Method and apparatus for interactive television through use of menu windows

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to interactive television. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electronic device for monitoring specific television activity. (e.g. program or commercial viewing) and communicating monitored activity to a facility and initiating appropriate actions dependent upon the specific television activity detected. Television activities also include advertisements, presentations, contribution solicitations, and home purchasing shows, for example.

It is known in the art to survey television program viewing habits of television audiences. These surveys are especially important for commercial television broadcasting because advertising and programming decisions are based on television show popularity. Many different types of surveys are available, but one of the most accurate types is in-home monitoring. An in-home monitoring survey relates to those surveys taken when a rating company provides a household with special hardware equipment that automatically records and logs television activity. This surveying method has a number of problems. One problem relates to an expense associated with the specialized hardware along with its attendant consequence that the hardware cost limits a size of the survey sample. Another problem is that there is an error introduced into the surveying method due to the household's awareness of the survey, reflected by the presence of the special hardware. It would be desirable to have a cost effective system able to monitor accurately and cost-efficiently the viewing habits of a wide range of households.

In television broadcasting, it is also desirable to interact with the viewer. There are many commercials and programs which request viewer action such as purchasing an advertised product, making a monetary contribution, responding to a survey, answering a question, or participating in contests with other viewers, for example. Also, companies sponsoring these commercials or programs would sometimes like to their provide their viewers with further information, if the viewers could be identified or if the viewer requests the information. It is difficult to separate the actual viewers from the entire television viewing audience. Identification permits the producer of the show to use cost-effective, targeted advertising, rather than other options, such as the more expensive general mailings. An additional problem is that it is difficult to motivate a viewer to request information, to send in a contribution, or to specifically respond as desired. It is desirable to provide a ready and efficient method and apparatus to facilitate an exchange of information between television viewers and producers, promoters and advertisers associated with television programming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatus and method for simply, efficiently and economically providing facility access to any user, providing any user with an ability to interact with television or cable programming, and providing automatic monitoring of each user's viewing habits allowing construction of a viewing profile. The invention permits access and use of the tremendous information and services available in electronic form without knowledge of computer components or configuration requirements, interactive use of the television programming, and cost-effective programming monitoring. Access to information and use of the various electronic services, as well as the television interaction activities, is possible by use of a conventional numeric remote keypad for selecting particular menu items from menus displayed on conventional television sets.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it includes a television set, a communications device connected to a communications network, such as a telephone system, a remote keypad and a controller. The controller displays menu items on a portion of a screen of the television and controls operation of the communications device. The menu items correspond to various services provided to a user. Numbers, 0-9, identify the individual menu items that are selectable from the remote keypad. Some services are better implemented with alphabetical characters. In those instances, the remote keypad is provided with alpha-numeric characters. The controller includes a tuner coupled to the television and to an LED readout identifying a selected channel viewed by the user, and a "genlock" apparatus. The preferred embodiment employs the well-known genlock principle in a novel way to facilitate interactiveness with television programming as well as to provide economic telestration capabilities to the home user.

In operation, the controller initiates an automated configuration mode upon initial power-up. The automated configuration includes initiation of a data call to a predetermined independent computer system to acquire configuration information and operating instructions. The configuration information includes data identifying particular services desired by the particular user. The configuration information controls which menu choices the user may select. Through use of the remote keypad, the user is able to tune the television to a desired broadcast or cable station because of the built-in tuner. The controller monitors television channel selection information and time/date stamps the station selection information, and thereby indirectly, all programs the user watches. The controller assembles all the monitored television information into a user profile. Periodically, the controller uploads the user profile information to an appropriate facility through by use of the telecommunications medium.

Further, the genlock mechanism permits the controller to overlay a control menu or an interaction menu over all or a portion of a television screen, as desired. The preferred embodiment adds the interaction menu to a bottom portion of the screen and preempts or overlays the incoming programming in that portion of the screen displaying the interaction menu. Selecting various interaction options from the interaction menu with the remote keypad initiates various events, depending upon a chosen option. The incorporation of a credit card swipe, or alpha-numeric entry through the remote keypad, allows interactions involving payments of money or purchases of goods and services. Additionally, the electronic device may include menus or other informational graphics designed to activate upon a user selecting a particular channel at a particular time.

The genlock implemented with the preferred embodiment provides each user with a simple telestration apparatus. An option from one menu provides the user with the ability to overlay images produced from the pointing device and a background of the user's choice. The choices include, among others, a blank background, a predefined background image, or an image captured from the television program, static or live. This feature has applications in many fields, including for example education and sports.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a built-in messaging system for the user. The system permits exchange of messages to and from other electronic device users, computer users or various facilities. In this embodiment, the operating instructions of each electronic device directs the device to autonomously initiate a messaging call to a messaging facility at predetermined times when the user is not using the telephone line. The controller posts any untransmitted messages or user profiles at this time, and receives messages and any new configuration or operating instructions. If the controller receives new messages for the user, it lights a message indicator. This tells the user that new messages are waiting, prompting the user to initiate appropriate actions to access them.

When the user activates the electronic device, the controller displays the selection menu which includes those options available to the user. One available menu item permits the user to read the messages. The remote keypad controls the operation of the various features of the electronic device, such as message scrolling, rereading, saving or deleting particular messages, for example.

When the user desires to access the information and services, the user selects one of the menu items by operating the remote keypad. Selection signals from the remote keypad identify a particular menu item. The controller responds to the selection signals by identifying the desired service associated with the input from the remote keypad. The controller operates the communications device to access the telephone line. Accessing the telephone line permits connection to an independent computer system providing the desired service. The controller prompts the independent computer system to provide the desired information or service. The controller displays the desired information or service on the television, and waits for additional input from the remote keypad. Use of a printer connected to the controller provides the user with an ability to produce a hardcopy of the information displayed on the television.

Another aspect of the invention includes use of a stylus or pen-type pointing device as an input device, although other types are possible, such as a "joystick" for example, for creation of particular images on the television screen. A user controls a drawing cursor's position on the television display by moving the pointing device. After creating a desired image, the controller, responsive to selection signals from the remote keypad, prints images created with the pointing device, or captures the image and transmits it to an independent computer system. The independent computer system, depending upon particular menu options selected, directs the captured transmitted image to another user or to storage for later access. It is possible to capture television images transmitted from the television station and superimpose user-created graphics as mentioned above for the telestration capability.

Some pen-type pointing devices include a click button for indicating particular user actions when operated. One feature of an embodiment including this type of pointing device includes an ability to simulate keyboard input. The controller displays keyboard image on the television. The user subsequently identifies each desired key by clicking within the keyboard image at positions corresponding to desired key. Serially positioning the cursor and selecting particular key images permits simulation of typing. The controller is able to capture and transmit these typewritten-document images just as any other image.

Still another aspect of the present invention includes an integral credit card reader with the controller. This permits the user to conveniently purchase goods or services by use of the electronic device. A memory optionally stores the credit card information, facilitating purchases. In response to a purchase command, the system is able to simply request if the user desires use of the stored information rather than the user finding and "swiping" the credit card again.

The invention provides simple, efficient access to facilities without acquisition or configuration of computer components. Users select a desired service from among several services displayed in menu by operation of a remote keypad. Autonomous self-configuration of the electronic device allows a system operator to enhance services or operation quickly and ensure that all users have their chosen services available to them.

Reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings realize a further understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a videotext system 10 including an electronic device interface 20 having a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of the electronic device 20;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of one possible configuration of the system 10;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of one television display for electronic device 20 in operation; and

FIG. 5 is an illustration a preferred embodiment of the remote keypad 22.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a videotext system 10 including an electronic device interface 20 having a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The videotext system 10 includes an independent computer system (host computer) 30 providing one or more facilities a user desires to access. The host computer 30 connects to the electronic device 20 through a communications medium 32. Examples of the communications medium includes public-switched telephone networks and closed-circuit coaxial cables. The host computer 30 provides access to many facilities, including other electronic devices 34, networks 36, personal computers 38, databases 40, facsimile or telex services 42, and interactor facilities 46, for example. Interactor facilities are those facilities targeted for interaction with the user. They can be specially designed services or programming, or conventional programming which desire to interact with television/cable viewers.

The electronic device 20 interfaces these facilities for access and display on a conventional television display 50. The user selects and controls access to the facilities displayed on the television 50 by use of a remote keypad control 52. The remote keypad control 52 of the preferred embodiment is similar to conventional television remote controls for selection of channel and volume, for instance. The remote keypad control 52 provides menu selection signals to the electronic device for selection of a particular facility of the host computer 30. The general applicability and provision of this system, including use of menus, is described in the incorporated parent patent application. The present invention adds additional functionality to the electronic device previously disclosed.

The electronic device 20 of the preferred embodiment includes a stylus-type or pen-type pointing device 54 for creation of bitmap images on the television 50. The bitmap images include graphical and textual information drawn by the user. The user is able to direct the electronic device 20 to capture images from the television 50 screen. The images include any bitmap images created by the user. The electronic device 20 is able to transmit these captured images to the host computer 30 for storage or forwarding to any of the facilities the host computer 30 controls.

Applications of this embodiment of the present invention include use of the pointing device 54 to superimpose user created images over captured television station transmissions or educational and recreational sketching and drawing. Additionally, the pointing device 54 is able to function as a text input device by interaction with an image of a conventional typewriter keyboard. Through display of the keyboard image on the television, and monitoring cursor positions associated with "clicks" of the pointing device 54, a