 |
Description  |
|
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to interactivity directly between
television sets. More specifically, the present invention relates to an
intercommunication system and method for enabling written and oral
communication exchange in a simple and efficient manner.
Television has traditionally been a one-way communication medium, with
broadcast or cable presentation coming into the home or business. The
television medium has been critiqued because of this one-way nature.
Interactive systems are developing to allow a television viewer to
interact with a particular television program. Many of these devices are
expensive or permit operation with only certain programs which have been
adapted to work with the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides apparatus and method for simply, efficiently
and economically interfacing to television programming, user services, or
to other users of televisions. Televisions equipped with electronic
devices embodying the present invention become two way mediums for the
home consumer or business person.
According to one aspect of the invention, the preferred embodiment of the
present invention provides the electronic device with a television
interface, a communications interface, an input device and a controller.
The electronic device may be a separate unit, or integrated into a
television or cable converter box, for example. The preferred embodiment
of the electronic device includes a speakerphone, using a microphone and
the television speaker, to make conventional telephone calls. The
controller includes a mode switcher to switch between voice mode operation
and data mode operation.
In operation, a user preferably uses the electronic device to initiate a
voice call directly to another user employing another electronic device.
Thereafter the two users can agree to exchange graphical information, but
switching to a data mode. In data mode, one electronic device sends an
image to the other machine. The image can be of virtually any subject
matter. Thereafter, the users can switch back to voice mode and discuss
the image appearing on both their machines.
An electronic device according to the present invention is applicable to
many real world situations. Depending upon the application, different
image editing or selection options are available. For example, one
application permits a user to initiate a call to a ticket seller. After
the user makes the initial voice call to an agent, identifying the event
and date, for example, the user and the ticket seller's agent enter data
mode. The agent sends a graphic image to the user of a layout of the
available seats and associated costs, including other pertinent
information. The user selects one or more seats from the available seats
using the input device, paying attention to the floor plan for any special
considerations the user believes are important. Thereafter, the user and
the agent can switch to a voice call to finalize the transaction. In one
embodiment, the electronic device could include purchasing data, such as
credit card information, and relay this financial information directly to
the agent during the data call.
Another application of the system is in education. For example, a student
could connect to a professor's system. After agreeing upon a particular
lesson and any other parameters, the system is switched to data mode.
Questions and information pertinent to the question are sent to the
student. The student may be provided with a multiple choice question. The
student selects a particular one of the prospective answers using the
input device. Thereafter, the professor can determine whether voice
discussion regarding the question is necessary, or if another image should
be sent to the student for further study.
Still another use would be for two users to participate in a joint
enterprise or game, for example. One simple example would be for the two
users to participate in a game of tic-tac-toe with each other. After
moving, the users could enter voice mode and discuss developments. The
system permits dynamic and real time two-way exchange of audio and visual
information using ordinary television sets.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be realized
upon review of the remaining portions of the specification, drawing and
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a television-to-television audiovisual system
10 including an electronic device 20 embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of the electronic device 20;
FIG. 3 is an illustration of a exemplary presentation on a screen of a
television 35;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating general operation of the system 10; and
FIG. 5 is a a preferred embodiment of the remote keypad 22.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a television-to-television audiovisual system
10 including an electronic device 20 embodying the present invention. The
electronic device 20 is controlled by an input device, such as for
example, a keypad remote 22 or a relative pointing device stylus-type
pointing device. The relative pointing device may be a mouse pen 30, or a
digitizing tablet 30' which issues position information to the electronic
device 20. The system 10 includes a television 35 having a speaker 40. The
electronic device 20 includes a microphone 45. A communications medium 50,
such as a telephone network, connects the electronic devices 20 to each
other.
In operation, the microphone 45, the speaker 40 and the remote keypad 22
provide the system 10 with speakerphone capability. A user selects a phone
function from the remote keypad 22, activating the telephone system. Using
the remote keypad 22, the user enters a phone number of another user
having an electronic device 20. The call is placed from the first
electronic device 20 to the other electronic device 20 over the
communications medium 50 much like a conventional call. The second user
answers responds to the call by selecting answer from the remote keypad.
The users communicate with each other using their respective electronic
devices, similar to speakerphone operation, with incoming audio presented
on the television speaker 40 and outgoing audio received by the microphone
45.
The users will switch, using the electronic devices 20, to data mode from
the voice mode. In the data mode, graphic images are exchanged between the
users and displayed on the screen of their respective television. The
received graphic image may be optionally displayed on the entire screen
(with a television broadcast optionally in a "viewing window"), or in its
own window overlaying the television broadcast. The users can view, edit,
interact with, or print the graphic. Editing or interaction is performed
using the remote keypad 22 or the stylus pointing device 30. The edited
image, or data relating to the interaction, is sent back in data mode to
the other electronic device 20. The receiving electronic device can modify
the image or respond to the received signal as appropriate.
One user may desire to return to audio mode. The desire is transmitted to
the other user who receives a signal indicating a switch to audio mode is
desired. The receiving electronic device 20 can be in automatic mode which
automatically switches modes, or wait for the user to select the change if
it is in a manual mode. For manual mode, the switch may result from
selection of an appropriate icon displayed on the television screen, or
selection of a predefined key combination of the remote keypad 20.
FIG. 2 is a block schematic diagram of the electronic device 20. The
electronic device 20 is a microcontroller-controlled electronic appliance
including a central-processing unit (CPU) 100 coupled to a memory. 102, an
address decoder 104, a peripheral interface 106, a video controller 108,
and a modulator/demodulator (modem) 110 by a data and address bus. The
memory. 102 includes both random read/write memory (RAM) and read-only
memory. A power supply 120 generates power for the components of the
electronic device 20 (V.sup.+), as well as to keep a battery-backup 122
charged. The battery-backup 122 provides power for the RAM when the
power-supply 120 is not connected to a power source 124. Additionally, the
electronic device 20 includes a credit card reader 130, an infrared
detector 132, a speakerphone controller 134, a television receiver circuit
136, and a television modulator 138, all coupled to the peripheral
interface 106.
The CPU 100 controls operation of the electronic device 20 according to
instructions stored in the ROM and the RAM of the memory 102. The ROM
includes an initialization sequence which the CPU 100 executes upon every
reset or power-up. The initialization sequence includes a set of commands
causing the electronic device 20 connect to a particular facility 30 and
self-configure itself. The self-configuration includes receipt of
particularized instructions for the particular electronic device 20,
depending upon an identification code stored in the ROM. The CPU 100
stores these particularized instructions in the RAM.
The CPU 100 addresses the components of the electronic device 20 through
the address decoder 104. The address decoder receives addresses from the
CPU 100 and asserts a select signal to an identified component in response
to a particular address. Components with an asserted select signal from
the address decoder 104 interact with the CPU 100, either receiving
instructions or providing dam.
The peripheral interface 106 includes a parallel input/output port as
well-known for interfacing to a printer 56, to the credit card reader 130,
and to the IR detector 132. The peripheral interface 106 includes a serial
interface for the pointing device 54. The parallel interface and the
serial interface are separately selectable by the address decoder 104.
The television interface includes a video controller 108 for text and
graphics, connected to a video memory and the video modulator 138 to
produce television-compatible output. The television interface connects to
a conventional television 38 for display of menus identifying the various
facilities available to a user, and for displaying the information
provided from a selected facility, as well as to enable screen-to-screen
communication. The modem 110 includes a modulator/demodulator used for
data calls, to convert digital data to a format compatible with the
communications medium, such as a conventional telephone system.
Additionally, the modem 110 includes a communications interface 140 to
actually send and receive signals relative to the communications medium.
The speakerphone controller 134 interfaces directly to the modem interface
140 to implement the speakerphone operation.
The modem 110, through its modem interface 140 particularized for the
communications medium used by the electronic device 20, communicates over
the communications medium 50 to another electronic device 20. The modem
110 and the interface 140 permits the electronic devices 20 to exchange
voice and data information. The CPU 100, under control of a program in the
memory 102, controls the operational mode (voice or data).
The credit card reader 130, a conventional device, reads magnetically
encoded information on credit and debit cards. The credit card reader 130
provides output information to the CPU 100 through the parallel
input/output function of the peripheral interface 106.
The IR detector 132 receives menu selection signals from the keypad remote
control 52. The IR detector 132 provides the CPU 100, through the
peripheral interface 106, with particular key information selected.
FIG. 3 is a illustration of a exemplary presentation on a screen of a
television 35. The television 35 includes a display screen 200 which
conventionally presents television or cable broadcasting. In operation,
the display screen 200 may be wholly dedicated to the
television-to-television communication or the display may include a
viewing window 202. If the display screen 200 presents television
broadcasting, the window 202 may be used for the graphic part of the
screen-to-screen function, while conventional television programming is
displayed. This would provide, for example, a mechanism for two users to
comment on a particular program while viewing it. Alternatively, the
conventional television programming function could be placed in the
viewing window 202, dedicating the main screen display 200 to the
screen-to-screen communication. The screen display 200 may also include
icons 210 and 212. These icons could assist in the screen-to-screen
communication. For example, selection of one icon, icon 210, could switch
the system 10 to voice mode, while selection of the other icon 212 could
switch to dam mode.
To signal a switch from data mode to voice mode, selection of the icon 210
by a first user (signaling this desire to switch to voice mode) could, for
example, cause the icon 210 on the screen display 200 to animate, or
speaker 40 to produce an audible signal. Thereafter, the selection of the
icon 210 by the second user places the system into the voice mode of
operation. In the voice mode, the users can orally agree to enter the data
mode, and thereafter choose icon 212.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating general operation of the system 10. The
system 10 operation begins at step 300. The system 10 responds to a user's
command to initiate a screen-to-screen call to another user with an
electronic device 20, step 305. The system 10 checks to see if the call
has been connected, step 310. If it is not connected, the system returns
to step 305, otherwise the system advances to step 315. At step 315, the
users conduct a typical telephone conference, preferably using the
electronic device's speakerphone capability. If using the speakerphone
capability, the users can switch immediately to data mode, step 320.
Otherwise, one user will have to activate the electronic device 20
connected to their television 35. This is expected to be one operational
mode.
After switching to the data mode, one user sends the other graphical
information, step 325. The system 10 checks to see if its user edited the
screen display at step 330. If so, the system returns to step 325 to send
the update information, or the updated image, depending upon the editing
and the application. If no editing had been done, the system 10 advances
to step 335. Step 335 determines if one of the users requested a switch to
voice mode. If not, the system returns to step 330. If a request has been
made, the system switches to voice mode, step 340, and then returns to
step 315. The switch to voice mode, step 340 can be implemented to be
manually controlled, or automatic, again depending upon a particular
application. Note that although the one preferred embodiment is
illustrated as shown, that other implementations are possible. For
example, the system 10 could be interrupt driven, causing particular step
to be executed in response to some signal from the system 10.
FIG. 5 is a a preferred embodiment of the remote keypad 22. FIG. 5
illustrates the use of an alpha-numeric array of keys to effectively and
efficiently control the two-way communication of audio/visual information.
In conclusion, the present invention provides a simple, efficient solution
to a problem of effective two-way communication, The electronic device,
coupled to a conventional television and to a communications medium,
allows users to directly and simply exchange, view, or edit virtually any
graphical, written, textual, or image data, and to thereafter simply and
efficiently to discuss the graphical data. While the above is a complete
description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, various
alternatives, modifications, and equivalents may be used. For example,
while the above-description identifies manual switching between the
different modes, it is possible for the systems to switch automatically.
Therefore, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope
of the invention which is defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *
|
|
 |
|
 |
Description |
|
