Patent EP0726675A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0726675A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Decoder for a subscriber station in an interactive television system
Assignee: Italtel SpA
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Filing: 1996-01-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-01-30
Abstract
Abstract Decoder for the subscriber station in an interactive television system comprising: a television interface module (40) suitable to catch interactive data transmitted by a television station and to apply to the subscriber television receiver (18) signals and visualizations obtained from this; a peripheral management module (50) suitable to manage a plurality of peripheral units (DSP, I_REC, Printer, CR) and to dialogue with the television interface module (40); a communication module (80) suitable to exchange data with a subscriber telephone line (LT); a re-configuration module (70) suitable to receive a support (CARD) on which hardware and/or software type appliances are installed; switching means (SW) suitable to connect to said modules (40, 50, 80, 70) the above-mentioned hardware and/or software appliances present on said re-shaping module (70); a process controller (PC) suitable to detect the occurred installation of said support (CARD) in the re-shaping module (70) and to activate said switching means (SW). The re-configuration module makes it possible to easily expand the basic performances of the decoder without requiring the intervention of specialized technicians.
Inventors
- 👤 Augusto Pezzotta
- 👤 Angelo Bertolini
- 👤 Maria-Angela Mugnano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:27
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/414; H04N21/4143; H04N21/43; H04N21/443; H04N21/80; H04N21/81; H04N21/812; H04N21/85; H04N21/858; H04N21/8586; H04N7/00; H04N7/025; H04N7/08; H04N7/087; H04N7/088; H04N7/16; H04N7/162; H04N7/163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
Decoder for the subscriber station in an interactive television system comprising a television station suitable to broadcast interactivity data transmitted together with the television signal, said subscriber station including: - a subscriber television set (18); - said decoder (30) connected to the above-mentioned TV set; - a keyboard (21) connected to said decoder (30); - means (10) connected to the decoder (30) for the access to a telephone line (LT), decoder characterized in that it comprises in combination: - a TV interface module (40) suitable to receive the above-mentioned interactivity data and to apply to the subscriber's TV set (18) signals or visualization obtained from this one; - a peripheral interface module (50) suitable to manage a plurality of peripheral units (DSP, I_REC, Printer, CR) and to exchange data with said TV interface module (40); - a communication module (80) suitable to exchange data with a telephone line (LT); - a re-configuration module (70) suitable to receive a support (CARD) on which devices of the hardware and/or software type are installed; - switching means (SW) suitable to connect to the above-mentioned modules said devices of the hardware and/or software type present on said support (CARD) suitable to be associated to said re-configuration module (70); - a process controller (PC) suitable to reveal the carried out installation of said support (CARD) in the reshaping module (70) and to activate said switching means (SW).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
Decoder according to claim 1, characterized in that said TV interface module includes: - an audio-video interface (41) connected to said subscriber television set (18); - a converter (42 o TTX Decoder) of interactivity signals contained in the video signal broadcast by said TV station, connected to said audio-video interface (41); - a first microprocessor (44 or µP1) connected to said converter (42) and to a first programme memory (PM1);
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
Decoder according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said peripheral interface module (50) comprises: - a second microprocessor (51 or µP2) connected to said first microprocessor (44 or µP1) and to a second programme memory ((PM3 or 60); - a smart card reader suitable to interface "chip" or "memory" type cards, and suitable also to communicate with said second microprocessor (51 or µP2) by means of a respective memory (IM_C o 55).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
Decoder according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises also: - a receiver for infrared signals (I_REC) suitable to receive the signals transmitted by said selection keyboard and to forward them to said second microprocessor (51 or µP2) by means of a respective memory (IM_I or 59); - a printer connected to said second microprocessor (51 or µP2) by means of a respective memory (IM_P or 53).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Decoder according to claim 1, characterized in that said reconfiguration module (70) comprises a control device (CAC and IC) connected to the above-mentioned process controller (PC) and suitable to receive said support (CARD) containing a third programme memory (PM2).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
Decoder according to claims 1 and 5, characterized in that said switching means comprise a first switch (SW1) suitable to connect to said first microprocessor (µP1 or 44) said first programme memory (PM1) or said third programme memory (PM2).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
Decoder according to claims 3, 4 and 5, characterized in that said support (CARD) comprises a fourth programme memory (PM4) and said switching means comprise a second switch (SW2) suitable to connect to said second microprocessor (µP2 or 51) said second programme memory (PM3) or said fourth programme memory (PM4).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
Decoder according to claim 1, characterized in that said communication module (80) comprises a DTMF signal generator (DTMF_G or 81) which is connected to a line interface (L_INT or 82) at its turn connected to the telephone line (LT) through wire means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
Decoder according to claims 1, 5 and 8, characterized in that said support (CARD) comprises also a modem unit (MODEM or 78) and said switching means comprise a third switch (SW3) suitable to connect to said line interface (L_INT) the output of said DTMF signal generator (DTMF_G) or the output of said modem unit (MODEM).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
Decoder according to claim 8, characterized in that said line interface (L_INT) is allocated in said means (10) for the access to the telephone line and said communication module as well as said means (10) for the access to the telephone line comprise also transceiver means (RTS or 83).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
Decoder according to claim 10, characterized in that said transceiver means (83) have the form of an extractable and replaceable module in relation to the pre-selected communication mode (radio frequency, infrared, ultrasound, or by means of the normal electrical power network).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Decoder according to the previous claims, characterized in that said support (CARD) will be associated to the decoder using the mechanic solutions according to the standard PCMCIA.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Decoder according to the previous claims, characterized in that it is incorporated in said TV receiver (18).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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