises a telephone network.

6. The web television of claim 4, wherein the communication network comprises an ethernet.

7. The web television of claim 2, wherein the mode information comprises an indication that the internet module is off-line such that the internet module is not connected to a communication network.

8. The web television of claim 2, wherein the mode information comprises an indication that the internet module is executing a software application.

9. The web television of claim 8, wherein the software application comprises a web browser application.

10. The web television of claim 8, wherein the software application comprises an e-mail application.

11. The web television of claim 8, wherein the software application comprises a user set-up application.

12. The web television of claim 1, wherein the information comprises status information.

13. The web television of claim 12, wherein the status information comprises information that identifies a source of an audio signal being supplied to a speaker of the web television.

14. The web television of claim 13, wherein the source comprises the tuner.

15. The web television of claim 13, wherein the source comprises the internet.

16. The web television of claim 1, wherein the information comprises request information whereby the internet module makes a request of the television controller.

17. The web television of claim 16, wherein the request information comprises a software ID.

18. The web television of claim 17, wherein the software ID is a version ID.

19. The web television of claim 17, wherein the software ID is a revision ID.

20. The web television of claim 16, wherein the display comprises a PIP area and a main area, and wherein the television controller is arranged to cause the tuner to supply the television video to either of the main area or the PIP area of the display and wherein the television controller is further arranged to cause the internet module to supply the internet video to either of the main area or the PIP area of the display, and wherein the request information comprises a PIP control function request whereby the internet module requests that the television controller execute a PIP control function to control the PIP area of the display.

21. The web television of claim 20, wherein the PIP control function request comprises a PIP swap function request whereby the internet module requests that the television controller execute a PIP swap function, wherein the television controller causes a swap of the television video and the internet video between the PIP area and the main area of the display.

22. The web television of claim 20, wherein the PIP control function request comprises a PIP off function request whereby the internet module requests that the television controller turn the PIP display off.

23. The web television of claim 20, wherein the PIP control function request comprises a PIP on function request whereby the internet module requests that the television controller turn the PIP display on.

24. The web television of claim 16, wherein the display comprises a PIP area and a main area, and wherein the television controller is arranged to cause the tuner to supply the television video to either of the main area or to PIP area of the display and wherein the television controller is further arranged to cause the internet module to supply the internet video to either of the main area or the PIP area of the display, and wherein the request information comprises a main area control function request.

25. The web television of claim 24, wherein the main area control function request comprises a request that the television controller cause the internet video to be supplied to the main area of the display.

26. The web television of claim 24, wherein the main area control function request comprises a request that the television controller cause the television video to be supplied to the main area of the display.

27. The web television of claim 16, wherein the request information is a PIP swap request.